Smelly teenage feet

[Blackden]

My nephew is staying with me and he's got ishoos with his feet. He's gone so far as to ask me for help and in my experience teenagers just don't do that unless they're desperate.

His feet are very smelly. I had him soak them in a bowl of hot water and shower gel last night and told him to give them a good scrubbing with a flannel. He did so. I then inspected them and he doesn't appear to have any athletes foot, verucca or anything. His feet look fine. But they pong. Even after the lengthy soaking. Especially in between his toes. I can only assume he hasn't been washing them properly.

Can anyone suggest how he can get rid of the smell? it's transferring even to his new shoes. I am tempted to tell him to soak them in Dettol or something! I've advised him to use cotton socks and foot powder but we need to get rid of the smell that is still there after washing.

Yes. Surgical spirit. You can buy a bottle very cheaply from a pharmacy, pour into a shallow tray and dip clean dry feet into it. Then allow it to dry on the skin. Or you can dab on with cotton wool. It really works.
Sometimes the smell lingers in shoes and that needs to be eradicated as well. Not sure if surgical spirit in the shoes would work but worth a try.

Forgot to say, do this twice a day for a week or so.

Thank you. He's just come home and removed his shoes and the stench is awful. I shall be beating down the door of the chemist tomorrow morning.

Wash them in Hibiscrub to kill the bacteria and then use Odaban to stop his feet sweating. Using the two together will get the odour under control quickly.

Scholl do a foot soak & a foot powder. Put some odour eaters in the shoes as the charcoal absorbs the odour. Ask a pharmacist for advice as he may have athletes foot which has a cheesy smell. He needs to wear cotton socks changed daily.

This might be absolutely nothing... but here goes!
I gave up wheat and I found a side affect was that my hay fever significantly improved and my stinky sweaty (notorious) feet were no longer wet & smelly

As I say might be totally unrelated but I was very grateful!

Hope things improve for your teenager - whether it be fairy dust, diet, powder, cream or potion!

The surgical spirit solution is rather drastic for teenage skin as it will dry it out severely.

The hibiscrub solution is the best one. Daily washes with it and wash his socks in it too. It the bacteria that causes the pong so killing this off is the best way to end the stink. Do not soak the feet for more than 10 minutes and in warm not hot water.

Bamboo socks will be a greaty help too. and Spray the insides of his shoes/trainers/slippers with cider vinegar.