Feet spend their days carrying us from place to place, yet they seldom see their destinations, trapped as they are inside socks, hosiery and various types of shoes. When you combine the warm, dark, moist environment of a shoe with the foot's sweat glands, odor results. The odor can be mild, or quite pungent. Try natural cures for your foot odor, but if the problem persists or is serious, or if you notice signs of peeling, itching or redness, see your doctor to rule out medical conditions that could be causing the problem.
Natural Acids
Soaking your feet in substances that are naturally acidic can kill odor-causing bacteria. Tea contains tannic acid; use three to four teabags for every quart of very warm water, then soak your feet in the solution. Vinegar is also naturally acidic and may be added to your foot bath. Mount Sinai Hospital podiatrist Dr. Suzanne Levine recommends a 1/2 half cup of vinegar for every quart of warm water.
Sage
Sage has antibacterial properties and like tea, it is high in tannic acid. Crush fresh sage leaves with a mortar and pestle, or crumble dried sage into your foot bath. Finely powdered sage can be sprinkled into your shoes, according to Granny Med.
Baking Soda
Sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes to help absorb moisture and odors. You can also use a mixture of baking soda and finely crushed sage. Soak your feet in a bath of warm water and baking soda. You can change the pH of water and help kill bacteria by using 1 tbsp. of baking soda for every quart of water.
Salt
Bacteria find it hard to live in salty solutions. Add coarse kosher salt or Epsom salt to a foot bath. Dr. Levine recommends using 1/2 cup of kosher salt for every quart of water.
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