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Foot odor may be caused by sweaty feet and rapidly growing bacteria.
To avoid foot odor, use preventive measures. Wear cotton socks, as they will absorb perspiration and allow the feet to breathe better than synthetic ones. Leather or open shoes (sandals) are better than synthetic ones. Change your shoes daily in order to give them a chance to dry out. Buy a foot scrubber at your pharmacy and scrub your feet.
Alum Purchase some alum in the spice section of your supermarket. Mix one teaspoon with one or two gallons of water in a container, and soak your feet for 30 minutes; rinse with clear water; repeat after four days. If you do this once a month it will eliminate foot odor. Courtesy James H. Mary.
Antiperspirant Spray the bottom of your feet with an antiperspirant. This will stop the wetness, and, hopefully, the cause of the odor. Note: if you also have cracked skin it may be cleared up, too, but the antiperspirant may irritate the skin.
Apple cider vinegar To control the odor, soak your feet several times a week in one-third cup of vinegar added to a small pan of warm water.
Baking soda Sprinkle baking soda inside your shoes to absorb moisture and odors.
Radishes Juice about two dozen radishes, add 1/4 teaspoon of glycerine, and put in a squirt or spray-top bottle. Use as an underarm deodorant or to reduce foot odor.
Soap Wash your feet daily with soap (an antibacterial soap is preferable). Make sure you dry your feet and toes thoroughly. This will get rid of dead skin where the bacteria may be growing.
Tea Boil a quart of water and add 5 tea bags. After the water cools, soak your feet for 30 minutes. The tannin in the tea is an astringent, which will prevent your feet from perspiring.
Zinc Take a zinc supplement, or make sure you are getting at least 15 milligrams in your multi-vitamin. This remedy should reduce or eliminate the odor within a week or two. If it starts coming back, increase the amount to 100 milligrams for a few days. The zinc may make the skin more resistant to the bacteria causing the odor. Don't take more than 15 mg. of zinc for more than a week or two without medical supervision as high levels of zinc can interfere with the absorption of copper.
Zinc oxide Find a foot deodorant containing zinc oxide and herbs.