Your feet have to carry a lot of weight throughout the day, and wearing shoes means subjecting them to additional pressure.
While rest is always very helpful, a homemade foot soak is so much better. Soaking your feet takes away the tiredness and swelling fast and leaves you feeling relaxed and ready to face the next workday.
Making a foot soak is a pretty fast and easy process that can be made from a wide array of ingredients, most of which are already available in your home.
Here are 10 super simple homemade foot soak recipes to pamper your deserving feet.
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Recommended resources
- Ultra fancy foot spa massager* with all the functions you need to give your feet queen treatment (that's nice on the wallet too) or this no-frills basin*
- Top 18 essential oils kit* to maximize the therapeutic benefits of your foot soaks
- Shortcut foot soak ingredient mix* to relieve all your foot woes
Peppermint
Peppermint offers several aromatherapy benefits, which include boosting energy and soothing or relaxing tired muscles. It has an invigorating effect on both the skin and muscles, that not only reduces inflammation, but also offers much-needed relief for tired and achy feet.
What you need
- A large empty basin or bowl*
- 4 drops peppermint essential oils*
- 2 drops lemon balm essential oils
- 3 or 4 eucalyptus oil essential oils
- ½ spoon coconut oil* (optional)
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Boil a couple of liters of water and then add the essential oils and coconut oil.
- Allow the soak to cool for a few minutes and then soak your feet for about twenty minutes when the temperature is safe for your feet.
- After the soak pat the feet dry, and then apply some coconut oil to moisturize them.
Apple cider
Apple cider vinegar is one of the best foot soaks that you can make at home as it has many beneficial properties, from helping to slough off dead skin to fighting fungus and odor.
This type of foot soak is quite useful.
What you need
- A footbath tub* full of cold/warm water
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Add between 1 half and one cup of apple cider vinegar to a typical footbath tub.
- On a hot day when you want the bath to help cool you off, use cold water.
- You should then soak the feet for 15 to 30 minutes.
Epsom salt
Epsom salt soak will help you with all kinds of foot discomfort, from plantar fasciitis to heel pain. It can also be helpful when you just want to soothe and relax your tired and achy feet.
The magnesium sulfate in Epsom salt will be absorbed through the skin directly to help relieve muscle pain, tension, and inflammation.
What you need
- A tub* of warm water
- ½ cup of Epsom salt*
- 2 to 3 drops of your favorite essential oil*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Add enough warm water to a footbath tub to ensure that it will cover the feet up to the ankles.
- Add about half a cup of Epsom salt to the water and a few drops of your favorite essential oils for a nice aroma.
- Lastly, soak your feet for 30 to 60 minutes.
Chamomile
Chamomile makes one of the best bedtime herbal teas but what you might not know is that you can also use it to make a potent foot soak.
Its anti-inflammatory properties as well as aiding in moisturizing feet and healing dry or damaged skin.
What you need
- An empty basin*
- 6 chamomile tea bags* or a few teaspoons of dry chamomile herbs*
- 5 drops lavender or any of your favorite essential oil*
- 2 to 3 tablespoons raw honey*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Boil enough water to cover the feet up to the ankles and then add the tea bag or dry chamomile and let it steep for about five minutes.
- Remove the tea bags or sieve out the small particles when using dry herbs and then add the other ingredients before soaking your feet for 20 to 30 minutes.
Baking soda
If you have smelly feet after wearing shoes all day, baking soda foot soak will do wonders.
Mixing baking soda with rice water creates a more potent soak as you benefit from the antimicrobial properties of the baking soda and improved circulation from the rice water.
What you need
- An empty basin or footbath tub*
- 3 tablespoons of baking soda*
- ½ cup rice
- 10 drops essential oil*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Boil rice in lots of water so that you will have plenty left for the foot soak.
- Pour the resultant rice water in the basin or tub and then add your baking soda and essential oil and then soak the feet for about 15 minutes.
Coconut milk
Coconut contains lots of minerals and vitamins that are not only good for your overall health but can also help to soothe your sore, tired feet.
What you need
- An empty basin or footbath tub*
- 1 cup of organic coconut milk*
- 10 drops essential oil*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Fill your tub with enough warm water to cover the feet up to the ankle level and add the coconut milk and essential oils.
- Next soak your feet for 15 to 30 minutes and then remove and dry them before applying your favorite moisturizer.
Bentonite clay
Your feet will benefit from the soothing and detoxifying effects of a bentonite clay foot soak.
This can also be beneficial for sore muscles and stiff joints as well as helping to moisturize dry or cracked heels to make them less painful.
What you need
- A footbath tub or basin*
- 2 cups of bentonite clay*
- Rosemary essential oil*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Fill your tub or a small basin with about 8 inches of warm water.
- Then add the bentonite clay and the rosemary essential oil before soaking the feet for 15 to 30 minutes.
Coffee
Coffee is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of making a foot soak but it makes for a surprisingly refreshing and comforting soak, with a fantastic aroma to boot.
What you need
- An empty basin / footbath tub*
- 2 cups brewed coffee*
- 1 cup Epsom salt*
- ½ cup raw honey*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Start by filling the tub with hot water and then add the Epsom salt, coffee, and honey.
- Soak the feet for half an hour and then pat them dry before moisturizing with your favorite oil.
Listerine
Listerine makes one of the best foot soaks, and it is also a great remedy for heel racks. It will help to remove dirt and any dead skin on your feet to leave them looking clean and healthy.
What you need
- An empty basin*
- 3 cups Listerine*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Add enough water to the footbath tub to cover the feet up to the ankles or slightly above.
- Add the Listerine before soaking the feet for a maximum of about 25 minutes.
Lemon juice and powdered tea
This dual ingredient foot soak will nourish the skin on your feet and also help to improve the circulation of blood below the toenails with its antioxidant properties.
What you need
- A basin* of warm water
- Juice of half a lemon
- ½ cup powdered tea*
Instructions to make the foot soak
- Start with enough warm water in footbath tub or basin.
- Squeeze the juice of about half a lemon into the water and then add the half a cup of powdered tea.
- Soak your feet for 20-25 minutes and you can also add a few slices of lemon into the foot soak.
Conclusion
After a long day, your feet will always be feeling tired, achy and sore as they take a lot of weight and pressure throughout the day.
Try one of the homemade foot bath recipes above to make a quick and effective detoxifying foot soak for fast relief.
Top off with some moisturizer* afterward and massage the feet for even better results.
This was a guest post from Patrick Greer of Fix Your Walk.
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Lynx says
The apple cider item help my mom
Ingredients: peppermint, vinegar and essential oil
and dad and peppermint it's good
Lynx says
It's good information but me I love to use cider vinegar
Betty Wing says
Is it ok to use the apple cider vinegar in foot soak for a diabetic?
Sylvia | Mommy Over Work says
Hi Betty,
Thanks for visiting my post! Since I do not have a health background, it would be better to ask a doctor about using apple cider vinegar for one's specific diabetic condition. I hope that the doctor offers advice that will help you find your solution!
Sylvia