One way to relax sore muscles is to soak your feet. It can also relieve itchy skin, kill odor-causing bacteria and prevent dryness.
Below are 6 effective DIY foot baths that provide great benefits for you. You can use materials that may be available in your home to make water to soak your feet. You can use plain warm water, use Epsom salt, baking soda, vinegar, lemon juice or use essential oils.
6 Best DIY Foot Soaks
1. Warm water soaks
The warm water you use to soak your feet not only provides a relaxing effect. However, using warm water can also soften the soles of your feet, especially in the heels. After you soak in warm water, then you rub the heel with a pumice stone or other abrasive material. This will remove rough skin and soften it.
Pour warm water into a small tub, soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes. You can soak it while rubbing with a pumice stone. Rubbing your heels 2 times a week can get rid of the pain in your head.
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2. Epsom salt soaks
One of the benefits of Epsom salt is to exfoliate dead skin. Epsom salt is also a great remedy for smelly feet. This is because it can remove moisture in the skin of the feet and this can prevent the development of bacteria.
Take half a cup of Epsom salt and dissolve it in water in a small tub. Soak for 10 minutes, and you can then continue with a scrub with a pumice stone. However, make sure this is not too much because it can dry out the skin on your feet.
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3. Lemon juice soaks
Soak your feet in water mixed with lemon juice, this can kill microbes and is beneficial for cleaning your skin. Lemon juice is an anti-microbial substance, so it is great for killing bad bacteria on the feet. Mix 2 squeezes of lemon juice with warm water and use it for your foot bath. Soak the feet for 10-15 minutes, and rinse, pat dry.
Do not use pure lemon juice (undissolved in warm water), especially if you have cracks on the skin of your feet. Lemon juice can cause a burning sensation, so avoid using pure juice on cracked or sore skin.
4. Vinegar soak
Vinegar is a liquid that has anti-microbial properties and this can be a killer against bacteria or fungi on your feet.
How to make foot bath water with vinegar is very easy. Put vinegar in warm water in equal proportions in a small tub. Then soak your feet in the vinegar bath for 15-20 minutes. Then make sure you clean your feet using regular soap.
5. Baking soda soaks
There is also a foot bath using baking soda or baking soda. Soaking the feet with baking soda can relieve itching on the feet. Take 1/4 cup of baking soda, and dissolve it in a small tub filled with warm water. If you want, you can add oatmeal to the bath, and soak your feet for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse and dry with a clean towel.
To prevent your feet from drying out, you can add a moisturizer or other essential oil to keep your feet from drying out.
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6. Essential oil soak
One of the virtues of essential oils is their ability to improve blood circulation. You can choose various types of essential oils of your choice. Use about 5 to 20 drops, then dilute in warm water, and add the rest of the exfoliating ingredients.
Soaking your feet is a great way to relax and unwind your feet, but you should still remember these precautions.
What precautions to take when soaking your feet
- Patch test first because your skin may be sensitive to certain ingredients you use in the bath.
- If you experience a wound on the skin, then you should first consult with a doctor before trying a foot bath.
- Dilute the essential oil with a carrier oil first before using it in a foot bath.
- If you experience skin irritation, wash your feet with running water, if your skin condition gets worse, seek medical attention immediately.
- Do not soak in warm water if you have diabetes or uncontrolled diabetic nerve disease. This is because your feet sometimes don’t feel the high temperature and possibly burns, and you don’t feel it.