How to Remove Stains from Your Feet

Co-authored by Catherine Cheung, DPM

Last Updated: January 9, 2021

When walking barefoot or in flip flops, it’s easy for your feet to become stained and dirty. But there’s no need to worry. Thankfully, it’s just as easy to remove these stains, and your feet will be clean in no time. With light or moderate stains, try using soap or body wash to clean your feet first. For heavier, more stubborn stains, use a scrub consisting of sugar, avocado oil, and lemon.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Scrub for Stubborn Stains

1
Fill a container with 1 cup of sugar. Utilize a container that has a capacity of at least 1.5 cups. Use regular, white granulated table sugar rather than other types of sugar, such as brown sugar or pure cane sugar.
- Regular, white granulated table sugar is a bit more abrasive and will make for a better scrub.
- Salt can be substituted for sugar, as some people prefer to use 1 cup of salt rather than sugar when making this scrub. If you prefer to use salt, use Epsom salt or kosher salt.
2
Add avocado oil to the sugar in your container. Keep adding avocado oil until you attain the consistency of the scrub that you desire. 1/2 cup of avocado oil is a good starting point, and the more avocado oil you add, the thinner your scrub will become.
- If you do not have avocado oil, you can use dish soap as a substitute. You can use your favorite dish soap, and it does not have to be any particular brand. Less dish soap will make the scrub a thicker consistency. More dish soap will make the scrub a thinner consistency.
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3
Add lemon juice to the mixture. You can add either 1.5 tablespoons (22.2 ml) of lemon juice or the juice from 1/2 a lemon. Lemon is not only an effective cleaner and exfoliator, but it's also a good deodorizer.
- Optionally, you can also add lemon essential oil to the mixture. Use 4 or 5 drops of lemon essential oil. The lemon essential oil adds extra grease cutting and antiseptic properties, while also softening the skin.
4
Wet your feet with water in the bath or the shower. Wetting your feet before applying the scrub will make the scrub feel less abrasive against your skin, which will be more comfortable for you.
5
Apply the scrub mixture you just made to your feet. Use a generous amount of the scrub on your feet. With all the deep cleansing scrub you just created, there’s no need to skimp!
- If you do have extra scrub left over, you can store it for a long time in a clean, airtight jar. Store the jar with your excess scrub in a cool area away from sunlight to prevent the oils from oxidizing.
6
Use a scrub brush to scrub your feet. Utilizing some pressure, scrub away all the stains. Make sure that you also scrub under your toenails and in your feet’s small crevices for a comprehensive cleaning.
7
Wash the mixture off your feet with water, and then dry your feet. You can let your feet air dry or wipe them dry with a towel. Drying your feet thoroughly helps prevent both slips and fungal infections, such as athlete's foot.^{[1]
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- After drying your feet, you can apply a moisturizer if you'd like. However, the oils contained in the scrub will likely provide your feet with enough moisture, so using an additional moisturizer is optional.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using Soap or Body Wash

1
Wet your feet with water in the bath or the shower. Wetting your feet will soften them for easier cleaning and more comfort while cleaning.
- If no bath or shower is available, use a water spigot, hose, bottled water, or even lake or ocean water to wet your feet.
2
Apply your favorite soap or body wash to your feet. It doesn't matter what brand you prefer, but use a generous amount of soap or body wash. Make sure the soap or body wash is well lathered on your feet.
- Try using a skin-softening cream or oil on your feet. For instance, products containing tea tree oil can help soften your feet while fighting fungus.^{[2]
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  Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrist. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}
- If you’re not sure what soap to use, Dove and Cetaphil are two popular, well-respected options that are good for sensitive skin and that also include moisturizers.^{[3]
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3
Scrub your lathered feet with a scrub brush. Make sure to thoroughly scrub all areas of your feet with stains. Use firm pressure, and scrub away all the stains, even those in the tiny cracks on your feet.
- You can buy a scrub brush at the dollar store or from the dollar section of your local grocery store. Use this scrub brush only for cleaning your feet. Don’t use it for anything else!
- You could also use a pumice stone to smooth your feet after you soak them.^{[4]
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  Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrist. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}
- If you don’t have immediate access to a scrub brush, do the best you can to remove stains on your feet using just your hands or other available supplies, such as a washcloth.
4
Rinse your feet with water, and then dry them. Use a towel to dry your feet, or let them air dry. Make sure your feet are completely dry before you walk anywhere so that you don’t slip and fall.
5
Apply moisturizer to your feet. Using moisturizer will help soothe your feet and keep them soft and smooth after scrubbing. Use your favorite moisturizer, and apply a liberal amount on all areas of your feet, except between your toes.
- Don't put lotion between your toes since moisture there increases your chances of getting a fungal infection.^{[5]
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- If you’re not sure which moisturizer to use, some options that are recommended by podiatrists include Vaseline, Earth Therapeutics Foot Repair Therapeutic Balm, and Eucerin Advanced Repair Foot Cream.^{[6]
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6
Wear socks after moisturizing. Socks make sure the moisturizer gets absorbed into your feet rather than onto your floor if you were to walk barefoot.
- Wearing socks for a few minutes after moisturizing also helps you stay safer. You don’t want to slip and fall with all of that moisturizer on your feet!
- For the best foot care, wear cotton or wool socks.^{[7]
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Expert Q&A
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Question

What are some good products or ingredients for cleaning my feet?

Catherine Cheung, DPM
Board Certified Podiatrist
Dr. Catherine Cheung is a board certified Podiatrist based in San Francisco, California. Dr. Cheung specializes in all aspects of foot and ankle care, including complex reconstruction. Dr. Cheung is affiliated with the Brown & Toland Physicians and the Sutter Medical Network. She earned a DPM from the California College of Podiatric Medicine, completed her residency at the Encino Tarzana Medical Center, and completed a fellowship at the Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Medical Center. She is board certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

Catherine Cheung, DPM

Board Certified Podiatrist

Expert Answer

Support wikiHow by unlocking this expert answer.

Try using skin softeners with a pumice stone, or opt for an oil like tea tree oil, which has shown some efficacy against fungus.

Warnings

If you have diabetes or any condition that affects your nerves, see a professional for your foot care.^{[8]
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Research source
Catherine Cheung, DPM. Podiatrist. Personal interview. 12 May 2020.}

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