Foot Odor: Hygiene and Shoe Care Tips

Foot odor is common, embarrassing and nearly always fixable. Feet have more sweat glands than any other part of the body. Sweat itself has almost no smell. The odor appears when bacteria on the skin break sweat down, especially inside warm, damp shoes. Managing it comes down to three things: clean feet, dry feet and dry shoes.

Why feet smell

• Lots of sweat. Each foot has many thousands of sweat glands.
• Closed shoes and synthetic socks trap moisture.
• Bacteria feed on sweat and dead skin and release smelly compounds.
• Shoes that never dry carry the smell from one day to the next.

Feet tend to sweat more in hot weather, during exercise, under stress and during hormonal changes, such as the teenage years and pregnancy. Some people simply sweat more than others.

Daily foot hygiene

1. Wash your feet every day with soap and water. An antibacterial soap can help with persistent odor.
2. Clean between the toes.
3. Dry thoroughly, especially between the toes. A hair dryer on a cool setting is useful.
4. Remove hard skin gently once a week. Thick, damp skin holds bacteria.
5. Keep toenails short and clean. See Toenail Care: Trimming and Hygiene Tips.

Keep feet dry through the day

• Use an antiperspirant on your feet. An ordinary underarm antiperspirant spray or roll-on, applied to clean, dry soles at night, reduces sweat.
• Dust with foot powder, if you find it helps.
• Change socks at least once a day, and after exercise.
• Go barefoot or wear open sandals at home to let your feet air.

Socks

Wash socks at the temperature on the care label, and dry them fully. Always wear socks with closed shoes.

Shoes

• Alternate pairs. Do not wear the same shoes two days running. Shoes need at least 24 hours to dry.
• Loosen the laces and pull out the tongue and insoles after wearing, so that air can reach the inside.
• Dry them in a ventilated place. Sunlight helps, but strong heat can damage shoes.
• Choose breathable materials, such as leather, canvas and mesh.
• Use washable or odor-absorbing insoles, and replace them regularly.
• Wash sneakers and canvas shoes if the maker says they are washable.
• Do not keep shoes in a closed gym bag or a plastic box while they are damp.

Freshening shoes that already smell

• Sprinkle baking soda inside overnight, and shake it out in the morning.
• Use a shoe deodorizer, or an antibacterial shoe spray.
• Replace insoles.
• Stuff damp shoes with newspaper to draw out moisture.
• If a pair still smells after all this, it may be time to replace it.

A simple plan

When odor may be a sign of infection

• Athlete's foot: itchy, white, peeling or cracked skin between the toes or on the soles. It is a fungal infection, and pharmacy treatments are available.
• Pitted skin on the soles with a strong smell can be a bacterial infection that needs a prescription.
• Thick, discolored toenails may be fungal. See Nail Fungus: Signs and Why Diagnosis Matters.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor or podiatrist if:

• Odor has not improved after a few weeks of careful hygiene.
• You have itching, peeling, cracks, redness or pits in the skin.
• Sweating is so heavy that it soaks through socks, or affects daily life. Stronger antiperspirants and other treatments are available for excessive sweating.
• You have diabetes, and notice any change in your feet.

Feet that are dry and cracked on the heels but sweaty elsewhere need moisturizer on the heels only. See How to Moisturize Your Feet. For choosing footwear and socks for active days, see Foot Care for Walking, Work, and Exercise.

Related on ArniSun

• Foot Care for Walking, Work, and Exercise
• How to Moisturize Your Feet
• Nail Fungus: Signs and Why Diagnosis Matters
• Post-Workout Body Care: Showering and Moisturizing
• Toenail Care: Trimming and Hygiene Tips

Sources and further reading

• NHS: Smelly feet
• NHS: Athlete's foot
• NHS: Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• DermNet: Hyperhidrosis