If you’re a shift worker walking, standing and dashing around all day, you know very well what aching feet is all about. One way to soothe and pamper these tired, aching tootsies is to soak them in a piping hot foot bath. This is such a simple remedy and they are so easy to make, yet they are luxurious, soothing and oh so effective.
Here are a handful of recipes to try, each use only a few ingredients and the items are accessible to source locally or online.
They can be whipped up in large batches if preferred so you can keep a stock ready on hand (shake container occasionally) or package them nicely and give away as gifts (seal in glass jars, label and add some decorative ribbon too if you like).
Directions: Unless otherwise noted, combine all ingredients thoroughly then store in an airtight container.
- Use 2 to 3 tablespoons (more if you like) of the mix per each gallon of water used.
Temperature is at personal preference, but I find the hottest I can comfortably tolerate gives the most relief.
Recipes
Abbreviations:
ES = Epsom Salts
KS = Kosher Salt
Bicarb = Baking Soda
EO = Essential Oil
Basic:
1 part ES
1 part bicarb
drops of choice EO (optional)
Chamomile Tea: #2
4 bags chamomile tea
1/8 C. dried parsley
4 drops EO of choice
- Steep in 1 gallon of hot water for 10 minutes before using.
#3
2 C. KS
1 C. ES
drops EO of choice (optional; suggestions for Essential Oils to try are noted below)
#4
1 1/4 C. ES
1 1/4 C. KS
1/4 C. bicarb
1/4 C. cornstarch
#5
1 C. lemon juice
3 TBS olive oil
1/4 C. milk
Lavender:
1/2 C. buds (fresh or dried, both work well)
10 drops lavender EO (optional)
1 C. ES
1 C. KS (or use 2 cups Epsom)
- Directions: Use 1/2 C. per gallon of water.
Tips
Single Ingredient Ideas: (add only one of the items below to a gallon of water)
- 1 C. honey
- 1/2 C. ES
- 2 C. brewed coffee
Good to Know:
- Marbles or smooth river rocks can be added to the bottom of the basin to rub feet over while they’re soaking, this feels so good and is so relaxing! These can be found at your local craft store or online (do a search for “smooth glass stones” or “stone vase fillers” or “aquarium stones” or “river pebbles” or “large glass gems”. Just make sure they are smooth and not rough cut.
- Soothing EO To Try: peppermint, lavender, lemon, orange, eucalyptus, mint.
- The bath/vessel doesn’t need to be expensive or anything fancy, you can find plastic dish tubs for just a few bucks and they do the trick nicely. Also look at plastic storage tubs, they come in all sizes. After using, wash and dry then stash the packaged homemade soaks inside and cover tub with lid. Handy way to keep everything you need together in one place.
- If skin and heels are also dry and cracked, mix approximately 1 part vinegar, 2 parts lukewarm water. It’s fine to add one of the above listed essential oils to combat the vinegar smell (which will dissipate once skin is dry).
Tip For Floor Staff: If you have a job where you are standing all day, something I’ve recently discovered that is so helpful are compression socks. You can buy them knee high or ankle height and I tried both when traveling. I was up from before dawn to early evening, walking most of the day for nearly two weeks straight. These are also especially beneficial when dealing with Plantar fasciitis (when the soles hurt). I never had a problem with swollen or sore tootsies when wearing them and after talking to a couple friends who are nurses (shift work) and in retail, they too find that the socks really help. You can find them online in various retail outlets.
I am so happy with this website.I have wrote down recipes for 2 hours one time and thats why I say ROCK ON TIPNUT.COM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I did the same thing!
I just found the site. I love. love, love it too ! Tried dishwasher deterg. as I was reading. So excited to try everything. I agree, ROCK ON ! & THANK YOU !!
Does recipe no.5 requires warm water?
yes steep means to soak in warm water
Steeping goes with #2. Steep those ingredients. The other four are added to your preference of water temp for your feet.
use avon lip balm, best of all foot remedies that I have tried.
Be careful with essential orange oil! It is potent stuff and can burn your skin. Be sure that it is properly diluted.
I agree! I have found so many lemon oil foot bath recipes. I don’t think anyone has tried them before posting. I put a few drops of lemon oil in a full bath once and broke out in a rash. Very bad idea!
Love the recipes!!!
can you use any other salt rather than Kosher?
Yes, you can substitute Epsom or Sea Salt to have a variety of benefits…I’d stay away from regular table salt since it is chlorinated
ALL edible salt contains some form of ‘chlorine’. It’s a part of its molecular make-up and actually, what makes it edible. That doesn’t mean it’s “chlorinated” or dangerous in any way. When the sodium molecules bond with the chlorine molecules, their properties change making them both stable and safe. For that matter, sodium is much more dangerous than chlorine; it’s a metal that will spontaneously combust when exposed to air, but the chlorine stabilizes it. Table salt is not dangerous.
kosher salt has the large, enjoyable crystals which work better withthe epsom salts. I love tipnut.com.
Beth, that was actually very interesting. 🙂 thanks for sharing that with us. I’m not very good with chemistry, but it has always interested me.
Can you give some indication of what each ingredient accomplishes, whether individually or together?
(further to previous question about what each ingredient does for the feet)
What if I were to use the sea salt with the parsley, lemon, and olive oil, for example, like in a foot salad: is that still effective, or do the milk and lemon have to act together, as in recipe #5?
This really felt good it helps your tired feet
Recipe one says 1 part epsom salt 1 part baking soda about how much of each should I use?
I was wondering the same thing as her.. How much is 1 part of epsom salt and 1 part of baking soda??
It just means equal parts of each (ie. 1 cup epsom salt + 1 cup of baking soda…or 1/2 cup of each).
One recipe I read said use 1/2 cup pf mixture to a gallon of water. You can use 1/2 cup of Epsom salts, and 1/2 cup of baking soda for a one time use, or you can make more and store it in an airtight container, like a jar, for future use.
What did you chose those ingredients?
what about someone who has a lot of drying itching and cracking feet and they are diabetic what would be good to use to soak feet to get them better.
does one part mean one cup??
one part just means equal amounts so if the recipe calls for one part epsom and one part salt you can add 1 cup of each or 2 cups of each, etc. Just depends on how much you want to make
I make bubble soap for the kids. One part good dish detergent to 6 parts water and one part table sugar. one tsp or one T or one cup to the corresponding 6 parts (tsp, T, cup) of water, as an example.
Thanks for the recipes. I forgot to buy some facial masks and foot soak for a special evening of fun with my daughter tonight and your web site really helped. I even have all the ingredients on hand.
In tips #5 what kind of milk it is powder milk or freshmilk
Love these recipes soo much!!
Make sure 2 check out #5!!
You mention the phrase EO of choice. What is EO?
EO stands for essential oil. Some examples: lavender oil, thyme oil,etc.
The advice that my podiatrist told me, was to keep the feet hydrated and ANY kind of lotion is OK, but keep doing it daily and the aching feet problem will disappear……it truly is true…
Help which soak will also remove dead skin of my feet
Cheers
I find adding two tablets of polident adds a cleaner that makes your nails look like they have a french polish
polident as in false teeth tablets
Is it ok to use apple cider vinegar instead of regular vinegar?
what is EO?
FANTASTIC ! I WILL TRY THEM ALL MY TEEN-AGED SON BOUGHT ME A FOOT SOAKING MACHINE OVER THREE YEARS AGO THAT I HAVE NOT USED YET . I WAS WONDERING IF THESE OR OTHER RECIPES WOULD BE GOOD TO USE IN IT ? IT WOULD MAKE HIS DAY .
How long is the shelf life on these?
I’ve used the apple cider vinegar and it really helps since I am Type-2 diabetic and can’t use Epsom salt.
I love this website!! My heels are very cracked and dry so a nice foot soak with vinegar really helped. Thank you!
I am Retired Army and used to acronyms and abreviations. BUT, what is EO?
EO is “Essential Oil”, such as mint or lemon (not the same as lemon juice).
For dry, cracked heels…are you suggesting white vinegar, or apple cider vinegar?
I have both; use white for household cleaning and apple cider medicinally. Will either one work for the foot bah?