What does soaking your feet in vinegar do?

Author: Aracely Hilpert  |  Last update: Sunday, October 26, 2025

It can help control infections, neutralize bad odors, soften the skin, hydrate feet, and calm itching. Apple cider vinegar is rich in acids and antifungal ingredients that can help regulate the pH balance of our skin. Simply add a cup of vinegar to a bowl of warm water and soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes.

What are the benefits of soaking your feet in vinegar?

Hygiene Hack: Apple cider vinegar has natural antibacterial due to its acetic acid content, as well as antifungal properties. By soaking your feet in a diluted solution, you can neutralize odors, inhibit fungal growth, and soften rough, dry skin.

Is it better to soak feet in baking soda or vinegar?

Try adding 3–4 tablespoons of baking soda added to a basin full of warm water. Use 2 parts water and 1-part vinegar for a foot soak. The vinegar helps kill bacteria which reduces foot odor. It may also slow the growth of bacteria.

What is the healthiest thing to soak your feet in?

Epsom salts are the classic staple of a foot soak, aid to help with everything from arthritis to plain old swollen feet. The salts break down into magnesium and sulfate in water, and some believe that these minerals can be soaked in through the skin for the body's benefit.

What kills toenail fungus the fastest?

Terbinafine and itraconazole are the 2 medicines most commonly prescribed for fungal nail infections. These usually need to be taken once or twice a day for several months to ensure the infection has completely cleared up.

Soaking Feet with White Vineagar and/or Epsom Salt

What does soaking your feet in hydrogen peroxide do?

Hydrogen peroxide is easily accessible and inexpensive, making it a popular choice for treating foot fungus. Here are some of its key benefits: Effective Antifungal Properties: Hydrogen peroxide can break down the fungal cells that cause infections. Safe and Easy to Use: When used properly, hydrogen peroxide is safe.

What does a white vinegar bath do for females?

The Benefits of a Vinegar Bath

Cleansing: Vinegar can effectively remove dirt, dead skin cells, and excess oils from your skin. Exfoliation: The gentle exfoliation properties of vinegar can reveal smoother, healthier skin. pH Balancing: It helps balance the pH of your skin, maintaining its natural acidity.

How often should I vinegar my foot soak?

To soak your feet using vinegar, mix two parts warm or hot water with one part vinegar in a tub or bowl. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes once a week. What are the health benefits of vinegar? Vinegar has natural antibacterial properties, so bacteria have a hard time growing on your skin.

How to get rid of hard skin on feet permanently?

Do
  1. wear thick, cushioned socks.
  2. wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel and soft sole that do not rub.
  3. use soft insoles or heel pads in your shoes.
  4. soak corns and calluses in warm water to soften them.
  5. regularly use a pumice stone or foot file to remove hard skin.
  6. moisturise to help keep skin soft.

When should you not soak your feet?

People with poor circulation or decreased sensation in the feet, such as diabetic neuropathy, are better off not soaking at all, however.

What one cup of this will destroy your nail fungus?

The best type of vinegar to treat toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar, a very acidic and strong solution that destroys toenail fungus at the source. To take full advantage of this, mix one cup of apple cider vinegar with at least 2 cups of water – this will dilute the vinegar so that it won't burn your skin.

Do Listerine and vinegar work on feet?

I was shocked/intrigued/grossed out when it actually worked. First, the full recipe: Mix equal parts Listerine, vinegar, and water, and soak your feet for 15 minutes. Then wipe your feet with a washcloth and, bam, smooth heels. Dry skin and calluses come right off.

Which vinegar is best for killing fungus?

As vinegar has antifungal properties, soaking the feet in an apple cider vinegar foot bath could help fight off fungal infections, such as athlete's foot.

Can Listerine cure toenail fungus?

Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash—Original Flavor

“This mouthwash can be used to treat nail fungus,” Dr. West says. “While it's not particularly effective, some patients want to try something less aggressive, which is reasonable.”

Who should not soak feet in Epsom salt?

Foot soaks of any type are not safe for people who have diabetes due to the increased risk of infection. Regularly soaking the feet may increase dryness, which can lead to cracking and raise the risk of infection. Individuals that have open wounds or sores should also talk with their doctor before using a foot soak.

Is it better to soak your feet in apple cider vinegar or white vinegar?

The type of vinegar you use doesn't necessarily matter — most people either take a white vinegar foot soak or an apple cider vinegar foot soak. The important thing is the pH of the vinegar, which should typically be 2-3.

What do podiatrists use to soak feet?

Foot Soak Instructions

Add lemon juice, vinegar, and Epsom salt to a tub of warm water. Use the insides of the lemon to clean the feet. Soak feet for 10-15 minutes.

How does Listerine get rid of cracked heels?

Why does this work? Listerine contains thymol and alcohol, which help fight toenail fungus, cure cracked heels, soothe skin, and treat plantar warts. In addition, the mild acids present in vinegar soften dry and dead skin, making it easy to exfoliate.

Should you rinse after a vinegar bath?

Should you rinse after an apple cider vinegar bath? You can leave the apple cider vinegar on your skin after bathing to continue reaping its topical rewards. However, if the smell becomes too much, you should rinse the vinegar off afterward.

Does vinegar help with inflammation?

The researchers also found that apple cider vinegar significantly inhibited the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β that were secreted by the human blood monocytes when co-cultured with each microbe.

Can white vinegar help pH balance?

The Role of Acetic Acid in Skin Care

The acetic acid in vinegar works to balance the skin's pH, which is crucial for maintaining healthy oil levels.

What kills toenail fungus permanently?

Nothing kills toenail fungus right away. It can take at least 6 months to as long as 18 months to see your nail return to normal. What kills toenail fungus the fastest? A prescription medication like terbinafine will work faster than a home remedy, but you'll still need to take it for about 12 weeks.

What does soaking your feet in baking soda do?

Relieves callus pain

Baking soda also has effective anti-inflammatory properties to relieve painful symptoms caused by calluses, horniness and calluses. Mixed with 5 drops of lavandin and tea tree essential oils (antiseptics), it soothes inflammation and gently removes dead skin.

What does peroxide do to hair?

How does hydrogen peroxide affect hair structure? Hydrogen peroxide penetrates the cuticle to reach the cortex, where natural pigments are found. As an oxidising agent, it causes a chemical reaction which breaks down these pigments, leading to lightening or discolouration of the hair.

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