Soaking your feet in vinegar is an inexpensive yet reliable way to get rid of a variety of problems like athlete’s foot, toenail fungus, dry, cracked heels, foot odor, and so on because of its acidic properties.
The simplest way to soak your feet in this magic potion is to add two cups of white vinegar in about two gallons of hot water and immerse your feet in this solution for half an hour to 45 minutes. You can also add essential oils in the foot soak to soften, moisturize, and deodorize your feet.
Besides, you may choose to use white distilled vinegar, apple cider, vinegar, or any flavor-induced vinegar. Before going for foot soak or foot bath, though, you need to decide whether you want to soak your feet in your bath tub, foot spa therapy vessel, or simply a small plastic tub.
After using the foot bath vessel, make sure you cleanse and sanitize it properly. If you are bothered about the smell of vinegar, rest assured that it shall not hang around for long.
Given below are some recipes for vinegar foot soaks for certain foot problems
Tired Feet
Prepare a vinegar soak for tired feet by mixing one cup each of Epsom salt, sea salt, and white vinegar. To make this foot bath more relaxing and fragrant, add half a cup of dried lavender, too.
Finally, add enough warm water in this solution so that you can comfortably submerge your feet in it. Alternatively, you may simply use a combination of half a cup of Epsom salt and a quarter cup of vinegar.
Athlete’s Foot
When dealing with athlete’s foot, mix five cups each of apple cider vinegar and water in your foot soak vessel and immerse your feet in the solution for 10-15 minutes to reduce itching and scaling. Follow this procedure daily for at least 10 days or until the condition improves.
Another easy way to cure this problem involves soaking your feet in a solution of half a cup of white vinegar, two teaspoons of salt, and sufficient water to soak your feet in. Plus, rub the affected area with a cotton ball soaked in vinegar.
Smelly Feet
For a detoxifying foot bath to get rid of foot odor, soak your feet in a solution of two parts water, one part white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of thyme essential oil for about 15-20 minutes.
Thyme oil has antiseptic properties that help fight the foul odor. Do not use this recipe in case you have open sores or broken skin
Alternatively, you may soak in a mixture of four cups of apple cider vinegar, four cups of warm water, and one and a half cup of baking soda. You may use a combination of Epsom salt, baking, soda, and vinegar, too.
Follow this therapy several times in a week and make sure you dry your feet thoroughly afterwards. Using vinegar, however, may not be a good option if your stinky feet tend to have a ‘vinegary’ odor.
To avoid smelly feet due to fungal infection, regularly apply a combination of white vinegar and rubbing alcohol, both mixed in equal quantities. Drip a few drops of this solution between your toes.
Toenail Fungus
Soak your feet in a mixture of one part white vinegar and two parts water for about 15 minutes daily to relieve toenail fungus. Besides, using a combination of diluted vinegar and Listerine is also considered beneficial in this regard.
Treating your feet to a foot bath in a solution of equal amounts of apple cider vinegar and water also works as an effective remedy because apple cider vinegar has anti fungal and anti bacterial properties.
Warts & Calluses
Vinegar can work wonders for treating warts and calluses. Basically, it is acetic acid, which is similar to salicylic acid, which in turn, is useful for getting rid of a variety of skin problems.
Hence, to cure these issues, mix equal amounts of white vinegar and warm water, and soak in the liquid for 20 minutes.
Besides, you may soak your feet in warm water for about 5 minutes and then soak in apple cider vinegar for 15 minutes. Another effective remedy is to soak a cotton ball in vinegar, tape it on the affected area, and leave it overnight.
To prevent calluses in the future, avoid walking bare foot, especially outside. If you are prone to calluses, consider adding padded insets in your footwear to reduce pressure.
Dry, Hard Feet
To get soft feet and eliminate dry feet, immerse your feet in a solution of white vinegar and water for about 45 minutes, and scrub them with the help of a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells.
Moreover, scrub the upper foot area with a soft brush. Finally, after washing your feet, apply a moisturizer to maintain soft and smooth feet.
Follow this simple procedure two to three times in a week. When including foot soaks in your beauty regime, remember that you need not soak for too often or for too long as this may cause dryness.
Vinegar is very good for skin cleaning. It is in expensive and does not contain chemicals. Therefore, vinegar is easy and best method for removing dead skin.