This article goes into some of the most effective low cost, home remedies for athletes foot but before you start to treat this infection, it’s important to know for sure if what you are dealing with truly is athletes foot and not another fungal foot infection.
What Is Athletes Foot?
Athletes foot, or Tinea Pedesis a fungal infection of the skin. The infection its self is not too serious and certainly isn’t life-threatening however it is known to be rather unsightly. The infection is also contagious meaning that if you develop athletes foot on your feet, and touch it with your hands it has the potential to spread… to your hands and to other people.
Signs And Symptoms
Athletes foot typically appears to be blistered, peeling or irritated skin. Some of the common symptoms are…
- Itching or burning sensation anywhere on the feet including the cervices in between the toes, the soles of the feet, the arches of the feet or around the toenails
- Itchy and flaky blisters
- Dry or raw exposed skin
- Abnormal toenail color texture or appearance
If the infected area is very minor, a sure way to tell if it is in fact athletes foot is if you notice spreading to other areas of the foot.
How Its Caused
Athletes foot is caused primarily by two ways. One you come into physical contact with someone who has the infection, or if you are exposed to the right conditions for the infection to develop on you.
The infection is called athletes foot for a reason! Gyms, saunas, public pools, and locker rooms are the perfect breeding grounds for the infection. Athletes foot is most commonly picked up by people who are frequently are exposed to these places.
Most effective home remedies for athletes foot
Proscribed or over the counter treatments are not always necessary. There are numerous home remedies for athletes foot available that are effective in treating the infection that you can likely just find in your kitchen. Listed here are the most effective home remedies for athletes foot.
1. Keep your feet out in the open
As simple as it might sound, this is one of the most effective ways to treat athletes foot. Keep in
mind that the reason why athletes foot develops is because your feet are likely subjected to dark and dank conditions. Spending hours wearing low circulation, sweaty shoes will not allow for a swift recovery.
In order to fight the infection and prevent it from spreading, it is important to let your feet breath. By allowing your feet to be exposed to the light and free from any damp conditions your feet will have a much easier time fighting athletes foot.
It is recommended that you take your shoes and socks off as frequently as you can, especially after a workout. Make it a habit to take your shoes and socks off after a work day, and after a workout for at least an hour so that they can breathe.
As unsightly as it might be to do so, no matter how many creams you try, fungi will continue to fester in dank, dark conditions. That being said, take the sneaks of when you can and let those bad boys shine!
2. Use hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a common everyday substance that can be used to decontaminate cuts, 
sores, and most importantly, athletes foot. This home remedy for athletes foot has anti-bacterial properties are useful for killing off the fungi responsible for the infection. However, keep in mind that this disinfectant does sting if you have exposed flesh through dry skin, cuts, rashes or blisters. Depending on what strength of Hydrogen peroxide you use, apply with caution.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with Hydrogen peroxide you will need…
- A foot bath, a tub, or container of some sort big enough for your feet
- One Gallon of purified or distilled water
- One pint of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide
Mix the one gallon of water with the one pint of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide. Next, dip your feet into the solution and let them soak for about 30 minutes. From there you may rinse your feet off with water or you may let your feet air dry but don’t wipe them off with a towel as the hydrogen peroxide might discolor the towel.
It is recommended that you repeat this process once in the morning and once at night before you go to bed. It is also critical that you don’t use any solution over 5 percent hydrogen peroxide. If you do, you very well may damage your skin due to the corrosive nature of the chemical.
3. Tea tree oil
Tea tree oil is an age-old home remedy used for centuries that has been known to be a natural cure for a variety of fungal infections. This particular oil is an extremely concentrated antibacterial compound. That being said, it certainly does not take a huge amount of tea tree oil to effectively treat athletes foot.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with tea tree oil you will need…
- A foot bath, a tub, or container of some sort big enough for your feet
- One half tablespoon
- 2 fluid ounce bottle of organic tea tree oil
- One Gallon of purified or distilled water
First, mix the one gallon of water with one half a tea spoon of organic tea tree oil in a foot bath or small tub. From here dip your feet into the solution and soak them for 20 to 30 minutes. After you may rinse your feet off with water or simply let your feet air dry or pat down with a towel.
You may repeat this process as frequently as you would like, however for the best results, it is best to soak your feet in the compound at least once in the morning and once before going to bed.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most effective home remedies for athletes foot that is found in virtually every household. It has alkaline properties that allow it to balance the natural Ph level of the feet, thus creating an undesirable microenvironment for the pesky fungi. In addition to killing off fungi, the powder is also effective in killing the odor that comes with the infection.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with baking soda you will need…
- A small mixing bowl
- One Gallon of purified or distilled water
- 4 lb box of baking soda
Wash your feet thoroughly and then let air dry or pat them down with a towel. Next, mix together in a small mixing bowl, a 2 parts baking soda to1 part water mixture. From here, once the past is mixed up completely, rub the past evenly on your feet. Be sure to really get it between your toes. Let the paste dry on your feet completely before washing off with cold water. You may let your feet air dry or you may pat them down with a towel.
One way you can also use baking soda to treat fungal infections on the feet is to simply sprinkle some into your socks before you put them on your feet. By doing so you can keep your feet nice and dry in order to discourage the fungi from developing.
5. Ginger
Ginger, like tea tree oil, has beneficial antibacterial properties effective for curing athletes foot. There is no denying that the potency of ginger is powerful enough for treating fungal infections that small doses are enough to do the trick. That being said, it is one of the most powerful home remedies for athletes foot.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with ginger you will need…
- One small cooking pot
- Freshly chopped ginger
- Tap water
First fill the cooking pot with about a cup of water and bring the water to a boil. From here, drop the freshly chopped ginger into the water and allow 10 minutes for the ginger to sit in the water. Once ten minutes has passed, turn off the heat and let the solution sit until cool. Soak your feet in the pot for 20 to 30 minutes. Once finished you may let your feet air dry or pat them down with a towel.
6. Your basic hand soap and water
When most people get athletes foot or any fungal skin infection in general, they often feel as 
though they need some sort of magic formula to cure it. This is not necessarily the case. Hand soap is one of the most basic home remedies for athletes foot that every household owns.
Don’t forget that simple hand soap does have effective antibacterial properties. By applying soap and water to your feet a few times a day you can very well treat your fungal infection. Keep in mind that basic personal hygiene also does deter fungal infections.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with soap and water you will need
- Any basic hand soap
- A bath tub
- running water
First fill your bath tub so that its deep enough for your feet to be submersed. Apply 5 squirts or more of hand soap into the tub and mix the soap in with the water. From here submerge your feet into the tub and soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Once finished let your feet air dry to pat down with a towel.
You may repeat this process two to three times a day. It is recommended that you do so at least once in the morning when you wake up and then again before bed to get the full effect.
7. Apple cider vinegar mix
Apple cider vinegar has been known as a powerful healing mixture since ancient Greece. This home remedy can help with acid reflux, weight loss, mitigate the effects of diabetes, and… you guessed it- athletes foot!
To get the best effects from this home remedy, however, it is important to use an unpasteurized, high-quality solution.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with apple cider vinegar you will need…
- One foot bath
- 16 ounces of unpasteurized apple cider vinegar
- One gallon of purified or distilled water
First, you will need to stir up a mixture of one part apple cider vinegar to 4 parts water. Next, you may dip your feet into the mixture and let them soak for 20 to 30 minutes. From here you may let your feet air dry or pat them down with a towel.
For the quickest results, it is recommended that you repeat this process at least once in the morning and once before bed.
8. Salt water solution
Salt water is a great natural disinfectant and has been used for centuries for this purpose. The 
solution can draw away moisture from the infected area in order to kill any bacteria and fungus. This is one of the most effective home remedies for athletes foot also is an essential household item.
Directions
To treat athletes foot with salt water you will need
- Iodized salt
- One gallon of purified or distilled water
- A small foot bath
First you may fill up the small foot bath with cups of lukewarm water. Keep adding cups of water until you have enough to submerge your feet. Next add one teaspoon of salt for every cup of water you added. Mix the solution together and dip in your feet. You may soak for 20 to 30 minutes before removing your feet and letting them air dry or patting them down. Home remedies for athletes foot.
IMPORTANT…. Please note….
Although these home remedies for athletes foot are low cost, they do come with a downside… they often are not the most effective. These treatments might be able to eliminate the infection, but they often take a long time to do so, and if the infection is serious enough, these treatments might not even work altogether.
If you are looking for a treatment for athletes foot that not only gets rid of the infection, fast, painlessly, and quickly, I recommend you check out my review of wonder balm here.