8 Amazing Pedicure Foot Soak Recipes

Make your very own pedicure foot soak for an in-home spa treatment any night of the week. Try any or all of these 8 different foot soak recipes that will leave the skin soft, smooth, and cleansed.

It’s time you treat your feet to a luxurious spa-like experience with one of these easy DIY foot soak recipes.

With 8 different recipes for every need, enjoy total relaxation and beautiful skin with just a few simple ingredients.

Why You’ll Love These Recipes

• Take time to relax: Setting aside 20 minutes to soak your feet is such a nice way to relax! The warm water, Epsom salt, and essential oils all contribute to an amazingly calming experience.
• Healthy feet: Not only are foot soaks enjoyable, but they can also help your feet look beautiful! The ingredients in each of these foot soaks are nourishing to the skin and will help moisturize, detox, and treat skin issues.
• Simple ingredients: You will only find 2-4 simple ingredients in each of these recipes! That means you can quickly throw together a soothing foot soak without lots of planning or a trip to the store.
• Skip the pedicure: If you are on a mission to save money and skip the nail salon, these recipes are for you! Soak your feet in a luxurious foot soak, exfoliate, and paint your toenails; you won’t even miss the salon. Plus, DIY spa nights can be so fun!

Key Ingredients

The ingredients will vary by recipe for these 8 foot soaks, but you’ll notice a few key ingredients that make a huge difference in foot health.

• Epsom salt: A common addition to baths, Epsom salt is effective at reducing pain and swelling, promoting relaxation, and soothing dry, rough skin. Epsom salt may also help the body detoxify, making it a great ingredient for baths, foot soaks, and more.
• Baking soda: Baking soda is a fantastic foot soak ingredient as it soothes irritated skin, aids rashes and itchiness, and helps deodorize by balancing the skin’s pH.
• Vinegar: Vinegar is a must-have ingredient for foot soaks to help athlete’s foot, foot odor, and dry skin. The acetic acid in vinegar has antifungal and antibacterial properties that can fight a variety of foot issues.
• Fractionated coconut oil: You’ll find fractionated coconut oil in many of my recipes because it is so beneficial for the skin. Coconut oil is highly moisturizing for dry skin and can reduce inflammation, fight off bacteria, and help with wound healing.

1. Epsom Salt Foot Soak

Epsom salt soaks work wonderfully for dry or sore feet. In addition, using salts is an excellent way to detox the body.

Ingredients

• 1 cup of Epsom salt
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• 1/8 cup of dried lavender buds (optional)
• 15 drops of lavender essential oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Add all the ingredients to a bowl and stir well to combine.
2. Transfer to a mason jar or airtight container for storage.
3. Pour 1/4 cup of the bath soak into a basin of warm water, enough to cover the feet.
4. Let your feet soak for 15-20 minutes, and then pat them dry with a clean towel. Enjoy silky smooth skin!

2. Vinegar Foot Soak

A vinegar foot soak can be beneficial for cleansing the feet, removing odor, relaxing muscles, and even helping with athlete’s foot or fungal toenails.

Ingredients

• 1 part vinegar
• 2 parts warm water

Instructions

1. Add enough water and vinegar to cover your feet in a foot tub or basin.
2. Soak feet for 20 minutes.
3. Pat dry with a clean towel and enjoy your freshly cleansed feet.

3. Hydrogen Peroxide Foot Soak

Hydrogen peroxide is often used for cleansing cuts, scraps, and other skin imperfections. As a result, this hydrogen peroxide foot soak may help with infected skin or fungal issues such as athlete’s foot.

Ingredients

• 1/8 cup of hydrogen peroxide
• 6 cups of warm water
• 10 drops of tea tree essential oil (recommended for fungal issues)

Instructions

1. Add the ingredients to a basin and stir well to combine.
2. Let your feet soak for 15-20 minutes, and then pat them dry with a clean towel.
3. Exfoliate any loose, dead skin.

4. Foot Soak for Dry Feet

I have naturally dry feet, so this foot soak for dry feet is put into regular use in our home. Foot soaks, in general, are good for dry feet and this recipe here is no exception.

Be sure to follow it up with an exfoliator!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of Epsom salt
• 1/8 cup of baking soda
• 1 tablespoon of fractionated coconut oil (or substitute for similar carrier oil)
• 10 drops of myrrh essential oil (optional but recommended)

Instructions

1. Add the ingredients to the basin of warm water. If you want to get really particular, keep the temperature between 95 and 100 degrees.
2. Soak for 20-30 minutes and pat dry with a clean towel.
3. After the soak, exfoliate the skin with a homemade salt scrub or with a foot exfoliator tool.
4. If needed, repeat steps 2 and 3.
5. After exfoliation, apply a homemade body butter or DIY foot lotion.

For best results, do this 2-3 times a week or as needed.

5. Foot Soak to Soften Nails

If you have hard, brittle, or thick toenails, soaking feet in a foot soak before cutting nails can be helpful. A foot soak can also help relieve pressure caused by ingrown toenails.

Ingredients

• A tub or basin of warm water (about 6 cups)
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of fractionated coconut oil

Instructions

1. Combine ingredients in a foot soak basin.
2. Soak feet for 20 minutes to soften nails before cutting.

Check out my natural nail soak for fingernails too!

6. Foot Soak for Sore Feet

Foot soaks are not just for softening skin and nails; they can also come in handy for sore and achy feet.

After a long day or an intense workout, try soaking your feet to relieve the discomfort caused by being on your feet for extended periods of time.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of Epsom salts
• 5 drops of peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops of lavender essential oil

Instructions

1. Add the Epsom salt to 6 cups of extra warm water. Make the water as hot as is comfortable to relax muscles, release tension, and reduce soreness.
2. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Remove feet, pat dry, and apply a soothing lotion like my homemade muscle rub.

7. Best Home Pedicure Soak

If you get a professional pedicure at a nail salon, you’ll notice they always start off with a foot soak. This makes cutting toenails and exfoliating the skin on the feet easier and more effective.

I love a good pedicure, but doing it at home saves money and ensures natural ingredients are being used.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup of Epsom salts
• 1 tablespoon of vinegar
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 10 drops of lavender essential oil
• Lemon slices (optional)
• Dried lavender sprigs (optional)

Instructions

1. Add the ingredients to about 6 cups of warm water, or at least enough to cover the feet completely.
2. Soak feet for a minimum of 10 minutes before the pedicure.

8. Homemade Foot Soak without Epsom Salt

Most foot soaks call for Epsom salt because salt can help with skin irritations and muscle aches and detox the body. However, other salts can also be effective for this.

If you want to make a foot soak without Epsom salt, you can use sea salt for similar benefits. Or leave the salt out altogether and use the vinegar or hydrogen peroxide foot soak recipes in this post.

Soaking in warm water alone can help to relax muscles, loosen joints, and soften skin, nails, and cuticles.

Expert Tips

• Foot soaks are great for anyone on the go, usually only requiring a few minutes — 15-20 minutes is enough, depending on the foot soak you choose.
• Test the water temperature before submerging your feet. I like to check it with my elbow to ensure it’s warm, not hot.
• Remember to always be mindful and check in with how your feet feel — if they start becoming uncomfortable, it’s time to take them out!
• After soaking your feet, follow up with a gentle exfoliator such as homemade salt scrub for feet to remove any stubborn dry, or dead skin. If you have sensitive skin, a homemade sugar scrub may be better for you.
• After a foot soak and exfoliation, be sure to apply a moisturizing foot lotion.
• Salt is naturally drying to the skin, so limit the use of these recipes to only once or twice a week!

Recipes FAQ

Related Recipes for Your Feet

• Baking Soda Vinegar Foot Soak
• DIY Foot Mask For Hydrated Skin
• Detoxifying Foot Bath Recipe
• All-Natural Foot Balm Stick
• How to Make Your Own Nail Polish

If you tried these Pedicure Foot Soak Recipes or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!