How to Stop Foot Odor: Tips, Remedies & OTC Solutions

Wondering how to stop foot odor for good? It all starts with understanding what’s behind that persistent stink. From sweaty soles to bacteria-packed shoes, several everyday habits contribute to the issue. Thankfully, a few smart changes and targeted treatments can help you control the smell and keep your feet feeling fresh all day long.

What Causes Foot Odor

To learn how to eliminate foot odor, it is essential to understand its underlying causes.

The smell coming from your feet actually has a name: bromodosis. It’s a condition commonly caused by excessive foot sweat. Considering your feet contain roughly 250,000 sweat glands—far more than anywhere else on your body—it makes sense that excessive sweat can lead to a noticeable odor.

Now, sweat is your body’s way of trying to keep cool, but it can also create a breeding ground for body-odor-causing bacteria that love the warm, moist environment inside your shoes. These bacteria feast on dead skin cells and sweat, and it’s their waste that creates the distinctive odor that can clear a room faster than a fire alarm. 

Common triggers for excessively sweaty, smelly feet include:

• Wearing non-breathable socks or shoes
• Wearing the same shoes every day
• Poor foot hygiene
• Fungal infections like athlete’s foot
• Hormonal changes that increase sweating

Daily Habits to Prevent Foot Odor

Fortunately, you can make small changes to your daily routine to help reduce foot odor and keep your feet feeling dry and fresh.

Take Advantage of Anti-Odor Flip-Flops

During warmer months, swap your sneakers for sandals or flip-flops. Thompson Tee’s Odor Shield™ Flip Flops are the world’s first flip-flops for smelly feet, designed with top-of-the-line anti odor technology. The soft, wool-lined footbed keeps your feet dry by effectively absorbing sweat as you go about your day.

Go Barefoot When You’re Home

When you’re not out and about, forget shoes altogether. Walking around barefoot can keep moisture at bay and reduce bacterial growth. 

Choose Breathable Footwear

When you’re not rocking your Thompson Tee Odor Shield Flip Flops, choose footwear that allows your feet to breathe. 

Our advice? Prioritize leather and canvas shoes—they offer better air circulation than options made from synthetic materials. Some sneakers also come with a mesh upper and other specially designed features to help manage sweat. 

Read more: 8 Sweat-Resistant and Sweat-Absorbing Fabrics Explained

Rotate Your Shoes

If you struggle with excessive foot sweat, don’t wear the same shoes day in and day out (unless they’re your Odor Shield flops). Instead, rotate between two to three different options to give each pair time to air out. 

When you take off your shoes, remove the insoles to let everything air dry separately and stuff newspaper inside to absorb moisture faster. 

Read more: 25 Best Body Cooling Products to Beat the Heat

Regularly Clean the Insides of Your Shoes 

After removing your insoles and absorbing any excess moisture with newspaper, spray the insides of your shoes with rubbing alcohol, white vinegar or an antimicrobial shoe solution to eliminate odor-causing bacteria.

Wear Natural Fiber Socks

Synthetic fibers like polyester often retain heat and moisture, leading to sweatier feet. Wool and natural cotton socks can help wick away or absorb moisture to keep feet drier for longer. 

Change Your Socks Regularly

If you sweat heavily during long work days or outdoor activities, pack an extra pair of socks. The more often you change your socks, the less time bacteria have to grow. 

Keep Toenails Trimmed and Clean

Long toenails can trap bacteria and dead skin, triggering excessive foot odor. To avoid this, trim your toenails straight across and use a nail brush during your shower routine to keep them squeaky clean. 

Wash Your Feet

Many people rush through washing their feet—or worse, they skip this step entirely. If you want your feet to remain odor-free, give them a thorough scrub with antibacterial soap every day. Since bacteria thrive in moisture, make sure to pat your feet dry with a clean towel afterward.

At-Home Remedies that Work

If your feet continue to be excessively sweaty, the next best approach is to use simple, at-home remedies to kick foot odor to the curb (pun intended). 

Antibacterial Soap With Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil has natural antimicrobial properties. To use this to your advantage: 

• Mix a small amount of tea tree oil into some soapy water to dilute
• Lather the solution over your feet
• Let it sit for a minute
• Rinse and dry completely 

DIY Foot Soaks

These DIY foot soaks can help get rid of foot odor naturally while also allowing for some soothing relaxation: 

• Vinegar and water – Mix equal parts white vinegar and warm water, and soak your feet for 15 minutes. The acid in the vinegar will kill bacteria and fungus, leaving your feet refreshed and odor-free.
• Epsom salts – Add ½ cup of Epsom salt to warm water, and soak your feet for 30 to 60 minutes twice a week. You can also add essential oils for added relaxation, or tea tree oil for its antimicrobial properties. Since Epsom salt can dry your skin, remember to moisturize your feet after each soak. 
• Black tea – This soak can temporarily shrink sweat glands and kill existing bacteria, keeping your feet fresher for longer. To make it, brew 2 black tea bags in one quart of water, transfer the cooled mixture to your soaking area and leave your feet in for about 10 minutes. 

Read more: 9 Ways to Get Rid of Body Odor Naturally

At-Home Foot Powder

An at-home foot powder can also be an effective odor deterrent. Simply mix baking soda with cornstarch and add a few drops of odor-busting essential oils, like lavender or tea tree. Dust your feet and shoes with this mixture daily.

Over-the-Counter Solutions

If at-home remedies aren’t enough, step up your foot-odor-busting efforts with these over-the-counter (OTC) products.

• Antiperspirant – Try applying roll-on or spray antiperspirants on clean, dry feet before bed to block your sweat glands. 
• Foot powders – Sprinkle a talc-free foot powder with antifungal ingredients on your feet and inside your shoes before heading out for the day. 
• Specialized insoles – Copper-infused or antibacterial insoles can help control odor. Just keep in mind that they lose effectiveness over time and should be replaced regularly.  
• Odor-absorbing products – Shoe sprays with antimicrobial ingredients or UV shoe sanitizers can help kill bacteria and fungus. You can also try cedar shoe inserts to absorb moisture and odor.
• Chlorhexidine soap – You can find Chlorhexidine soap (most commonly known as Hibiclens) at most drugstores. This surgical scrub kills bacteria for hours after use and makes for an excellent daily foot cleanse. 

When to See a Doctor

Sometimes, foot odor can signal a bigger problem, especially if you’re not seeing any difference with preventative measures and at-home or OTC remedies. So, when exactly should you get a medical professional involved?

Persistent Odor Despite Good Hygiene

If you’ve followed every odor-busting tip in the book, but the scent persists, it’s time to consider medical conditions like bromhidrosis, which is characterized by abnormally smelly body odor. 

To treat this and other similar conditions, your doctor can prescribe stronger antiperspirants, topical creams or oral medications. 

Signs of Fungal Infection

Itching, peeling, scaling or mild blistering between toes can all be signs of athlete’s foot or another type of fungal infection. Over-the-counter antifungal creams can help, but persistent infections need prescription treatment. 

Excessive sweating

If your feet sweat profusely, even when you’re not hot, stressed or on the go, you may want to be evaluated for hyperhidrosis—a condition that causes the body to produce more sweat than necessary. 

Signs of possible hyperhidrosis include:

• Sweating that interferes with daily activities
• Consistently sweaty hands, feet, underarms or face
• Emotional distress or social anxiety from sweating
• Unexplained night sweats 

No Foot Odor All Summer Long

Ready to finally stop foot odor in its tracks? With the right routine—and the right gear—you can keep your feet dry, healthy, and odor-free. For all-day freshness, step into Thompson Tee’s Odor Shield™ Flip Flops, designed with advanced sweat-absorbing technology to fight odor where it starts. 

Your feet (and everyone around you) will thank you.