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!
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Fess up… there is some undesirable foot odor in your home too. Want to banish the smelly feet and destroy shoe foot odor? This easy No More Stinky Feet Spray is an all-natural way to quickly cure stinky feet and prevents smelly shoes.
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 Stinky Feet Solutions
- 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.
Got extra vodka from making this recipe? Use it to clean!
- It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere window cleaner
- Lemon Infused Disinfecting Cleaner, perfect for cold and flu season!
I hope this natural foot odor cure keeps your feet smelling sweet.
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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.