Keep your feet smelling fresh all day with these tips.
Keep your feet smelling fresh all day with these tips.
Let your toes breathe Here’s a tip for lunchtime workout fans. If you’re constantly slipping from gym shoes right into pumps (especially after a shower), you’re encouraging a warm, damp environment that fungi and odour-causing bacteria thrive in. Instead, pack a pair of lightweight, open-toed sandals so your feet can air out as much as possible before you head back to the office.
Clean your shoes If they already stink, don’t throw them out just yet. Try sunning your footwear to kill bacteria. Also, if you can remove the laces and insoles, be sure to do that first to maximise the deodorising effects of the sun’s rays. In fact, you might want to replace your insoles altogether. With pumps, some light cleaning with rubbing alcohol or antibacterial wipes will sanitise your kicks in seconds.
Pick a more exciting shoe design No, we’re not talking about crazy colours or overly fanciful details. To encourage better airflow around your feet, you might want to trade your covered pumps for shoes with peep toes, strategically placed floral cut-outs, or even a slingback heel. Something in a woven or braided material helps, too. Get a few pairs so you can rotate them daily and let your shoes air out between wears.
Swop your socks Designs abound when it comes to cutting, patterns, and hues, so you can and should wear them with any type of footwear. Cotton or wool socks effectively absorb moisture. There are even pairs made of bamboo, which supposedly have good breathability, and ones threaded with carbon or silver to reduce odour. However, try to stay away from nylon, polyester and other synthetic materials, which may trap perspiration. At the end of the day, even if socks don’t seem sweaty, put them in the wash as a second wear almost guarantees foul-smelling feet.
Soak your feet Kill bacteria living on feet with an antibacterial soak. Fill a tub with warm water, tip in some vinegar or antibacterial solution, immerse your feet and relax for 10 minutes.
Use foot sprays and powders These quell iffyodoursalmost instantly and are easy to use.They keep feet comfortably dry, too. But the effects don’t seem to last for more than a few hours. Thankfully, the bottles are often small enough to slip into your bag for a discreet spritz when needed.
