Foot odour may be a problem for many people. It can make it uncomfortable to take off your shoes when you’re visiting friends’ houses or in public spaces.
According to the NHS, foot odour, also known as bromodosis, often occurs due to a build-up of sweat and bacteria. This is the main cause.
Meanwhile, the amount of excessive sweat that accumulates can be affected by:
Hot weather
Sports or physical activity
Standing all day
Excess body weight
Hormonal changes, which occur during puberty, menopause and pregnancy
Effects of some medications, such as antidepressants
A condition that causes excessive sweating, called hyperhidrosis
Some natural ingredients can be utilised to combat this.
Quoting Healthline, here are some herbs or spices that you can use as a natural remedy to get rid of foot odour:
1. Black tea
Soaking your feet in black tea helps eliminate the causes of foot odour.
This is because black tea contains tannic acid, which kills odour-causing bacteria.
You can simply soak your feet in black tea water as a natural remedy for foot odour.
You need to boil 2 black tea bags in one litre of water for 15 minutes.
After boiling, remove both tea bags and add another 2 litres of plain water.
Allow the water mixture to cool slightly, after which use it to soak your feet for 15 to 30 minutes. Repeat daily until the foot odour disappears.
2. Levender oil
Lavender oil not only smells good, but it also helps kill the bacteria that cause foot odour.
The benefits of levender oil being a natural remedy for foot odour were proven in a 2018 study published in Nanomaterials.
You need to rub a few drops of levender oil on your cleaned and dried feet first.
Then, massage your feet with the levender oil before you go to bed.
Then, wrap your feet in socks to get the maximum benefits for removing the odour.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has properties that help kill bacteria, so it can be a natural remedy for foot odour.
A study published in 2018 in Scientific Reports, showed that apple cider vinegar has antimicrobial potential to help kill bacteria and neutralise odours.
To use apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for foot odour, you need to soak your feet in a solution of about 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar to a foot basin filled with warm or cold water.
4. Maizena
Maizena is sweat-absorbent, making your feet feel fresh.
Once or twice a day you can sprinkle cornflour liberally on your feet before using socks.
You can also clean your feet and shoes with baking soda to remove foot odour.
5. Peppermint
Peppermint not only has a cooling effect, it can also deodorise your feet.
You can use peppermint as a natural remedy for foot odour by adding some ingredients to make a mint scrub.
One of them is sugar because it can be useful for removing dead skin cells.
Mix 1 tablespoon of oatmeal, 1 tablespoon of cornflour, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and 2 teaspoons of dried peppermint in a bowl.
Add 1 tablespoon of natural yoghurt, the juice of one lemon, and 5 drops of peppermint essential oil.
Mix all these ingredients to form a rough paste. Then, apply it to your feet and massage for a few minutes. After that, rinse with clean water.
6. Epsom salt
Epsom salt has many uses, including controlling bacteria on the feet.
A study published in The Journal of Applied Science Research showed the benefits of soaking feet in an epsom salt water mixture to deodorise feet.
You need to soak your feet in a mixture of 2 cups (400 grams) of Epsom salt and warm water in a bucket or basin.
Soak your feet for 15 minutes, twice a day.
Whichever method you choose, be sure to dry your feet well after bathing, soaking or swimming, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Bad odour comes from moisture, so it’s important to keep your feet, shoes and socks as dry as possible.
If your feet get sweaty over time, bring extra socks and change them at lunchtime or after a workout.
You can also keep your feet dry by choosing cotton socks and shoes made from natural materials, such as cotton or leather.
These natural materials allow the moisture in your feet to evaporate. Artificial materials, such as nylon or plastic trap moisture.
