The vinegar trick for sweat and bad foot odor (and other very effective home remedies)

During the warmer summer months foot sweat becomes a problem, especially when you have to take your shoes off in public, such as when you visit friends or go to a yoga class.

Then the bad smell that the foot gives off when removing the shoe becomes uncomfortable for everyone, because the sweat of the feet has a pungent and acrid odor that quickly goes up your nose. There are many terms to describe unpleasant foot odor, and none of them are pretty for good reason.

Here we tell you what the bad smell of feet is due to and how to prevent it with apple cider vinegar and other home remedies. You will also find some essential tips on the shoes you use regularly to avoid excessive sweating of the feet.

why do feet smell

Pure sweat consists mainly of water and is odorless. The bacteria that mix with the sweat and break it down are the culprits of the bad smell feet and also armpits.

Among other things, the contact of sweat with skin bacteria butyric acid is produced, which is primarily responsible for the pungent odor of sweaty feet. Butyric acid can become a real stink bomb if you sweat for a long period of time. Other malodorous molecules are isovaleric acid and propanoic acid.

The problem of sweaty feet and the bad smell they produce worsens when you wear closed shoes, and more in those that are made of plastic, since sweat cannot be evaporated and is concentrated.

If above your feet are stuck in socks with a high synthetic content, the conditions for smelly feet are perfect. A true paradise for butyric acid and bacteria.

Excessive sweating of the feet can also have its origin in metabolic or nervous disorders. Also in the presence of foot fungus.

However, sometimes feet sweat a lot because they are simply working harder than they should. A structural defect – such as flat feet – or an occupation that keeps you moving all day could be the cause, since both possibilities increase the activity of the foot muscles, perspiration being a natural attempt to cool them down.

bad smell and sweaty feet: 6 tips that will help you

In any case, It is not advisable to use antiperspirant products that aggressively prevent sweating, because in this way a route of elimination is blockedwhich is necessary for the body, and other more serious disorders could be favored.

So, it is preferable to use simply deodorant products. There are also care and home remedies that contribute to minimize excessive sweating in this area of ​​the body.

To deodorize them, they can be washed with a sulfur soap and then apply a lotion with camphorated alcohol.

The ideal is regulate bodily functioning following a healthy life and resorting to therapies such as constitutional homeopathy or traditional Chinese medicine.

The right footwear can already significantly reduce foot odor. But you can’t or don’t want to wear open shoes in all situations. With the following tips and tricks against foot odor, you can effectively prevent sweaty feet, even in closed shoes.

1. Use talc or white clay to deodorize feet

Powder your feet: You can find special foot powders online and in pharmacies. You can also resort to white clay, which is found in herbalists.

These remedies absorb sweat and deprive the bacteria of their food.

After you’ve powdered your feet, you can put on your socks and shoes as usual.

2. take a foot bath with vinegar, salt or other natural remedies

A foot bath in the morning gets you going and chases away the bad smell. After bath It is very important that you dry your feet completely: you can use the electric dryer to reach all spaces.

tea bath

can be done baths with tea to take advantage of the astringent action of tannin: four tea bags are boiled in a liter of water for ten minutes, allowed to cool slightly and feet are washed with it. These can be left to soak for about 20 minutes, once or twice a day.

salt bath

Also can be soaked in a solution of half a cup of sea salt dissolved in a liter of water.

This bath can be practiced for 15 minutes twice a week.

apple cider vinegar bath

Another foot bath, acid in this case, is obtained with half a cup of apple cider vinegar in a liter of water.

This bath, like the previous one, can be done for about 15 minutes twice a week.

Aromatic foot bath

Essential oils, such as eucalyptus, lavender, sage, or tea tree oils, also help combat sweaty feet.

Give them a try and incorporate a foot bath into your morning routine at least during the hottest months.

Baking soda baths with salt and essential oils

this kind of bathroom combine the salt bath with the aromatic and you can also add a little bicarbonate. You can even add a bit of vegetable oil to further soften the skin.

An example would be adding 1 cup of sea salt, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 3 drops of tea tree essential oil, 2 drops of sage essential oil, and 2 drops of lavender essential oil to the foot bath. In this article with aromatherapy recipes for feet you will find more details on how to prepare it if you need it.

3. Make a homemade oleogel to refresh your feet

This aloe vera gel-based oleogel is ideal for taking care of feet in summer, among other things because it contains essential oils of rosemary and palmarrosa that help regulate foot sweat. In addition, it contains common juniper essential oil, which prevents frequent swelling in summer, and peppermint essential oil, which provides a pleasant sensation of freshness.

It is a formula of Antonia Jover, aromatherapy expert. To prepare it, you will need a 50 ml glass bottle with a dispenser.

Ingredients:

30 g of aloe vera gel (preferably certified organic) 10 g of jojoba vegetable oil 7 g of castor vegetable oil 20 drops of essential oil of rosemary chemotype verbenone 15 drops of essential oil of common juniper 10 drops of essential oil of palmarosa 10 drops of oil peppermint essential

Preparation:

Mix all the ingredients and shake vigorously. Apply in the morning and at night giving yourself a gentle massage to make the product penetrate.

Vegetable oils, which are the base of this oleogel together with aloe vera, also hydrate and nourish the skin, preventing it from drying out and from cracking the heels.

Hands should be washed after applying.

4. Place insoles in shoes

Special insoles in shoes can help you absorb sweat. There are activated carbon that eliminate the bad smell of the feet.

Many dermatologists recommend leather soles, which are particularly thin and breathable. However, sooner or later you will also have to replace your templates with new ones; Don’t wait to change it when your feet and shoes smell bad again.

5. Wear the right socks

change socks often it is the most logical option for excessively sweaty and smelly feet.

If possible, avoid socks with a high synthetic content and wear socks made cotton or other natural materials. Choose organic cotton to avoid exposing your feet to synthetic substances.

You can also reduce perspiration by using two pairs of socks at the same time. This indication seems contradictory, but air spaces formed between the two tissues improve ventilation.

can be chosen cotton socks in contact with the skin and wool -if it’s cold- abroad.

6. The best footwear so that your feet do not sweat

The shoes are very closed aggravate sweaty feet and create an ideal environment for bacteria to proliferatewhich causes more odor and sweat.

it suits wear sandals when feasible and avoid the shoes of rubber or plastic, that make breathing difficult.

sometimes it’s better not wearing the same shoes two days in a rowas they take at least 24 hours to dry completely.

Besides, walk barefoot It is beneficial to normalize your statics and physiology.