How To Get Rid of Smelly Feet: 7 Tips for Men

You kick off your shoes after another long day and suddenly… something smells off. You sniff the air and maybe even blame the dog. But eventually you realize it’s coming from your dogs, a.k.a. your feet. 

Before you trash your favorite sneakers, listen up. Banishing foot odor starts with figuring out why your dogs are barking in the first place. From sweat and bacteria to long hours at work, a few usual suspects can turn your toes into serious stink offenders. 

Read on for a guide to how to get rid of smelly feet, including foot odor remedies and hygiene routine fixes for getting those bad boys back under control. 

What Causes Smelly Feet?

Let’s make one thing clear. A little foot odor’s normal, especially after your feet sweat inside socks and shoes for hours. It's when the funk’s powerful enough to announce your arrival before you do that you need to investigate. 

Here’s what might be turning up the stink. 

Sweat + Bacteria = Funk

While the sweat itself isn't the stinky part, the bacteria living on your skin feed it and produce some seriously unpleasant byproducts, including a vinegar-y scent. This sweat and bacteria combo is one of the main causes of this type of body odor, also called bromodosis.

Your Shoes Are Holding Onto the Smell 

Your trusty kicks can become little saunas for your toes. Enclosed footwear traps heat and moisture, creating the warm, damp environment bacteria love. Plus, wearing the same pair day after day often means they don’t fully dry out, so yesterday’s sweat’s still hanging around when you lace up, leading to smelly feet. 

Your Foot-Care Routine Needs a Tune-Up

We get it. You're in the shower, the water hits your feet, and you figure gravity handles the rest. Nice try, but it doesn’t actually count as cleaning. 

When your hygiene’s not up to par, sweat, bacteria, and other grime get a little too comfortable, and that buildup contributes to foot odor. 

You’re a Gym Rat 

Crushing a workout feels great, but if you’ve ever peeled off a pair of swampy socks after, you probably hold your breath to avoid the stink. You sweat more when you exercise, and when you add warm sneakers to the equation, your feet can end up considerably funkier than at the beginning of your sesh. 

Leaving damp workout shoes to marinate in your gym bag also keeps moisture around longer, which can also contribute to the stench. 

Dead Skin’s Sticking Around 

Your feet naturally shed dead skin cells, but all that dead skin hanging around can trap moisture, giving odor-causing bacteria the chance to thrive. Let enough of it build up, and it could cause pitted keratolysis, which gives your feet both a bad smell and trypophobia-inducing pits in the skin.

Your Socks Aren’t Pulling Their Weight 

Your socks spend all day sandwiched between your feet and your shoes, and some hold on to moisture like it's their job. When sweat sticks around, your feet stay damp, creating that perfect storm we’ve already mentioned. After a few hours of this steamy setup, it's no surprise your toes aren't smelling their best. 

7 Best Ways to Get Rid of Foot Odor 

Now that we know what's behind the stink, let's talk damage control. Learning how to get rid of smelly feet mostly comes down to keeping sweat, moisture, and odor-causing bacteria from setting up camp. 

Here are seven simple ways to give your feet a fighting chance.

1. Wash Them Properly

If you’re wondering how to prevent smelly feet, start by washing them thoroughly, which helps stop sweat and odor-causing build up from accumulating. The CDC recommends cleaning your feet at least once a day and drying them thoroughly after, so get in there good with some bar soap or foot wash during your daily shower. Extra points if you use a washcloth or soft brush. 

In other words, good hygiene requires actually scrubbing your feet instead of expecting stray body wash to do the job for you. Your friends and family will thank you. 

2. Show Dead Skin the Door 

A pumice stone is at the top of the list of what to use for smelly feet. That thick, dead skin you have going on isn’t doing you any favors, so gently exfoliate it when it builds up to help prevent odor. Gently’s the key word here — you're removing dead skin, not sanding your feet down to factory settings.

3. Dry Those Dogs Off 

Clean feet are great. Clean feet left soaking wet? You can do better. Bacteria feed on moisture, so keeping your feet dry is another great way to cut down on foot odor. Use a clean towel to wipe them off after every shower or whenever they get wet, including between your toes. 

4. Stop Marinating in Sweaty Socks 

When your socks are damp, it's time for a fresh pair. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends changing sweaty pairs ASAP and choosing moisture-wicking socks to keep wetness and odor away from your skin. This is especially helpful after a hard gym sesh or a long day trapped inside your work shoes. 

5. Give Your Shoes a Day Off 

Feet smell worse when you slip them right back into damp shoes. Fight this by rotating your shoes instead of wearing the same ones day in and day out, especially if you work on your feet. 

6. Let Your Kicks Breathe 

Once those shoes come off, don't just toss them into your gym bag or closet and move on with your day. Get rid of stinky feet by letting them chill and dry out in between wears. Bonus: Breathable materials like mesh and canvas help by trapping less sweat. 

7. Call in the Moisture Control 

Dry feet are happy feet, so if your dogs tend to get extra sweaty, a little moisture control goes a long way. Foot powder absorbs excess wetness, and antiperspirant spray reduces how much your feet sweat in the first place. Both options keep things dry and give bacteria less opportunity to create odor.

When To See a Doctor About Smelly Feet 

Most of the time, you can manage stinky feet with some solid hygiene habits. But if your foot odor refuses to take the hint, it might be time to bring in reinforcements. Here’s when to see a doc. 

The Smell Just Won’t Quit 

You've washed, dried, changed your socks, aired out your shoes, and given your feet the VIP treatment, but the smell’s still there. At that point, it's worth talking to a doctor or a podiatrist instead of endlessly experimenting with home remedies. A persistent scent can indicate athlete’s foot or another issue.

Your Feet Are Seriously Sweaty 

Everyone's feet sweat, especially after exercise or a long day. But sweating heavily even when you're not hot or active is a sign of hyperhidrosis, which is when your body produces more sweat than it needs to. 

Hyperhidrosis often affects people’s feet sweat glands. If you think excessive sweating might be the cause of your smelly feet, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist. 

Your Skin Seems Irritated or Infected 

Smell isn't the only thing worth paying attention to when it comes to your feet. Changes like persistent itching, peeling, or other noticeable issues with your skin or toenails need professional attention instead of a DIY diagnosis.

Build a Head-to-Toe Freshness Routine With Dr. Squatch

Keeping your smelly feet in check doesn't have to be a full-time job. Staying on top of moisture, changing your socks, and other simple fixes go a long way, but the real secret is making these habits part of your everyday routine. 

Since washing your feet starts in the shower, let Dr. Squatch help you out. Our bar soap’s cold-processed with natural ingredients for a solid head-to-toe clean, and our body wash brings the glorious lather for guys who prefer liquid. Both turn foot hygiene into a simple part of your stay-fresh operation. 

It's time to show your feet some love, and don't stop at the ankles. Shop Dr. Squatch Bar Soap and Body Wash to upgrade your everyday clean. 

This article is for informational purposes only and isn’t intended to diagnose, treat, or provide medical advice.