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Original poster

Could you cut someone's toe nails?

86 replies

Gardenimp · 28/04/2026 12:08

My BF has the opposite of a foot fetish. He really hates feet. I've never seen anything like it. I feel fairly ambivilent about feet. I wouldn't go out of my way to touch anyone's foot, but would do what needs doing to help most people. In fact I did trim BF's nail when we were on holiday, a sharp edge was causing some bleeding on the adajcent toe and we didn't really have the correct implement, so it was awkard for him to do. I didn't love or hate it, it was just something that needed doing to solve a problem.

My Dad has just called because he needs his toe nails trimming. He's old and immobile and what he was actually asking was if I'm available to give him a lift to the chiropodist. BF thought he was asking me to do it and absoultely completely horrified. The only reason I wouldn't is because of Dad's condition, it's important not to get it wrong.

Yes I know we could find a mobile chirpodist. That's a battle for another day 🤣

OP posts:
wearemorethanourboots · 29/04/2026 18:14

Possibly for DH at a push, but not anyone else, absolutely no chance!

Pekkala · 29/04/2026 18:28

I get a footcare lady ( a nurse) to come to the house to do my elderly mum's. The bedtime carer puts cream on mums feet & legs every evening - it's funny as an ex reception teacher I have no issue dealing with incontinence issues, but teeth and feet and nails just noooooooooooo.

Loobyloolovesandypandy · 29/04/2026 18:56

Generally feet are ugly things to be avoided. But when my mum got to her eighties or so I happened to see the state of her toes one day. She absolutely refused to go to a chiropodist so I gathered all the equipment needed, including a new foot spa, ready for the next weekend. I had to steel myself but honestly it preyed on my mind so much I had to do it. Once the first couple of sessions were over it was ok and she quite enjoyed it. All of her ‘kit’ went into a storage bag just for her btw.

MyBraveFace · 29/04/2026 18:57

Oooh, yes, I love doing things like that. Squeezing spots, getting earwax out -bring it on. Sadly my husband won't let me at his.

MoonWoman69 · 29/04/2026 19:29

I used to do my husbands toe nails, because I was sick of him making them bleed every time he did them. (I'm really not into feet, it takes me ages to pluck up the guts to do my own as I hate toenails too!)
I refused to do them a few years ago when he got a fungal nail infection! So now we're back to them bleeding again. All because he'll cut them, then start picking at what he's missed. 🙄
I've been made to bleed by a chiropodist and it put me off!
But if someone was diabetic, then I'd organise a chiropodist.

Papster · 29/04/2026 19:56

Does the cat count?

Allthesnowallthetime · 29/04/2026 20:01

@Papster I would think so. Do you have a bitey cat?

Papster · 29/04/2026 20:05

Allthesnowallthetime · 29/04/2026 20:01

@Papster I would think so. Do you have a bitey cat?

Our cats barely ever have theirs done as they spend a lot of time outdoors and up trees
Neighbour has a wussy pussy who needs his done every month and owner doesn’t like doing it

Ufsse · 29/04/2026 20:07

I’m a podiatrist. So yes.

tsmainsqueeze · 29/04/2026 20:30

My children's ONLY !!! now 2 adults and one teenager but could still do it .
Anyone else nooooooooooo way , i have never willingly touched my husbands feet and they are relatively nice compared to some.

Daftypants · 29/04/2026 20:33

I don’t mind , I have to do it for my disabled daughter and would help my family do it if necessary.
I don’t think I’d do it for diabetic foot problems though or for anyone who had neurological issues that meant they couldn’t feel their feet properly.
id take then to a podiatrist

AmyDudley · 29/04/2026 20:54

I did it for my Dad when he had alzheimers. He developed a fear of having his nails cut (I imagine he thought it would hurt) but for some reason he would let me do it, mainly because I would give him a fruit pastille to chew and occupy his attention and then I'd snip a nail. He'd get few through quite a lot of fruit pastilles by the time I'd done his feet and hands ! Then I would rub moisturiser into his feet which he liked.

I was happy to be able to do that little thing for him to keep him comfortable. But I'm not squeamish about feet, or much else. I grew up with a severely disabled brother and knowing how to provide personal care whne needed was just a normal part of everyday life for us from a fairly young age.

heloobyeee111111111 · 29/04/2026 20:57

Only my daughters but my daughter who is now 16 found out her boyfriend doesn’t cut his toe nails and was horrid so she cuts them for him now when they need doing. She’s shown him how to do and he tried and she was once again horrid that he didn’t do it properly. I think I could cut my partners (he’s non existent so easy for me to say).

user2848502016 · 29/04/2026 20:59

I have cut DHs toenails when his leg was in a cast. Just toenails, they don’t freak me out

Hotandpointy · 29/04/2026 21:17

I’d have said no apart from DC but when my Grandad needed it doing and had no carer, I didn’t hesitate. Quite a grim job but needs doing.

allthegoldicouldeat · 29/04/2026 21:37

Love the PP’s comment that they could cut their partner’s toenails, but he doesn’t exist.

Clearinguptheclutter · 29/04/2026 21:42

Yanbu

My dh does mine and the kids’

he’s pretty good at it and is really pernickity about not getting long nails and toenails

in fact when ds was born one of the first things he did for him was trim is ridiculously spikey nails

I would do his if needed and also my own parents. Anyone else would be a bit weird.

Ahala · 29/04/2026 21:42

Yes I have no issues with feet. Dh can’t stand feet and is weirdly squeamish about them but when I was very ill, he cut my toe nails, massaged my feet a lot, put my socks on etc with zero drama.

Stilltame · 29/04/2026 21:42

No, I hate feet. I don’t even do my own and get them done at a podiatrist regularly

Clearinguptheclutter · 29/04/2026 21:43

Btw I don’t think it’s that unusual to not be keen on feet. I think there’s a word for it. But for 99% of the population it’s not a big deal.

Cariadm · 29/04/2026 21:52

Gardenimp · 28/04/2026 12:08

My BF has the opposite of a foot fetish. He really hates feet. I've never seen anything like it. I feel fairly ambivilent about feet. I wouldn't go out of my way to touch anyone's foot, but would do what needs doing to help most people. In fact I did trim BF's nail when we were on holiday, a sharp edge was causing some bleeding on the adajcent toe and we didn't really have the correct implement, so it was awkard for him to do. I didn't love or hate it, it was just something that needed doing to solve a problem.

My Dad has just called because he needs his toe nails trimming. He's old and immobile and what he was actually asking was if I'm available to give him a lift to the chiropodist. BF thought he was asking me to do it and absoultely completely horrified. The only reason I wouldn't is because of Dad's condition, it's important not to get it wrong.

Yes I know we could find a mobile chirpodist. That's a battle for another day 🤣

I'm 78 and have not been able to cut my toe nails for quite some years but I am very lucky in that my eldest daughter has kindly been doing them for me...she does a really good job too in fact much better than a chiropodist I paid for once to come to the house did! 🙄
I bought some good clippers, scissors, files and moisturisers so that she had good equipment to use and it has not been a problem for either of us in any way...last year she developed a 'macular hole' in one eye and needed an op but luckily my eldest grand-daughter who's a nurse took over until normal service could be resumed and she says she sees worse things than my feet on a daily basis! 😊

Loobyloolovesandypandy · 29/04/2026 22:18

AmyDudley · 29/04/2026 20:54

I did it for my Dad when he had alzheimers. He developed a fear of having his nails cut (I imagine he thought it would hurt) but for some reason he would let me do it, mainly because I would give him a fruit pastille to chew and occupy his attention and then I'd snip a nail. He'd get few through quite a lot of fruit pastilles by the time I'd done his feet and hands ! Then I would rub moisturiser into his feet which he liked.

I was happy to be able to do that little thing for him to keep him comfortable. But I'm not squeamish about feet, or much else. I grew up with a severely disabled brother and knowing how to provide personal care whne needed was just a normal part of everyday life for us from a fairly young age.

You’re an Angel 💐

ithinkilikethislittlelife · 29/04/2026 22:20

It’s repulsive. I do it for my 9 year old at a push. My 13 year old… no. My 82 year old mum. No way Jesus.

KeeleyJ · 29/04/2026 22:23

I wouldn't go near anyone's feet, horrible things and, I would rather cut mine off with a chain saw that let anyone near mine 😆.

KeeleyJ · 29/04/2026 22:28

A few people mentioning carers on this thread, Home Carers and Residential Home staff aren't allowed to cut nails as it's too easy to nick the skin especially with the more gnarly feet that we end up with in old age and so many older people having diabetes etc. If carers can't get by with using a nail file it has to be a Chiropodist/Podiatrist (what is the difference between them BTW?)