There is a saying that you should invest in the things that separate you from the ground: your shoes, your car tyres, and your mattress. Your feet are a fundamental part of your body, supporting you as you move around constantly throughout the day, so it is normal to end up with heavy feet or fatigue that rises up to your knees at the end of a hard day’s work. That feeling is irrefutable proof of the daily wear and tear your lower limbs suffer every day.
However, even though it is the cold season and we wear socks and boots, that does not mean we should not take proper care of our feet. If we neglect them, problems such as bad odour, calluses or corns and a persistent feeling of swelling may arise. However, there is a cheap and very simple home remedy that helps us relax at the end of the day and keep our feet healthy. Although it may seem like something reserved for spa sessions with manicures and pedicures, foot baths with a mixture of salt and bicarbonate of soda can be done at home for a few pennies.
Salt and baking soda bath: the ultimate relief for tired feet
Although it may seem silly, soaking our tired feet in hot water with salt and bicarbonate of soda is widely recommended by podiatrists. It is a perfect daily routine for improving hygiene, relaxing our limbs and preventing certain common problems. Although it is not a substitute for professional medical care, it is a low-risk, highly effective home remedy that can make us feel much lighter.
The secret of this bath for tired feet lies in its three main elements: baking soda is an alkaline agent used as a natural deodorant. It is capable of neutralising the acids present in sweat, which are directly responsible for bad odours. It also has mild antiseptic properties that help inhibit the proliferation of bacteria and fungi on the skin’s surface. In short, it is a perfect ingredient for combating athlete’s foot or excessive sweating.
The other ingredient, salt, is also perfect: its crystals act as a natural and gentle exfoliant that can be used to remove dead cells. In addition, once dry, it helps to create a low-moisture environment on the surface of the skin, which forms an unfavourable barrier for microorganisms. We recommend that you use sea salt for this soak.
Lastly, water is also the main vehicle and therapeutic agent. We recommend that you be like Goldilocks… that is, choose warm water that is neither too hot nor too cold. Heat causes vasodilation, which relaxes tired muscles and reduces the feeling of heaviness and swelling.
How to do the perfect soak
- Choose a basin that comfortably fits both feet. Do not choose one that is too large or too small.
- Pour in warm water, never too hot, as this could dry out your skin or cause burns. Choose lukewarm water.
- Add two tablespoons of salt and two tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda to the water.
- Immerse your feet completely for 15 to 20 minutes.
After soaking your tired feet, it is essential to dry them thoroughly. Pay attention to the spaces between your toes. You should avoid any moisture that could become a breeding ground for fungi. Finally, apply a natural cream or oil, which will help counteract any dryness that the bicarbonate may cause on your skin.
Specialists recommend practising this ritual once or twice a week. However, ending each day with sore feet is not normal. Some of the main causes are overexertion, poor posture, inappropriate footwear, and other physical factors such as ageing, being overweight – which significantly increases the pressure our feet have to bear – and circulatory problems such as fluid retention.
If the salt and bicarbonate bath provides only slight relief and you continue to experience chronic pain, we recommend that you see a podiatrist.