4 Effective Home Remedies for Sore, Cracked and Stinky Feet

Flip-Flop Season is nearly here! For some of us, it’s already arrived and that means it’s time to get sexy summer feet! But those cracked heels and blackened feet are so annoying around us. Normally, the shoes that you wear, particularly during the hot and dry summer months will cause your feet to dry out and could cause them to crack. Sweaty feet can be the reason of stinky feet. Though, sweat is itself odourless, but when it mixes with certain types of bacteria, it creates a bad odour. Improper shoes and foot care are another 2 common reasons for cracked heels, too. There are a few products on the market to help heal dry feet but there are very effective home remedies that you can try as well, such as shaving cream, veggie oil, Vaseline, baking soda, salt and more.

1. Shaving cream to help heal dryness.

Slather your feet with a generous amount of shaving cream.
Mix together equal parts of Listerine and warm water.
While you still have shaving cream on your feet, wrap a towel that is soaked in the Listerine mixture around your feet and allow it to sit for about half an hour.
Using the same towel, rub the shaving cream off your feet. This will remove calloused and dry skin as well as the blackened or discolored skin that feet typically get when they are dry.
Apply lotion to your feet for extra moisturizing.

2. Vegetable Oil

A variety of vegetable oils can be used to treat and prevent cracked heels. Olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil or any other hydrogenated vegetable oil will work.

First soak your feet in soapy water and scrub your feet with a pumice stone.
Wash your feet and then dry them thoroughly
Apply any vegetable oil liberally on your heels and soles.
Put on a pair of clean socks and leave them on overnight while you sleep. In the morning, your heels will be noticeably softer.
Repeat this for a few days until the cracks in your heels are gone completely.

3. Vaseline

You can use Vaseline or petroleum jelly on dry, rough skin to prevent cracked heels and leave your feet soft and well moisturized.

Scrub the hard dead skin around your feet after soaking them in warm water and then apply petroleum jelly over the entire heel area. You can also mix one teaspoon of lemon juice in petroleum jelly and then apply.
Cover your feet with socks so that the petroleum jelly soaks into the skin.
For best results, do this daily before going to bed. If you are doing this during the day, just leave the white socks on until your feet soak it all in.

4. Warm Salt Water Bath

It’s important to take extra care to keep your cracked heels well moisturized. You can do this simply with an Epsom salt or a sea salt foot soak. It will also help improve circulation.

Mix one-half cup of Epsom salt in a foot tub filled with warm water.
Soak your feet in this solution for 10-15 minutes.
Scrub your feet with a pumice stone and again soak in the foot soak for 10 minutes.
Pat your feet dry and apply some foot cream or petroleum jelly to lock in the moisture
For best results, put on a pair of socks to prevent the added moisture from evaporating.

Bonus:

5. Meshed Bananas

Ripe bananas are one of the cheapest home remedies for cracked and dry heels, thanks to their moisturizing properties.

Mash one ripe banana into a smooth paste. Clean your feet thoroughly and apply the banana paste on your heels.
Let it to sit for 10 to 15 minutes so that your skin can absorb the natural nourishment. Wash your feet gently with some warm water and then soak your feet in cold water for 5 to 10 minutes.
Do this daily for a few weeks to restore soft and smooth heels.

6. Honey

Honey has moisturizing and antibacterial properties, making it an excellent treatment for dry and cracked heels.

Stir one cup of honey in a foot tub filled with warm water.
Soak your feet in the water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Scrub your feet gently.
Do this daily or several times a week until you see improvement.