Q. I have found a home remedy for stinky feet. Brew 8 to 10 tea bags in a foot tub. Allow the tea to cool slightly, then soak the feet until the tea cools. Do this as often as necessary.
The tannins in the tea do a wonderful job as antibacterial agents. Also, please advise your readers to try going barefoot as much as possible. Exposing your feet to air helps tremendously. So does washing slippers, flip-flops or any other footwear that can be laundered.
A. One major shoe firm (Rockport) recently introduced shoes that go in the washing machine. It may not have been motivated by a desire to reduce foot odor, but it may help. Other manufacturers use high-tech materials to prevent sweat from building up in shoes where it can contribute to odor.
Feet that sweat profusely are more prone to become stinky. Tannin from tea cuts down on sweating, and that may be how your treatment helps feet smell better. We include a similar recipe for a tea foot soak, along with many other approaches to reducing aroma, in guide Solutions for Smelly Feet.
