Why do my feet smell? Foot odour explained, plus cheap and effective ways to combat stinky feet.

Keeping your tootsies warm this winter can come with an unpleasant downside: smelly feet. Yet the trick to beating the pong could be lurking in your kitchen cupboard.

The main cause of smelly feet is sweat which, although it has no odour in itself, creates an environment for bacterial growth.

Each foot has 250,000 sweat glands and produces about a cup or 500 ml of sweat daily. Excessive perspiration, combined with bacteria, causes the offensive foot odour.

It's actually the waste products from these bacteria that create the pong. The soles and areas between the toes smell more because bacteria thrive here on dead skin. The bacteria that grow on the soles of feet actually produce gases similar to those released by bacteria used in producing cheese.

What's good for feet is anything bad for bacteria, which enjoy warm, moist environments. These bacteria use warm damp places to live and thrive. Inside your shoe is an ideal breeding ground, as it's the darkest and warmest and most moist area on the body.

Getting rid of smelly feet means reducing sweat and providing ventilation. Wear cotton or wool socks (which absorb more perspiration) and canvass or leather shoes rather than synthetic ones. Don't wear the same pair of shoes over long periods; they should get a regular 24-hour airing.

Natural ways to treat smelly feet

Corn flour

Sprinkled in shoes and socks absorbs excess moisture and neutralises odour. Well, here don't recommend talcum powder as it contains aluminium, which can be a harmful heavy metal if it builds up to certain levels."

Tea

Tea contains tannic acid, which will dry your feet out, reducing the amount of sweat and odour. Soak your feet for 30 minutes in a litre of cooled water containing two teabags left to thoroughly infuse.

White vinegar

This kitchen essential doubles as a disinfectant. It combats bacterial growth and reduces smells, and is as good for your feet as your kitchen counters. Dilute half a cup in enough water for a footbath and soak for a few minutes.

Apple cider

Adding a splash of this into a footbath is another good remedy. The acid content of apple cider kills bacteria and dries excess sweat, the two main causes of foot odour. It's a really good, effective and cheap cure.