Smelly Feet After a Shower? Why It Happens and How to Fix It
Smelly feet after a shower usually aren't a sign that washing failed. More often, moisture is left behind, especially between the toes, and then gets sealed in by socks and shoes that are already holding sweat and odor. Drying completely, wearing clean socks and giving your shoes time to dry out usually makes the difference.
If your feet smell even after washing, here's what might be going on, a simple post-shower routine to try, and the signs that mean it's time to see a professional.
Key takeaways
- Health sources agree: wash your feet daily and dry them completely, especially between the toes.
- Putting socks on damp feet, or stepping back into damp shoes, brings moisture and odor right back.
- The NHS suggests a separate towel for your feet, washed regularly, and dabbing rather than rubbing.
- Odor that won't go away, or that comes with pits, peeling or itchy skin, may be a skin condition worth checking.
Why do I have smelly feet after a shower?
Foot odor happens when bacteria on your skin break down sweat. Cleveland Clinic explains that bacteria feed on sweat and also love dead skin. A shower washes a lot of that away, but a few common habits can undo it within minutes. (For the full picture, see what causes smelly feet.)
You're not drying between your toes
Most of us run a towel over the tops and soles of our feet and call it done. The gaps between the toes stay damp. The American Podiatric Medical Association advises drying carefully, especially between the toes, and the CDC says to wash your feet every day and dry them completely. Moisture between the toes can create conditions where fungus and bacteria thrive.
Your towel is damp or shared
A towel that stays damp on the hook all week isn't doing your feet any favors. The NHS recommends using a separate towel for your feet and washing it regularly. The American Academy of Dermatology also advises not sharing towels with someone who has athlete's foot.
You're putting socks on damp feet
Pulling socks over feet that are still a little wet traps that moisture against your skin. Then your shoes add warmth. The AAD notes that the fungus behind athlete's foot thrives in warm, moist areas like hot, sweaty shoes.
Your shoes and insoles are holding the odor
Clean feet can pick up odor again from shoes that never fully dry. The AAD suggests alternating your shoes each day so they're dry when you put them on. Cleveland Clinic suggests spraying insoles with a disinfectant and letting them dry for 24 hours. The NHS also advises letting shoes dry out before wearing them again and not wearing the same socks or shoes two days in a row.
Your bath mat stays wet
If your bath mat never dries between showers, you step out of a clean shower onto something damp. Hang it up to dry and wash it often. It's a small, practical change that helps you start the drying process on dry ground.
How to dry feet after a shower: a step-by-step routine
This routine takes about two minutes. It follows the advice from the CDC, NHS, AAD and APMA.
- Wash with soap. The AAD recommends washing your feet every day with soap. Get between the toes, too.
- Step onto a dry surface. Use a clean, dry bath mat or a dry towel on the floor.
- Dab, don't rub. The NHS suggests dabbing your feet dry rather than rubbing, particularly between your toes.
- Dry each gap between your toes. This is the step most people skip. Take a moment for each space.
- Give your feet a minute. Let them air out before socks go on.
- Add powder if you tend to sweat. The NHS suggests foot powder or an antiperspirant.
- Put on clean socks. Choose breathable or moisture-wicking fabrics, and change them at least once a day, as the CDC advises.
- Choose dry shoes. Reach for a pair that's had a day to dry out.
- Wash your foot towel regularly. Keep it separate from your face and body towels.
If you have diabetes, check your feet daily and follow your doctor's or podiatrist's advice. The CDC recommends washing in warm (not hot) water, not soaking your feet, drying them completely, and not putting lotion between your toes.
For a broader plan, read our guide to how to get rid of smelly feet.
Could it be a skin condition?
If you still have smelly feet after a shower once you've dried carefully, changed your socks and rotated your shoes, something else may be going on.
- Pitted keratolysis. Cleveland Clinic describes it as a bacterial skin infection that causes a foul odor and itchiness, often with a whitish patch of skin dotted with tiny pits.
- Athlete's foot. According to MedlinePlus, the most common sign is cracked, flaking, peeling skin between the toes or on the side of the foot, sometimes with itching, burning or blisters.
- Heavy sweating. The NHS lists hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating, among the reasons feet can smell.
See a doctor, pharmacist or podiatrist if the odor doesn't improve with self-care or if you notice any of these signs. MedlinePlus advises getting care right away for swelling, warmth, red streaks or pain. If you have diabetes, don't wait for these to get worse.
Where the Toe Dry Towel fits in
Step four, drying each gap between the toes, is the hardest one to do well with a regular bath towel. That's why our founder, Yen, created the Toe Dry Towel. It has 8 soft, absorbent strips, four per foot, one for each gap between your toes. After your shower, slide the strips between your toes, let them absorb, and slide them out. No rubbing.
It's machine washable and dedicated to your feet, so foot care stays separate from your face and body towels, and it fits in a gym or travel bag. It helps you dry between your toes as part of good everyday foot hygiene. You can see how the Toe Dry Towel works.
FAQ
Why do my feet smell even after washing?
The most common reasons are moisture left between the toes, socks put on damp feet, and shoes or insoles that are still holding sweat and odor. Dry completely, wear clean socks and rotate your shoes.
What's the best way to dry feet after a shower?
Dab your feet dry rather than rubbing, as the NHS suggests, and dry carefully between each toe. Let your feet air out for a minute before putting on clean socks.
Should I use a separate towel for my feet?
The NHS recommends using a separate towel for your feet and washing it regularly. It keeps foot care apart from your face and body towels.
Can wet shoes make clean feet smell?
Yes. Shoes that haven't dried out can hold moisture and odor. The AAD suggests alternating shoes each day so they're dry when you put them on.
When should I see a professional about foot odor?
See a doctor, pharmacist or podiatrist if the smell doesn't improve with self-care, or if you notice pits, peeling, itching, redness, swelling or pain. If you have diabetes, check your feet daily and contact your doctor or podiatrist about any changes.
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.
