When you live in Maine, winter can put a strain on your feet. Heavy socks and boots are necessary when working or playing outside – but sometimes feet overheat and get sweaty leading to stinky, smelly feet and shoes.
Although there are commercial products available to treat smelly feet, many prefer to try alternative medicine to treat this common problem. In the case of stinky or smelly feet, this usually takes the form of natural remedies to eliminate foot odor and freshen shoes.
- Tea: Steep two tea bags in one quart of boiling water for three to five minutes. Allow to cool and add to a foot basin. Soak your feet in the tea solution for ten minutes each night for one week. Tannic acid in the tea works to prevent feet from sweating and causing odor. Repeat once a week to keep odor under control.
- White Vinegar: Add ½ cup of white vinegar to your footbath and soak your smelly feet for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse your feet with plain water and dry thoroughly – especially between the toes.
- Jell-O: Add a little fun to foot soaking and use lemon or lime Jell-O to get rid of stinky, smelly feet. Dissolve the Jell-O in boiling water and add cold water to create a warm soothing footbath. Soak your feet until the Jell-O begins to ‘set’ – but don’t forget to wash them with warm soapy water before drying.
- Zinc Supplements: One of the signs of a zinc deficiency is foot odor. If you have tried other methods of getting rid of foot odor and have been unsuccessful, zinc supplements may be the answer. Take 50 mgs of zinc once a day for two weeks. Foot odor caused by a zinc deficiency should go away within two weeks.
- Air out shoes: Allowing your shoes to dry thoroughly before wearing them again goes a long way toward eliminating foot odor. A light sprinkle of baking soda keeps them fresh and odor free. If possible, don’t wear the same shoes everyday.
Healthy Maine, a local health portal that connects Maine professionals with the community, recommends washing your feet every day with warm soapy water to keep them healthy, and drying them thoroughly before putting on clean socks and shoes.
This article is meant for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. If foot odor persists, or you experience other issues with your feet, check with your doctor to be sure there are no medical issues causing the odor.
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Complementary and alternative medicine in Maine
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