Most of the all natural recipes I have tried in the past were the result of trying to replace items I already purchased. For homemade foot powder, this was not the case. I didn’t have any foot powder to begin with. While it’s common to use foot powder, I personally had never used any.
However, I was also keenly aware that certain shoes and certain fabrics over time begin to lead to stinky shoes. Of course, personal hygiene is important to keep foot odor at bay, but even the cleanest of people can experience some foot smell when going sock-less in shoes over a long period of time because bacteria thrives in dark, warm, moist places.
Homemade Foot Powder
Why I Made Homemade Foot Powder
When I splurged on a pair of Sperry Top-Sider Angelfish boat shoesa few years ago I knew I wanted to avoid any foot stink in the shoes at any cost. They were really nice shoes and I wanted them to last many years.
But the shoes are also worn best without regular socks, or running socks. The “barefoot” look, if you will. I began researching foot powder options after several friends advised that was the way to go to keep any foot odor at bay and to keep the shoes in great shape.
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Baby Powder in Shoes?
I looked at the drugstore for foot powder. Initially I purchased a bottle of baby powder, which contained relatively the same ingredients in foot powder, but at a fraction of the price.
I’m all about saving money so the baby powder seemed perfect. That was until I came home and read the ingredients. Baby powder is made of talc (a naturally occurring mineral and fragrance).
Out of curiosity I researched talc online and the information I found was not encouraging. I found hundreds of search results documenting the dangers of using talc (also known as talcum powder).
Outside of accidentally inhaling it and causing lung damage, some studies indicated talc could cause ovarian cancer by seeping through the pores of the skin.
This is most common if the talc is used in discreet places, however, any talc on any part of the skin can be absorbed by the skin such as with baby powder in shoes.
It’s in part, due to these same reasons, that talc isn’t used widely on babies anymore to prevent diaper rash. As I found out when we had our daughter, most parents use an ointment such as Aquaphor, or for a cloth diaper friendly cream, something such as the GroVia All Natural Magic Stick, which is what we used and loved!
Homemade Foot Powder
Homemade Foot Powder Recipe
After reading about the dangers of talc I realized I shouldn’t be buying foot powder anyway, I should be making it on my own as part of my efforts to live more green.
I searched the internet for recipes and ended up conjuring up my own recipe as a result of my research. It only requires three ingredients and can be made quickly and stored for long-term use. To make homemade foot powder you will need:
- Baking Soda
- Corn Starch
- Essential Oil (I used Tea Tree Oil)
Directions to Make Foot Powder
In a bowl, mix equal parts baking soda and corn starch. Add a few drops of essential oil. I used tea tree oil.
It has a nice neutral fragrance and contains anti-bacterial properties which not only help with bacteria in your shoes and on your feet but also with storage of the mixture.
Mix all of the ingredients together. A fork works fine to sift through and blend the mixture well.
Store the foot powder in an airtight container such as this one byRubbermaid. There is no end storage limit on the foot powder. I wouldn’t keep the same batch for years but it should last several months.
How to Use Homemade Foot Powder
In order to use the foot powder, simply toss a tiny bit into the shoe after wearing them to absorb any moisture. It helps to tap the shoe (left, right, top and bottom) to get the powder to cover the entire shoe and not just sit in one spot.
Then let the shoes sit with the powder in them until the next time you wear them. Prior to the next wear, dump the excess powder from the shoes and put them on.
Enough powder is still in the shoes to absorb any moisture from the feet during wear. Here’s an example of what the powder looks like upon placing it in the shoes after wear. You can use as much or as little powder as desired.
Baby Powder in Shoes
The recipe for homemade foot powder worked well for me for quite some time. The other piece of advice I have for keeping the stink out of shoes is to not wear the shoes every day.
Give them at least a day in between to really air out and let the powder remove odors. The way this homemade foot powder works is in addition to absorbing moisture the baking soda and tea tree oil help eliminate odors and to “deodorize” the shoes.
Homemade Foot Powder
In Summary
I first tried this recipe in 2013. I have since stopped using this recipe for homemade foot powder. It began to cake in my shoes over time so I switched back to using baby powderin shoes with special precaution not to inhale the powder. I may have been adding too much powder to my shoes.
When I use the baby powder I only use a tiny bit and usually try to tap my shoes out in the yard prior to putting them on. It’s an extra step but it helps to ensure I’m not inhaling any of the talc or distributing it around the house.
It helps that I keep most of my shoes in the garage and only a step away from the outdoors. Also, I ended up purchasing no show socks that work well for shoes that you want the barefoot look with.
The socks fit great in my older pair of Sperry Top-Sider shoes. I ended up buying a second pair of these shoes and the newer pair fit a little more snug so I tend to wear those without socks and use the baby powder.
Some people do prefer this “natural” option though so I am keeping the recipe up on my blog.
I’m happy to answer any questions you have on the homemade foot powder recipe as well. If you try it, use a little at a time, you can always add more to your shoes later if needed.
What questions do you have about this recipe?
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