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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stinking feet, even after washing.

55 replies

Peweee · 23/06/2017 18:48

How do you help someone that you live with that has feet that absolutely stink even after they wash them.

They cannot smell them, they think you're being an arse. But the kids and you can smell them even though you know that person goes straight into the shower after work and scrubs them.

I know prevention is better than cause, but in this case washing, preventing, drying, spraying, using ALL the usual methods don't work.
They work outside in the hot sun all day on their feet building.

So what would someone wash their feet with so the person who lives with them doesn't have to endure the stink.

Please help us.

OP posts:
Allabitmuchisntit · 23/06/2017 18:51

Doctors? Some sort of fungal infection going on?

Ilovehamabeads · 23/06/2017 18:57

When I first met my now DH, his mum used to make him soak his feet in a bowl of water with some powder added that made it purple, for this reason. I'm not 100% sure of the exact name, but it was something like potassium crystals. Stained his feet but worked a treat. This was over 20 years ago, it might not even be available now

WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 23/06/2017 18:58

Is it the shoes or the feet? Iodine or Listerine footbath can help if it's the feet. If it's the shoes then rotating 3 pairs, applying baking soda in betweeen wears and burning the worst offenders can help.

Ilovehamabeads · 23/06/2017 18:58

Potassium permanganate. That's what it was.

BahHumbygge · 23/06/2017 18:59

Natural fibre socks, cotton or wool. Sprinkle some bicarb onto a damp facecloth after a shower and wipe over feet. Also sprinkle bicarb into shoes, leave overnight, then tip out.

Elledouble · 23/06/2017 18:59

Eww. Bad smells are usually caused by bacteria aren't they? So use antibacterial soap to wash them? And try to scrub away any hard skin, that always seems to be smellier.

WinifredAtwellsOtherPiano · 23/06/2017 19:00

Oh yes, sorry, I meant Potassium Permanganate not Iodine - getting my purple chemicals mixed up there.

EffieIsATrinket · 23/06/2017 19:04

Miconazole antifingal spray for shoes & feet.

Lexieblue · 23/06/2017 19:06

Is it dead skin build up on the soles of the feet? Also what socks is he/she wearing? Odour eaters for shoes? Second the bicarb as well and regularly changing shoes in for new ones (or wearing on alternate days might help, give shoes time to dry out between uses)

FloatyCat · 23/06/2017 19:08

Foot soak after washing with Epsom salts.

TaraCarter · 23/06/2017 19:09

What are the shoes washed with and how often?

Original poster
Peweee · 23/06/2017 19:09

Thanks for the tips I will be writing this down. He gets really pissed off at me suggesting anything though. I just poured him a nice foot soak with tea tree and he's turned his nose up at it.

It's starting to fuck me off that he doesn't care that we have to endure the stink.
It was worse a few years ago, he'd come in and not even bother washing or changing his socks and get pissed off with me even suggesting he washed.

As for bacterial infection, his feet look like baby's feet.
But in between his toes has been rank in the past.

I'm going to Boots tomorrow to stock up on everything going...

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 23/06/2017 19:11

Get him some medicated soap like Shield, Dettol or Lifebuoy and his own toenail brush. Antifungal spray. Disinfect his socks and shoes.

BenjaminLinus · 23/06/2017 19:13

Is it athletes foot left untreated? The inbetween the toes bit sounds like it. Get some powder and/or cream from the chemist, and get him to actually wash his feet properly, not just stand in the shower.

Lexieblue · 23/06/2017 19:15

That's bad if he won't acknowledge the effect it's having on you :(
Was also going to suggest changing socks at work a couple of times but he's probably not going to want to do that :/

Original poster
Peweee · 23/06/2017 19:20

No way he won't do that.

It's because he can't smell them so he thinks I'm just being difficult.

OP posts:
HerbWoman · 23/06/2017 19:26

My feet started to smell for a bit, which they don't usually do, so I did a bit of googling and zinc deficiency came up. Took zinc and they are fine now. Have just looked to see if poor sense of smell could also be associated with zinc deficiency and it is mentioned. Might be worth investigating it.

Lexieblue · 23/06/2017 19:28

:/ has he got a good friend or family member he always listens to if you happened to invite round would be confident enough to mention it? I really feel for you OP :(

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 23/06/2017 19:40

He needs to take responsibility for his foot problems and visit his GP. There is clearly a problem with his feet if they smell that bad.

WhatALoadOfOldBollocks · 23/06/2017 19:42

It's because he can't smell them so he thinks I'm just being difficult
But it's not just you who can smell it, it's the children too. What does he say to that?

Bokky · 23/06/2017 19:44

Hibiscrub works a treat.

HitsAndMrs · 23/06/2017 19:48

Peppermint sprays and removal of hard skin. Check between toes and dry properly. It can be a sign of kidney or liver disorder too so maybe he needs to go to the doctor.

Original poster
Peweee · 23/06/2017 19:50

The children don't mention it so much. They tend to sit on the other side of the room as well so not so close to him (not because of the feet just because that's where we all like to sit).

I'm liking the hibiscrub idea. And I'm going to get some of the spray suggested and a few other things

Thanks for your tips.

OP posts:
Original poster
Peweee · 23/06/2017 19:51

There's absolutely no dry skin.

Plus I don't think it's kidneys, liver or zinc because it's purely a summer thing.

Which kinda makes sense because it's so hot and does a seriously full on job.

OP posts: