# Why do feet smell? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154 "2003-04-21T22:29:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![myheadphones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@myheadphones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myheadphones)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/1 "2003-04-21T22:29:16Z")
Why do feet smell? Is it bacteria related or something? And what’s the best remedy (apart from sneaker balls)? ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/2 "2003-04-21T22:46:00Z")
[Some general foot problem info.](http://members.austarmetro.com.au/~hubbca/feet.htm) Yes, odour can be bacterial/fungal in origin, IIRC, but the site also says: > [@](#): > > Bad foot odour can either be caused by potassium or silica deficiency. ---
**Author:** ![FranticMad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c68b51/32.png) [@FranticMad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FranticMad)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/3 "2003-04-21T23:33:41Z")
My cat’s feet smell like a human’s. Don’t ask how I know this. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/4 "2003-04-22T00:07:03Z")
Most cats’ feet smell like corn chips. I would say feet stink because they’re usually shoved into socks and shoes, and sweat and breed bacteria in a warm, moist enclosure. ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/5 "2003-04-22T00:41:34Z")
Stinky foot story: My feet used to smell like baby shit, normal looking feet, they did sweat, but they SMELLED…BAD, REALLY…BAD, I couldn’t remove my shoes with out having to immediately washing my feet. My socks would rot, if I removed my shoe and let the socks dry out on my foot, you could hear them peeling off from the next room when I removed them. Tinactin would help but the stink was still there. To make a long story short my old wife picked up stakes(not because of my feet ) With in about two weeks my feet completely stopped stinking. Here I am ten years later and I’s not afraid to remove my shoes at any time. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/6 "2003-04-22T00:55:25Z")
[Why do feet stink?](http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/feb98/884801128.Mi.r.html) > [@](#): > > Foot odor (bromohydrosis) is thought to be caused by the breakdown of your foot sweat into small, noxious fatty acids by bacteria on your feet. The two major culprits are species of Corynebacteria and Micrococci. This thread mentions several possible remedies for foot odor: [Embarrassing foot odor…](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=70881) ---
**Author:** ![dimosc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dimosc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dimosc)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/7 "2003-04-22T02:48:36Z")
**Guinastasia** is right i think, our feet live a very rotten life! oh, why do noses run? 😃 :runs away: ---
**Author:** ![Spacegirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Spacegirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spacegirl)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/8 "2003-04-22T05:17:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by herman\_and\_bill \* > \*\*Stinky foot story: (snip) > To make a long story short my old wife picked up stakes(not because of my feet ) With in about two weeks my feet completely stopped stinking. Here I am ten years later and I’s not afraid to remove my shoes at any time. \*\* I don’t get it…picked up stakes? Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![something\_clever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@something\_clever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/something_clever)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/9 "2003-04-22T05:28:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*Most cats’ feet smell like corn chips. > > I would say feet stink because they’re usually shoved into socks and shoes, and sweat and breed bacteria in a warm, moist enclosure. \*\* oh my god both of you, bravo, this is the funniest pair of replies ive ever seen. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by herman\_and\_bill \* > **Stinky foot story: > My feet used to smell like baby shit** maybe you guys should check out the StinkyFeet Diaries[StinkyFeet Diaries](http://www.thespark.com/science/stinkyfeet/) ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2003, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/10 "2003-04-22T10:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BluMoon \* > \*\*I don’t get it…picked up stakes? Please explain. \*\* Packed her bags and left ---
**Author:** ![Spacegirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Spacegirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spacegirl)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-feet-smell/170154/11 "2003-04-24T05:17:59Z")
Okay, thanks. Never heard that expression before. Now it makes sense!