I’m not talking here of feet that have a bit of an odor from being in shoes and socks all day. I’m talking of feet that their owners warn you about! Strong, acrid odors.

The good news is that there are easy ways for people to eliminate this problem.

The bottoms of our feet are naturally teeming with bacteria that break down substances in our perspiration to create an acid that smells. The moisture from perspiration encourages bacteria to multiply even more.

The Fix:

A one week or two week committed regimen usually does the trick. Here’s one:

1. Scrub your feet, especially the soles.
2. Air out your feet as often as possible. Wear sandals if weather and situation permit. Remove socks and shoes when you get home. Change your shoes often.
3. Brew a strong pot of black tea, let cool and then soak the feet for 10 minutes/day.
4. Dry the feet thoroughly.
5. Spray with a combination of tea tree and lemon essential oils. Create a 3% dilution by mixing 15 to 18 drops of the essential oil combination to one ounce of water. Let your feet completely air dry before putting your feet in socks or shoes or getting in bed.

Do you have any tried and true methods that have worked for you or your clients?