Want to banish the stinky feet and destroy shoe foot odor? This easy, all-natural foot spray is an all-natural way to quickly eliminate foot odor and prevent smelly shoes.
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I’m going to let you in on a little secret that we try to keep in the closet at the Bren Did homestead. Unfortunately, the secret has been leaking out every time we open the shoe closet door. The secret? Stinky feet!
Fess up… there is some undesirable foot odor in your home, too.
Why Feet Smell
Foot odor is caused by warm, sweaty toes and the bacteria that love them. The bacteria grow in the warm, damp environment created by your feet in shoes and continue to grow and flourish in the closet.
Wham-o… overpowering stinky feet smell when you open the closet door or sniff the inside of your shoes.
Curing Stinky Feet
There is a simple, effective, all natural way to get rid of foot odor:
- Vodka and tea tree oil.
1) Vodka contains ethanol, a non-toxic antiseptic which kills bacteria.
- You can also using rubbing alcohol in this mix, which is isopropyl alcohol with some water and additives to make it smell and taste bad. I prefer using vodka due the synthetic fragrance chemicals contained in rubbing alcohol.
2) Tea tree oil is both antibacterial and antifungal according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information.
Stinky Feet Spray Directions
To make the foot spray simply mix:
- ¼ cup (2 ounces) of Vodka (I buy the cheapest vodka available, 80 proof or more)
- 3 or 4 drops of Tea Tree Oil (This is the brand I use.)
- In a dark glass spray bottle (Use a dark glass container to prolong effectiveness and prevent plastic leaching.)
To use: spritz onto bottom of feet and in between toes, pat dry or air dry.
Stinky Feet Spray Cost
This solution costs about $0.72 for 2 ounces.
- $0.26 an ounce for Vodka (I buy the cheapest vodka available, $9 for a liter)
- $0.20 for Tea Tree Oil (this is the brand I use)
Cost Comparison
A similar natural alternative on Amazon costs $16.00 for 4 ounces. That’s $4.00 an ounce! You’re saving more than $5 by making your own and you know exactly what it contains.
Other Ideas for Eliminating Stinky Feet
These natural foot care tutorials will keep your feet and shoes smelling and feeling great all year long.
- Use No More Stinky Feet Spray to deodorize shoes! It works great in sturdy, waterproof shoes like Keens and Crocs.
- Make all-natural Cooling and Deodorizing Foot and Shoe Powder to deodorize more delicate shoes.
- Make all-natural Easy Cooling Foot and Leg Butter to soften feet and keep them smelling great.
- Try using tea tree oil to eliminate athlete’s foot.
- Make DIY Bubbling Foot Scrub to slough away calluses.
I hope this natural foot odor cure keeps your feet smelling sweet.
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Cheryl
Here’s a tip someone told me about “no more smelly feet or shoes”. I had this problem and have it no longer. Clean feet in clean socks in clean shoes and you’ll never have this problem again. If you walk around barefooted, before you put on shoes and socks, wipe your feet down with a damp paper towel. This removes the dirt that causes the germs and bacteria to form from sweating. That is what causes the odor! I used to have the worst smelling feet, but not any more! I am living proof that this works! Try it for yourself.
Jane MacDonald
My chiropodist recommended end cider vinegar in a spray bottle and said to use on feet and inside shoes
thebarak
When vodka dries up it leaves sticky sugar behind. So your alternate, the rubbing alcohol is a much better idea than using vodka.
Tessa
In your athlete’s foot post you mentioned that you spray the shoes with a mixture of vinegar/vodka/tea tree oil. Is the vinegar a necessary component or is this recipe sufficient? Before I stumbled on your site I was spraying my son’s work boots with straight vinegar. He hated how that smelled and was quite happy when I mixed up this new mixture yesterday; I added some lemon EO to mask the tea tree smell. But will it kill the germs in there? We also started treating his feet with the almond oil and tea tree oil last night.
Bren
You could use this recipe too. Just be careful to test so you do not damage shoes.
Tory
Hello can i use this formula with calamansi or lemon? Thanks a lot!
Bren
You can try adding other oils to the mix but tea tree is necessary to kill the bacteria that causes foot odor.
Jess
Bren –
can this foot spray be used to kill foot fungus in shoes from athlete’s foot. I’d rather use natural vs. lysol.
Anne P
What is the shelf life of this?
Bren
It lasts several months in a dark glass bottle or stainless steel spray bottle.
Melissa
So glad you wrote about this!! I cannot wait to try it. My boy’s shoes are the worst. Can you spray it tennis shoes as well?
Bren
Thanks Melissa! Yes, I use it in tennis shoes as well. I spray it in at night so they have a bit of time to air dry before being used again. I also use this diy deodorizing foot powder to sprinkle in smelly shoes if you prefer a non-liquid solution. It works equally well!
bridget
No. It’s not chemical-free. EVERYTHING IS MADE OF CHEMICALS.
Bren
You’re 100% correct Bridget, I should be more specific and say it is free of synthetic, man-made chemicals/substances.
Amanda
I am obsessed with this spray!!! I went to the nail salon yesterday and found out once polish was removed that I have fungus on my big toe. One half of my toe nail is living up. 🙁 so I used the powder and this spray to clean my shoes. I used the spray for my feet. Added a little backing soda to the spray. All I know is my feet feel so fresh!!!!! Like omg! I am applying tea tree oil a couple times a day to the infected toe, and I also sprayed my feet after the shower. And my feet are so fresh!!
Bren
I am so glad you like the spray, Amanda. It is a lifesaver for warm months when toes are on display! Have you tried Cooling Foot and Leg Butter? It’s heaven at night and keeps your feet so soft.
Debbie Rutherford
I don’t have vodka..so how do I make this with rubbing alcohol for now??
Bren
Just substitute rubbing alcohol for the vodka.
Patti
Does this affect your blood alcohol content?! oils rubbed on the feet reach the brain in less than a minute, crossing the blood-brain barrier. I would think this would affect BAC. What if someone gets a random drug test at work? I know it’s “only” a 1/4 cup; but, still…
Bren
Patti,
I am not sure of the affect on blood alcohol level. This foot spray is similar to cologne or perfume which is 10-40% alcohol. You should only use on spritz per foot not the entire solution.
Anita
This sounds that our youngest son needs this every time he come to our house and takes his shoes off the smell gets worse even if he’s wash them that day we all complain about the smell
Bren
I hope it works for you!
Loretta
Could you use witchhhazel instead of vodka?
I’m not apposed to vodka but not sure I want to buy any if witchhazel would do
Bren
Loretta, I have never tried the recipe with witch hazel. It may work since witch hazel has antibacterial properties. Let me know if you try it an it works. -Bren
Graham
Can you use this as a pre spray meaning you spray your feet before you put your shoes daily? Also do you just spray your feet let dry before you put on your socks shoes ,or rub it in before you ut on socks an shoes, or just spray and go before you put on your socks and shoes?
Bren
Yes, you can use it as a pre-spray. You can let it dry or simply put your socks on and go, it is up to your personal preference. As far as simply spraying or spray and rubbing this is again your personal preference. We simply spray it on.
deannapiercy
I wish my mom had known about this. One of my brothers had such stinky feet he could clear a room when he took his shoes off. In some cases smelly feet can be caused by a zinc deficiency so it wouldn’t hurt to increase consumption of foods high in zinc.
Bren
Thanks for the tips, Deanna!
Libby
I thoroughly sprayed all of my shoes – including dress shoes – and put them out in the hot summer sun for 4+ hours. My formally-very-stinky-and-embarassing shoes smell great now! Thank you so much.
Bren
Libby, I am so glad to hear that the spray worked well for you! It’s a lifesaver at our house! Now that your shoes are smelling sweet you might try a dusting of my cooling foot powder before you put them on.
Mary
is this safe for toddlers? My 15 month old granddaughter has stinky feet.
Bren
I would use it on the shoes of younger children (but not their feet) and use a mix of cornstarch/baking soda to dust their feet. Most experts recommend limiting the use of essential oils on young children. Hope this helps!
Sally
Can this be sprayed on or in the shoes to eliminate odor instead of spraying feet?
Bren
Yes, it works great in shoes that are sturdy or waterproof. For shoes made of more delicate material try my Cooling Foot and Shoe Deodorizing Powder.
Sura
Which tea tree oil did you use? The one I could find if about $8 at Walmart.. does that sound right?
Thanks!
Bren
Sura, I have used Now, 365, Aura Cacia and Spark Naturals. Make sure it says 100% essential oil or 100% pure tea tree oil on the ingredients part of the label. Good luck! $8 is the average price for a 1 oz bottle.
Gramma Lu
Hi Bren
THANKS for the recipe! The stinky feet spray will also work for fragrant underarms!
Bren
Excellent point! It would work well on underarms… though it might sting a bit if they are freshly shaved!
Donella Crigger
I’ll definitely be trying this! There’s a stinky feet problem in our home, too. My hubby is a police officer, and his boots sometimes after a 12-14 hour shift. Ugh!
Bren
Donella, my husband is in the military so I know what you mean! I assure you it works on steel toe combat boots. 🙂 I also like to sprinkle them with my foot powder (aka carpet and room deodorizer). Hope you like the recipe!
Stephanie
You are brave to post this!! lol. But it really is great info. I am always looking for all natural ways to do anything! Thanks for sharing!
Stephanie
Bren
Thanks Stephanie! I agree, I like figuring out natural ways to do things.