Remember the last time your friends invited you over. They had just cleaned the house so you had to take off your shoes… You remember being instantly embarrassed as your smelly feet wafted around the room. Well you don’t have to worry again! Everyone’s feet can sweat which can cause bad odors. Here are a few hints and tips to keep these unpleasant smells at bay which can be a life saver in social situations!
1/ Talc powder
Talc powder isn’t just for babies. Very good at absorbing moisture it can be gret for your sweat. You can sprinkle some powder onto the soles of your feet (cleaned of course) before putting on your shoes. If your shoe makes your feet sweat and you don’t want to take any chances you can also sprinkle some talc powder directly into your shoes.
2 / Alternate your shoes every day
As much as you can, you should try and alternate your shoes one day to the next. Why is this a good tip? Well your shoes need at least 24 hours for the sweat to disappear. Keep your shoes in a well ventilated area where the air can circulate. At the same time try to avoid wearing closed shoes without socks. Try and find some ankle socks or liners if you don’t want people to see your socks!
3 / Give yourself a foot bath
It is so simple. You just need a basin, warm water and few sachets of tea (preferably black). The astringent properties of the tannin acids react with the sebaceous glands which are responsible for producing sweat. Leave the tea to infuse and then leave your feet to soak for 30 minutes. Make the most of this opportunity to relax if you are feeling a bit tense.
4 / Bicarbonate of soda
This is one of our favourite ingredients as it can help with almost anything. It really is a miracle ingredient! Bicarbonate of soda is great from smelly feet as it has absorbing properties. Just like talc powder you can sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda into your shoes the night before you want to use them. The next day you will not be bothered by unpleasant odors.
5/ Wash your feet well
One of the most important things to keep on top of when combating smelly feet is your hygiene. Remember that even if you wet your feet in the shower, they are not really washed properly. You might have to wobble about the shower avoiding any catastrophic slipping to lather up your feet. A classic soap is enough but you can also find soaps for excessive perspiration (in pharmacy).
6/ Boric acid
A simple and inexpensive remedy is to put the equivalent of a teaspoon of boric acid (white powder) in each shoe and you are off to a good start. The powder is antiseptic and if used every 2 days, it will gradually eliminate problems with smelly feet and shoes.
Related articles: