I have a problem with smelly feet. Even my husband has commented on it. He told me that my feet smell like an old hockey bag - Yuck... http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/eek.gif Anyway, I was wondering if anyone has ever expereinced this, and if so what did you do to get rid of it? Is it as easy as getting odor eaters shoe inserts? I think hte problem is this pair of shoes I wear daily for work. The easy solution is to get rid of the shoes, but they were expensive and they are extremely comforatable. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/rolleyes.gif I hope someone has experienced something similar. Thanks in advance...

I don't know what kind of shoes you are talking about, but what I do with some of my shoes is I put them in the freezer over night. The cold kills all the bacteria that is living in the shoe. Of course don't plan on wearing them the day you get them out of the freezer http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif. That should take care of the problem for the shoe, but not sure what to do if the problem originated in your feet. If you don't get any answers, let me know and I will do some checking for you. My email address is wowo@chesapeake.net

Stinky feet are a product of bacterial fermentation. (You know... like, as in cheese!)

You buy a pair of new shoes. (they look good on you.) You decide you are going to wear them a lot! You wear them without socks. Your feet sweat. The dead skin rubs off your feet and stays in your shoes. Your shoes stay moist from the sweat, the humidity, the ??? The bacteria start to multiply, as they do, they give off gasses and leave residues. That is what stinks. You are making cheese in your shoes without milk, just leather and human skin flakes.

Solution:

- Make sure you wash your feet well and get the dead skin off.
- Never wear your shoes without socks!!
- If you already wore a pair and they stink, then, you can rinse them out on the inside with some baking soda water solution. (it makes a basic environment that bacteria don't like) let dry in a well ventilated area. Or, rinse with alcohol (the shoes) and let dry well. Or, use a Clorox solutin 1 part clorox and 9 parts water. Or, do all of the above and then while wet, spray Lysol inside to keep that bacteria at bay for a few months. (you may want to test this on an old pair of stinky shoes first!)

Bacteria jumps from your feet to your shoes, and from your shoes to your feet. So, when they come in contact eith each other (the feet and shoes) you contaminate the other.

Your feet probably could use a pedicure and some scrubbing on the cuticle and under the nails. This in addition to the scrubbing your skin to remove the dead skin should help the stinkyness.

Remember: Your feet, even if recently cleaned, will pick up the bacteria from the shoes when you wear the shoes without socks.

Try keeping both clean and always, I mean always, wear socks inside your shoes.

Hope your husband appreciates me alot!!

[This message has been edited by Moon (edited 01-06-2001).]

I have been searching for a cure for my sons feet. For the past 1-2 years his feet are smelling awful! I noticed the smell first, then discovered his socks are sticky,smelling and discolored. He says they do not itch or hurt. Just very sticky,smellling and embarassing!
However, the skin appears to be white, as though they were soaking in hot water when he takes off his socks. Obviously it is fungus
I have read where Boraox powder would help, where do I find this? We are currently soaking in clorax water (cool) solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated by our noses!!!

My problem of stinky feet seems to come from wearing pantyhose, using shoe inserts (bad feet), and having to wear dress shoes all the time.
I wash my feet thoroughly everyday (sometimes multiple times), and toss the inserts and the shoes (washable flats) in the washer and dryer every week or so. Bath & Body Works anti-bacterial foot spray helps for a few hours...
Also, my feet do not stink on the weekend when I can wear socks and tennis shoes...
Any advice? Thanks...

My roomate had the worst, smelly feet, so bad it would make the cats run!!! He is the type that wears shoes and socks all time, and never lets his feet breath. I suggested that he wash his feet every night, and then let them breath with out socks....Also, I told him to spray his feet in the morning before work with Lotrimin.....Lo and behold, no stinky, smelly feet! He had the type that would stain his socks, and would also feel sticky.....Hope this helps....eddie

Take Zinc and don't stink!...50 mg each day for 3 days and then 50 mg 3 times a week!

I have the same problems. I've tried everything--even deodorant/anti-perspirant directly on my feet. The biggest problem I have that contributes to the odor problem is that my feet sweat profusely. I've learned to manage by letting my shoes air out in between wearings, cleaning them out, using odor destroyer insoles, etc etc etc. I've had to throw perfectly good pairs of shoes away because they stunk so bad & I couldn't get the odor to go away, so I feel your pain!