I usually wear flip flops or open shoes where I live. Now I am traveling to Europe and bought Cole Haan loafers and Ecco closed up shoes. Now my feet are rebelling and starting to give off odor and I can't stop them. I am serious! I don't want to wear socks. What do all of you travelers do for this situation?

MD friend said to swab your feet liberally with rubbing alcohol. Kills the bacteria that contribute to the aroma.

Another way to discourage bacteria is to keep your feet dry. Powder your feet and also put a teaspoon or so of baby powder or foot powder right into the shoes before you put them on.

Have you tried Oder-Eaters? Not only is it the end of whiffy feet, but they also cushion the sole of your feet, which is great if you are planning on doing a lot of walking.

Spray your shoes with lysol spray after wearing them all day. That way their fresh the next day to wear again.

Hey, thanks for the quick responses. I will try all of them. <BR>With all things, I have to think about for the trip, I didn't think stinky feet would be one of them.

I like the look of no socks, but find it's more comfortable to wear "loafer socks"; these are similar to low-cut tennis socks, but much lighter weight and with no pom-pom on the back. "Peds" makes them (available at Target or other mass-market stores) or I've seen store/other brands at Gap, Limited, Macy's, etc.<BR><BR>Besides preventing chafing which can lead to blisters, etc., the socks absorb sweat and can be washed out, unlike your shoes. On warm days, baby cornstarch is great, too.

Check out the Dr.Scholls section in your drug store. They have a spray on deodorant that works well, also odor spray.

I have never tried it, but I have read in several places that if you soak your feet in a very strong tea bath every night for several nights, it totally relieves the problem. The tanin in the tea works on the glands that produce the problem. They are same glands that cause oily skin.

Try using a pumice stone to get rid of dead skin. Sometimes that dead old skin can cause some real smelly problems.

Mindy, my dear. Chances are you are wearing cotton socks which retain moisture and create a stench. I sweat (glow)like a pig, but when I changed from cotton socks to socks made of acrylic and nylon my feet took on a lovely sweet aroma that has attracted a lot of admirers. Give a pair a go.

Another great product is tea tree oil that comes in a powder form...antibacterial as well.

soaking feet with a teabag works... but more practically<BR>1. swab feet in alcohol or Liserine.<BR>2. Spray shoes with Lysol or spray deodorant.<BR>3. sprinkle shoes and inside socks with Gold Bond Powder.<BR><BR>Like a charm it works...

Im not podiatrist . . . wait a minute, yes I am. Mindy, if you have foot odor it's because you have a fungus or bacterial infection. Foot odor is not natural side effect of wearing socks and closed shoes. So, like the posts say, get a general disinfectant, keep your feet dry with a medicated powder and change your socks frequently.<BR><BR>I'd also suggest wearing socks, even thick socks, because you'll need all the padding you can get walking around Europe . . . because -- without exception -- you'll end up walking on the bumpiest, lumpiest so-called sidewalks in the world.<BR><BR>Steve . . . I mean . . . Dr Scholl.

It's entirely possible that socks alone would solve hte problem, but the OP said she didn't want to wear socks. In my experience, ANYBODY's feet would smell if they just wore shoes barefoot, without any powder or something else. Steve (AKA Dr Scholl), fungal infectoins are indeed a problem, but everybody's feet have plenty of bacteria,it's utterly unavoidable and the goal is just to keep them under control. This generally means something to absorb or prevent perspiration or something to kill the bacteria in an ongoing basis since you can never kill them all and they'll come right back (even after treatments wiht Listerine, alcohol, whatever)..

Good ideas everyone, how about my regular roll on deodorant, like Ban?<BR>Someone at the office told me that makes your feet odor reoccur more often.<BR>True?

To combat really bad foot odor (the real overpowering sweet sickly stench), I've had people tell me that soaking in a solution of bleach & water every night for a week or 2 solves the problem.<BR><BR>For just regular foot odor, I'll use deodorant on my feet as well as baby powder (corn starch baby powder is excellent) or a good foot powder (like Gold Bond's). That seems to help.<BR><BR>Jocko, thanks for the suggestion of nylon socks. I'll have to do that for work (like nylon trouser socks).<BR><BR>But for traveling I have to do thick cotton socks.<BR>

All this business of killing bacteria by soaking your poor feet in mouthwash, alcohol, or even bleach for heaven's sake overlooks the fact that although this will kill most of the bacteria, if you then go and put on the same shoes you have been wearing, you will immedately have your bacteria back again.

You're right, Jen. Most people develop that bad foot odor from wearing tennis shoes/sneakers without wearing socks. If possible, it's best to wash the shoes in bleach, too.

Honestly, check out the loafer socks! They're cut low enough that they do not show above the shoe - so you get the *look* of bare feet, but the advantage of socks that protect your feet from rubbing, and your shoes from sweat. Available in cotton or nylon blends - your choice.