Why Do My Feet Smell So Bad? 10 Effective Home Remedies

Fortunately, several ways exist on how to stop smelly feet. So let’s take a look at effective home remedies on how to get rid of smelly feet permanently.

Epsom salt helps clear off toxins and also neutralizes odors. A basin of warm water to which ½ cup of Epsom salt has been added may be used for soaking for 15 to 20 minutes as a good solution. The salt will soothe hurting feet and lower inflammation, which helps with odors.

This remedy is quite good for hot and sticky climates where your feet tend to sweat, and you also wear shoes for longer periods. Just keep in mind that afterward, good drying is needed so that your feet are not wet. 

One of the simple, yet very important habits for preventing food odor is washing feet. It often helps to eliminate dead skin cells, sweat, and filth that may build up and cause unpleasant smells.

To avoid bacteria building up and multiplying, wash your foot with warm water and a small amount of soap; rub in between your toes. Regular washing removes those bacteria that might create odor during the day.

Dip the cotton balls in lemon juice and place them between your feet or soak your feet in warm water with lemon juice for 10-15 minutes. Afterwards, thoroughly wash and dry it.

Lemons are acidic which will kill the germs and fungi that produce foot odor. Lemon juice is simple yet very effective, but for people with sensitive skin, one has to be very careful because of its acidic nature.

Socks made of breathable materials such as cotton, bamboo, or merino wool let air through easily. It ensures comfort as well as dryness for the feet.

Materials like these minimize the risk of any unpleasant smell because moisture is absorbed into the sweat and can evaporate. You can also keep your feet fresh by changing socks daily or anytime when they get wet. 

Breathable socks don't let the moisture that causes odor build up and therefore keep a healthier environment for your feet.

Baking Soda increases the pH level and neutralizes odor by absorbing the extra moisture. Apply by dusting a little baking soda on the feet or the inside of the shoes.

For more thorough treatment, mix ¼  cup baking soda in warm water and soak them for 15 to 20 minutes. A little bit of baking soda can also make shoes odor-free by stuffing them inside and shaking them out the next day. 

Since cornstarch is capable of soaking up excess moisture, this helps to keep your feet dry. It reduces the wet environment in which bacteria that cause odors can thrive. Cornstarch is utilized easily by dusting a small amount of the item into dry feet before dressing them in shoes or socks.

You may sprinkle some in your shoes for freshness, which can help with the absorption of moisture throughout the day. This one easy act will help keep your feet smelling good and not allow the building up of sweat-causing odors.

Tea tree oil assists bacteria and fungi that cause foul odor. To use and avoid irritation, dilute a few drops of tea tree oil with a carrier oil such as coconut or olive oil or buy a cream. Apply it to your feet gently, especially between your toes.

Another option involves soaking your feet in a basin containing warm water with a few drops of tea tree oil for 10 to 15 minutes. Remember to test a small area first to ensure any sensitivity. 

Artificial fibers, like polyester and nylon, are known to trap a great amount of heat and moisture. This means no room for air to pass around your feet in those fabrics; just your sweat gathering there and creating a favorable setting for odors to thrive.

Go for breathable, natural material shoes and socks made either from cotton, wool, or even bamboo. This will allow you to enjoy dry and comfortable feet by using textiles that draw moisture away from the skin and allow for increased airflow.

Sage leaves are one of those natural treatments for foot odor due to their astringent and antimicrobial action. The soak of sage can be prepared by just boiling a few fresh leaves in water to an almost warm temperature that shall be cool enough to soak one's feet.

Bathe your feet in this infusion for a good 15 to 20 minutes. In addition, you also can make use of dried sage, which can help in absorbing moisture and neutralizing odors.

Antifungal powder generally works well for foot odor, mainly in those instances when the cause happens to be in the form of a fungal infection, such as an athlete's foot. It has been designed in such a way that they delay fungus growth and also dry out areas, thus helping in controlling body odor.

Apply antifungal powder all over, giving more Importance to the areas between your toes and the soles after you have cleaned and dried your feet completely. You can also sprinkle some inside of your shoes to keep them dry and free of fungus. 

If you are wondering why do my feet smell so bad even after I wash them then here are some of the causes for your thoughts: 

Over-sweating generally means the body makes more moisture than it needs to cool off. When that happens, your feet will feel wet inside the shoes and can further create an unpleasant smell. 

Sweating can be activated by some elements in our lives like heat, stress, and different types of activities or wearing your shoes and socks for a long period.  

Stress also plays a large role in the way that foot odor is caused. This is because when someone is stressed, their body goes into “fight or flight” mode and induces a growth in body sweat. 

This additional moisture sometimes can be carried to the shoes, where odors have the right environment to spread. Controlling foot odor often remains difficult due to stress mixing up with sweat.

When the feet remain warm and moist then germs start growing. It creates an ideal environment for bacterial development.

When feet remain in shoes for a long time, moisture can easily build up, which results in a bad odor. Also, poor hygiene of the feet promotes bacterial growth.

Fungus Infections, like athlete’s foot, are one of the causes of developing an unpleasant odor. These fungal infections manifest themselves in itching, redness, and skin peeling- all of which can heighten the odor problem.

Normally, the skin provides a sort of natural barrier where the fungus develops. In case this barrier is broken down, then the moisture increases and further enhances odor.

Diet can change the makeup of your sweat, which in turn can affect the type of foot odor. Some foods like onions, garlic, and spicy food allow chemicals to escape through your sweat and increase the strength and pungency of the odor.

A diet high in sugar and processed foods can also disrupt your body's natural equilibrium and irritate your foot odor. These can make your feet smell when they are being degraded and excreted through your sweat.

Poor ventilation around the foot can lead to excessive foot odor. When feet are pushed into tight, closed-type shoes, moisture produced by sweat is not easily dissipated.

Where ventilation is poor, the feet will remain wet and warm, ideal for odors to be produced. Moisture can stay in shoes made of materials like plastic and other synthetic fabrics.

As the fabrics offer very little chance of airflow to the foot. This accumulated moisture, in concert with other factors like dead skin cells, has the effect of intensifying foot odor.

Another cause of constant odor and pain in the foot is poor hygiene. Bacteria can decompose sweat and other organic material which causes odors.

It can also be caused by wearing the same socks and shoes over and over without washing them or not air drying your feet after washing. Neglecting to wash between toes or to trim toenails will also trigger odor. 

Overweight people tend to sweat more so they are more likely to develop foot odor. The extra body weight will increase the pressure on the feet, especially when long walks or even standing for long periods making the feet hot and sweating a lot.

This excessive sweating creates a humid atmosphere in the shoes that may intensify any odor. Because of tighter or more restrictive shoes, overweight individuals may have less air circulating on their feet. 

Changes in hormone levels can also be responsible for sweat production causing food odor. When the hormones fluctuate in puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, the body tends to sweat more or change how the sweat reacts with skin and bacteria.

These can lead to changes, making the feet moist and allowing the development of foul smells. Controlling the hormone levels and taking good care of your feet will help you deal with any related odor.

Poorly dried feet or wearing your shoes in water means that moisture may be retained between the skin and the toes. This provides a suitable environment for the growth of bacteria-causing odors.

The shoes and socks retain some of the moisture and sweat from the wearers' feet, even when they are washed frequently, and this makes the odor worse. Besides, wet skin becomes soft and easily invites infection, which in turn can aggravate the odor problem. 

The reason people sweat more could be due to innately overactive sweat glands on or around their feet. Genetics also determine the content of your sweat, which means this dictates that it will smell once broken down by your body.

It could be due to hereditary traits promoting excessive perspiration or certain skin conditions if you have a familial background of foot odor. Though the genetic factor cannot be changed, it helps one to take proper care of foot odor.

The signs of hyperhidrosis include excessive sweating of the foot and other parts of the body. This always leaves the insides of socks and shoes damp, a condition which has a bad smell.

The excess moisture makes it easy for fungi and bacteria resulting in the decomposition of sweat and developing odors. Controlling foot odor with simple hygienic routines can be hard if you have hyperhidrosis. 

One can claim that environmental causes may offer a bright contributing factor to the odor in the feet. On a hot and humid day, sweating from the feet increases, which may become entrapped inside socks and shoes.

If these conditions are extended, the feet may not get enough time to dry up, hence an increase in odor. Consequently, walking on hot surfaces or being confined in tight shoes for a long period worsens the situation.

1. Wash your feet with soap and water, particularly between the toes.
2. Keep your feet dry and clean to prevent odors.
3. Use socks from natural fibers such as cotton since they permit air to flow around your skin, changing them quite often.
4. Shoes can be worn made of materials that also permit airflow.
5. Allow the shoes to breathe in between, and do not wear the same shoes daily.
6. Foot sprays or powders might help in keeping your feet dry.
7. Also, proper diet and controlling of stress as these would make your feet smell.

Several factors contribute to the smell emerging from the feet, which include germs, sweat, and fungal infections. Good hygiene and natural home remedies for the causes can easily keep the feet free from odor and fresh.

Follow these easy remedies, and you will be able to get rid of foot odor and keep yourself fresh and confident. But even after trying, if the scent still exists, that could be a good idea to see a doctor and rule out the underlying issues.