cool !!: 5 ways to keep your feet from smelling

Nothing ruins

your entryway, date night, or a good pair of shoes

like a stink. And once the smell starts, it’s hard to

keep it from invading the rest of your footwear.

That’s because even the most delicate shoes are a

dark, sweaty breeding ground for odor-causing

bacteria. You can’t completely remove it, but you

can control the stench. Before you lose another

pair of pumps, try these expert tips for nipping

smelly feet in the bud before it starts.

Try to stay dry

“The best way to prevent smelly feet is to keep

your feet dry,” says Rebecca Baxt, MD, a board

certified dermatologist. Towel off your feet—

especially in between toes—after the shower, and

dab them with anti-fungal powder that keeps you

dry while warding off odor-causing fungus. Wear

socks when you can

Socks and heels aren’t exactly a fashion

statement. But when you skip out on socks there’s

nothing to absorb the sweat your feet naturally

produce, trapping it between your toes and inside

your shoes, says Baxt. If you know you’re going

sockless, try dotting antiperspirant on the

bottoms of your feet and between toes.

Prep your shoes

Sprinkle baby powder (or a more targeted odor-

eating powder) on the insides of your shoes

before and after you wear them, suggests Baxt.

And get them out of your dark, damp closet! Just

like your aching dogs, your shoes need to be aired

out, too.

Head to the liquor cabinet

If your feet end up smelling less than swell no

matter what, wipe them down with a vodka-

soaked washcloth to get rid of the stench. It’s the

same principle as rubbing alcohol (which works

equally well if you’d rather drink your Grey

Goose). Vodka contains alcohol, which is

antiseptic and drying, so it destroys odor-causing

fungus and bacteria, and dries out the moisture

that lets these organisms grow.

When to see a doc

If you still can’t get your sweat under control, see

your dermatologist and ask her about Drysol, an

anti-sweat prescription in the form of a roller ball

specifically formulated for reducing the amount

of sweat your feet produce.

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