Baking Soda and Vinegar Foot Soak: Benefits and Instructions - Chic Pedi (2024)

Last Updated on June 24, 2024 by Martina McKeough

Believe it or not you don’t always have to use expensive foot products to get results. Some of my favorite ways of removing rough dead skin and keeping my feet odor free are with ordinary household products. This baking soda and vinegar foot soak is a perfect example of how to get your feet summer ready without spending a fortune. In fact you probably have everything you already need in your pantry.

Whilst some people like the idea of a dry pedicure it has never really done it for me. I like to soak my feet to get rid of dry dead skin and calluses as I find it makes things much easier.

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How to Make a Baking Soda and Vinegar Foot Soak

Making your own DIY baking soda and vinegar couldn’t be easier all you need are the following:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of baking soda
• 1/2 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Warm water (enough to fill a foot basin)
• Optional: a few drops of essential oil (e.g., tea tree, lavender, peppermint). Make sure you choose an essential oil that is appropriate for your needs. I have a guide to the best essential oils for your feet that you can use to make a decision on the best one for you.

To Make the Foot Bath

Fill your foot bath with warm water. It doesn’t need to be super hot otherwise you will just feel uncomfortable.

Add the 1/2 cup of baking soda and stir into the water until it is dissolved.

Then slowing add the 1/2 cup of vinegar into the water. Watch for the fizz which is my favorite bit and then when it has settled down stir the water with your hand to mix everything in.

I then add a few drops of essential oils into the foot bath. If you have foot fungus opt for tea tree oil, if you want relaxation (which is my favorite) use lavender or use peppermint oil to refresh your feet and help foot odor.

I tend to soak my feet for at least 20 minutes then I pat them dry before exfoliating further with a good foot file.

Then slather your feet in a great foot lotion to help soften them further.

For the best results use the soak a couple of times a week. Remember to keep consistent as that really helps to improve your foot health.

The Benefits of a Homemade Foot Soak To Remove Dead Skin

Baking soda and vinegar foot soaks are popular home remedies known for their antifungal, antibacterial, and exfoliating properties. These soaks can help soothe and cleanse feet, reduce odor, and combat fungal infections.

Here is why a baking soda and vinegar foot soak is something you should add to your foot health regime so that you keep your feet in tip top condition.

Soaking Feet in Baking Soda For Fungus Problems

So why use baking soda in the soak? Well it is a really good home remedy for treating foot fungus for a number of reasons:

Antifungal Properties

Baking soda has natural antifungal properties that help in fighting off the fungi responsible for infections such as athlete’s foot and toenail fungus. It disrupts the environment that fungi thrive in, making it difficult for them to grow and spread.

pH Balance

Baking soda helps balance the pH level of the skin. Fungi prefer acidic environments, and baking soda’s alkaline nature can neutralize acidity, creating an inhospitable environment for fungal growth. This pH balancing action can prevent the spread of the infection and promote healing.

It’s Great For Exfoliation

When used in a foot soak or as a paste, baking soda acts as a gentle exfoliant. It helps remove dead skin cells, which can harbor fungi and bacteria, making it easier for antifungal treatments to penetrate and be more effective. Exfoliating the skin also helps in reducing the build-up of hard, thickened skin that often accompanies fungal infections.

It Neutralizes Odors

I talk alot about using products like Baking Soda to get the smells out of footwear quickly and easily. When you shake the powder in your shoes and leave it overnight those smells are neutralized and your shoes don’t smell funky anymore.

However you don’t just use it in shoes as it can be also great when it is used in a foot soak as well. By balancing those pH levels and stopping bacteria in its tracks those bad smells are no more.

It’s Exfoliating

People often forget that it can help to exfoliate your feet as well.

When it is in your foot soak it can help to get rid of old dead skin which means that your feet will be softer and smoother.

I tend to use the baking soda as the first step of exfoliation and then follow up with my Diamancel foot file after the foot soak for better results. Over the years I’ve tried every type of foot file and pumice stone but nothing comes close to this file for really removing old dry skin.

Why Vinegar Works Well in a Foot Soak

There are two types of vinegar that work well in foot soaks and they are apple cider vinegar or white vinegar. I prefer the former but that is just my preference.

Just remember that if you have a blister or any form or cut or would on your feet you shouldn’t attempt this as it will sting!

Vinegar in a foot soak really compliments baking soda as they do very similar jobs.

Antifungal and Antibacterial:

Vinegar is acidic and that means it can help to kill fungus and bacteria which are responsible for problems like athlete’s foot.

Make sure you have your feet in the soak for at least 20 minutes to allow the vinegar to do its job and penetrate your skin to get the full benefits.

The Vinegar Eliminates Odors

Just like baking soda you’ll find that vinegar also neutalizes odors.

I sometimes use a vinegar spray inside some shoes to remove smells so this is similar.

If you have sweaty feet this is why this type of soak makes sense.

It Softens Your Skin

Most people would never think of using vinegar to soften skin or help soften rough calluses and dry patches but it actually works really well.

This is because it is acidic and that acidity causes it to remove dead skin cells.

Your Circulation Can Be Improved

It can also help to improve circulation to your feet which is good if you suffer from foot health issues like swelling.

Getting your blood circulating well to your feet is important for healing and your foot health.

Combine the Two Products For Great Results

A baking soda and vinegar foot soak combines the powerful properties of these two products together so that you get a better result.

The great thing about this foot soak is that is is really easy to make at home because no difficult ingredients are required.

See how you get on with doing this regularly and hopefully your feet will be soft and odor free with regular use.

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