Don't Forget to Dry Between Your Toes: Why It Matters and How

To dry between your toes, gently pat or dab each gap with a clean, dedicated foot towel after every shower, swim or pedicure, then let your feet air out for a moment before socks and shoes go on. It takes less than a minute, and health organizations like the NHS and the American Podiatric Medical Association both single out the spaces between the toes as the spot to dry carefully.

Pause for a second and look down at your feet. They carry you through every errand, every walk with the dog, every long day at work, usually without a word of thanks. The least we can do is give them a minute of real care at the end of a shower. This guide covers why that minute matters, how to dry between toes the right way and who should be especially careful.

Key takeaways

• Dry between your toes every time your feet get wet: after showers, baths, swimming, the gym and pedicures.
• Pat or dab, don't rub. The NHS specifically recommends dabbing between the toes rather than rubbing.
• Use a separate towel just for your feet and wash it regularly.
• If you have diabetes, dry between your toes as part of a daily foot check, skip lotion between the toes and follow your doctor's or podiatrist's advice.

Why should you dry between your toes?

The gaps between your toes are snug, warm and hard to reach, which makes them the last place on your body to dry on their own. A quick swipe with a bath towel usually misses them entirely, and air drying can take a long time once socks and shoes are back on.

That leftover moisture between toes matters because of how athlete's foot works. According to the APMA, athlete's foot is a skin disease caused by a fungus, and it usually shows up between the toes. The APMA notes that shoes create a warm, dark, moist environment that encourages fungal growth. The American Academy of Dermatology likewise explains that the fungus flourishes in warm, moist conditions like hot, sweaty footwear.

In other words, sweat and damp skin don't cause athlete's foot on their own; a fungus does. But moisture between the toes can create the kind of conditions where fungus and bacteria thrive. That's why both the AAD and the APMA put thorough drying on their list of everyday habits, alongside wearing sandals in shared showers and changing damp socks.

Damp skin trapped in a sock also just doesn't feel fresh, and it's one piece of the puzzle with foot odor. If that's what brought you here, our guide on how to get rid of smelly feet walks through the full routine.

How do you dry between your toes properly?

There's no special trick, just a little attention. Here's a simple routine that works for most people.

1. Sit down. Drying toes while balancing on one leg on a wet floor is how people slip. Sit on the edge of the tub, a bench or a chair.
2. Dry the tops and soles first. Get the bulk of the water off so it doesn't run back between your toes.
3. Work gap by gap. Gently separate each pair of toes and pat the space with a clean, soft towel. The NHS advises you to dab your feet dry rather than rubbing them, especially between the toes.
4. Check as you go. Look for anything new: cracks, peeling, redness, blisters or white, soggy-looking skin between the toes.
5. Give them a moment. Let your feet air out briefly before putting on socks and shoes.
6. Moisturize the right places. If you use lotion, keep it on the tops and soles. The CDC advises people with diabetes not to put lotion between the toes because it could lead to infection.

Towel, toe strips or a hair dryer?

A regular bath towel can do the job if you take your time, though it's bulky to push between toes and is often shared with the rest of your body. The NHS recommends using a separate towel for your feet and washing it regularly, which is an easy habit to adopt.

Some people use a hair dryer on a cool setting. If you have reduced feeling in your feet, be cautious with any heat source: the CDC explains that nerve damage can lower your ability to feel pain, heat or cold, so you might not notice if something is too hot. Ask your doctor or podiatrist what's safe for you.

When should you dry between your toes?

Any time your feet get wet or sweaty. The most common moments:

• After every shower or bath. This is the everyday one. The AAD recommends washing your feet daily with soap and drying them completely.
• After swimming. The APMA notes that warm, damp areas around pools, showers and locker rooms are breeding grounds for fungi. Rinse, dry between your toes and wear sandals or flip-flops on the deck and in the locker room.
• After the gym. Sweaty feet in closed shoes for an hour deserve the same care as feet fresh out of the shower. Change into dry socks, too; the AAD suggests changing socks daily and more often when they get wet.
• After a pedicure or foot soak. Salons are usually quick with the towel. Take an extra minute to make sure the gaps are dry before closed-toe shoes go on.

Want the whole routine in one place? See our daily foot hygiene routine.

Who should be extra careful about moisture between toes?

People living with diabetes

If you have diabetes, drying between your toes isn't just a nice extra. The American Diabetes Association recommends washing your feet in warm (not hot) soapy water, drying between your toes to avoid problems, and checking your feet daily for sores, cuts, cracks, blisters or redness, using a mirror to see the whole foot. The ADA's foot care tips also advise against moisturizing between the toes.

The CDC gives similar guidance: dry your feet completely, check them every day for cuts, redness, swelling, sores, blisters, corns, calluses or other changes, and see a doctor right away for tingling, burning or pain in your feet, loss of sense of touch, or a blister, sore, ulcer, infected corn or ingrown toenail.

Pair the two habits: dry between your toes, then look between them. Check your feet daily and follow your doctor's or podiatrist's advice. For product ideas that fit this routine, see our guide to diabetic foot care products.

Swimmers, athletes and gym regulars

Frequent showers in shared spaces plus hours in sweaty shoes add up. Rotate your shoes when you can; the NHS suggests not wearing the same pair more than two or three days in a row.

A towel made for the spaces between your toes

Our founder, Yen, created the Toe Dry Towel because no towel she owned actually reached between her toes. It has eight soft, absorbent strips, four per foot, one for each gap. Slide the strips between your toes after a shower, let them absorb for a moment, then slide them out. No rubbing, no contortions. It's machine washable, small enough for a gym or travel bag, and keeps foot care separate from the towels you use on your face and body. It's a hygiene tool that helps you dry between your toes; it isn't a treatment for any foot condition.

Shop the Toe Dry Towel →

FAQ

Is it bad not to dry between your toes?

Leaving the gaps damp isn't an emergency, but moisture between the toes can create conditions where fungus and bacteria thrive, especially once feet go into warm shoes. Groups like the NHS, AAD and APMA all recommend drying thoroughly after washing.

How do you dry between your toes if you can't reach your feet?

Sit down, bring one foot up onto your opposite knee or a low stool, and use a towel you can guide into each gap without bending far. A towel with built-in toe strips can shorten the job. If reaching your feet is a real struggle, ask a podiatrist about options.

Should I put lotion between my toes?

Generally, no. The CDC and the American Diabetes Association both advise people with diabetes to keep lotion off the skin between the toes. Moisturize the tops, soles and heels instead.

Does drying between your toes prevent athlete's foot?

No single habit guarantees that. Athlete's foot is caused by a fungus, often picked up in damp shared spaces. Drying carefully between your toes is one part of the everyday hygiene the AAD and APMA recommend, along with shower shoes in public areas and clean, dry socks.

How often should I wash my foot towel?

Regularly. The NHS recommends a separate towel for your feet that you wash often. Many people simply wash it with each towel load.

This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. If you have diabetes, a foot condition or signs of infection, talk to your doctor or podiatrist.