In summer, it’s refreshing to let our feet breathe in some airy sandals, but wearing sockless shoes for very long can create an odor problem.  The foul smell is caused by natural sloughing off of dead skin cells while we walk, which attach to our shoes and rot.  Not pleasant at all.  To keep your shoes smelling sweet, choose shoes that do not have cloth foot beds.  Look for something smooth (like crocs) or a smooth leather or vinyl.  After wearing before putting them away at night, wipe the foot beds with a damp cloth (baby wipes work well.)  Then spritz with an alcohol based  body spray.  The alcohol will kill any lingering bacteria and have your shoes fresh and ready for wearing next time.

A little tip:  I bought an inexpensive pack of white wash cloths.  I use a clean one each evening to wash my face (Reusing a face cloth without washing can cause acne by reintroducing  bacteria to the skin.)  Right after washing my face, I rinse the cloth and wash off my feet.  Then I can go to bed clean and still shower in the morning for better hair during the day.

Though not pleasant to talk about, foot fungus can also grab hold in summer.  There’s nothing like tea tree oil for killing foot fungus, even on the nail.  To use, place 2 drops of tea tree oil on a moistened cotton pad and apply to the affected area.  There are also commercial products out there with tea tree oil, labeled for specific purposes.  A good alternative is wild oregano oil–as a bonus, you’ll smell like pizza :).

On a different note, you can strengthen the arches of your feet by being conscious of putting weight on your little toes instead of your big toe.  Try not to let your feet roll towards the center.  When you have a chance to sit, practice pointing your toes hard (like a ballerina) and flexing them back.  Keeping your feet flexible can stop foot pain and give you more endurance on your feet.