Our feet put up with a lot. We’re on them all day. They take all the pressure and strain of our day-to-day lives without issue, and usually without complaint.
But sometimes your feet need a little bit of tender loving care (TLC), and one of the best ways you can do this is to soak your feet in apple cider vinegar. The acidity from the apple cider vinegar softens and moisturizes the skin of your feet. The gentle massage you can give your feet while they soak will relax the muscles in your feet making them feel less tired and less stressed out. I’ve done some digging and discovered 5 things that will likely happen if you soak your feet in Apple Cider Vinegar regularly.
How Do I Make Apple Cider Vinegar Foot Soak?
To make a nice ACV foot soak, you need only lukewarm water – about the room temperature of whatever room you’re in – and the Vinegar itself.
In a bowl large enough to contain both your feet comfortably, pour measure in some lukewarm Water and Vinegar in a ratio of 2:1 i.e 2 parts of water to 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar. Some people might want it more diluted but this concentration will be just fine and give the desired results.
Here’s a video to show you how you can easily make a nice acv foot soak
Why Use Vinegar?
Vinegar is a mild form of acetic acid that has been used for hundreds of years to clean, cook, and preserve almost anything because of its antifungal and antiviral properties.
It has huge healthcare properties that are only now really being explored, including fighting cold and flu symptoms, weight and cholesterol problems, and sometimes even heart issues. But this article focuses on the feet and all the benefits that vinegar can have for your cute little tootsies.
Get Rid Of Foot Odour
Feet Odour can be embarrassing in social gatherings where you have to take off your shoes. However, it’s not a permanent condition and bathing your feet generously in ACV soak for about 10 – 20 minutes every day has been shown to reduce feet odor within a few weeks. Just don’t forget to wipe your feet with a soft towel once you’re done with the soak.
Treat Athletes Feet Effectively
Athletes’ foot (Tinea Pedis) is an infectious disease that starts between the toes and is commonly seen in people with sweaty feet confined in tight-fitting shoes a.k.a athletes. It causes dry, red, scaly, flaky, itchy and painful skin between the toes, starting with the little toe To ease the symptoms of Athlete’s foot, gently massage between the toes with a cotton ball with your feet soaked in Apple Cider Vinegar mix.
Soak your feet for 20 to 40 minutes and gently dry with a soft towel. For best results, dry your feet after every soak with a soft towel and apply 100% Clove oil to the affected area. Doing this daily can take care of your Athlete’s foot within a few weeks.
Get Rid Of Plantar Warts
Vinegar acts as a mild exfoliator and can kill the viruses that cause warts, as well as softening the skin around existing warts. You can apply vinegar directly to warts with a cotton swab or ball as well as using a vinegar soak.
After applying the vinegar, the wart will be softer, meaning that this is also an ideal time to file it down with pumice or a foot file.
Treat Toenail Fungus
Soaking your feet in ACV daily has a very good curative effect on toenail fungus. Just as with assisting with Athletes’ foot, ACV which contains acetic acid helps to stop the growth of the toenail fungi and allows it to heal faster. Source.
For best results, dry your feet after every soak with a soft towel and apply 100% Clove oil to the affected toenails.
Remove Cracked Skin On Heels
A vinegar soak is an effective treatment for dry, cracked skin. Vinegar can act as a mild exfoliator and soothes dry, damaged skin.
When soaking your feet for dry skin, use cool water, because hot water can dry your feet out more.
Once done, moisturize your feet fully, then leave to rest.
Apple Cider Vinegar for a Better Night’s Sleep
It’s well known that an apple cider vinegar foot soak or foot bath tends to help with the pain of bunions, corns, and other minor foot problems. And it also improves your sleep which makes you feel better in the morning. In fact, not only can soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar improve your sleep but it can help with other issues as well.
Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Clean and Care for Your Feet
The pH balance of apple cider vinegar is similar to that of human blood, so it will leave you feeling clean and refreshed after an application. Not only will you look cleaner and feel cleaner but your feet will be healthier if you use apple cider vinegar regularly to clean them.
The Bottomline
Almost everyone has vinegar in the cupboard. It’s a cheap, effective remedy for an awful lot of things, and can be used for so much. In addition to these wonderful effects of vinegar on your feet, relaxing into a foot bath after a long day can be incredibly relaxing. It might even be something you start to do regularly.