Detoxifying Foot Bath Recipe

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This detoxifying foot bath recipe is the ultimate way to end a long day. It is a perfect natural foot soak for a gentle detox of the body and stress relief. Make it in under 5 minutes with just a few simple ingredients!

A jar of detoxifying foot bath with a wooden spoon sticking out of it.

A soak in a foot bath can be just the thing your feet need after a long day. I spend most of the day on my feet, as I’m sure many of you do too. At the end of the day, when I sit down (or better yet, lay down), I will notice just how tired my feet are.

A good old-fashioned foot soak can do the body some good. Foot baths are relaxing, soothing to sore muscles, and promote healthy skin on the feet.

This detoxifying foot bath provides all of the wonderful benefits of a foot soak with some additional detoxifying benefits, too. You’ll love unwinding at the end of the day with this simple foot soak while your body detoxes!

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love It

Household ingredients: I love finding a DIY recipe for which I already have the ingredients. This detoxifying foot bath requires simple ingredients that you may have in your pantry! Skip the trip to the store and enjoy your foot bath right away.
Relaxing: There’s nothing like sinking your feet into a warm foot bath at the end of the day. It’s a great way to set aside 20 minutes for yourself and treat your hard-working feet!
Great for you: Not only is this foot bath relaxing and enjoyable, it also brings some benefits to your health! A detoxifying foot soak can moisturize and nourish your feet, relieve muscle tension, and help your body with its natural detoxification process.

What Goes Into This Recipe

Ingredients for a detoxifying foot bath.

Baking soda: I use baking soda in many of my foot soaks because it can deodorize the feet and help with itchiness. Baking soda also has cleansing and detoxifying properties, making it an important ingredient in this detox foot bath.
Epsom salt: Also known as magnesium sulfate, Epsom salt is a common addition to baths as it relieves muscle tension and promotes relaxation. Epsom salt is a key ingredient in this bath for detoxifying the body and it can help soften rough, dry skin.
Sea salt: I recommend a quality sea salt because of the trace minerals they provide.
Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar is an effective ingredient for foot soaks as it can “help slow foot fungus, prevent foot odor, and soothe dry skin,” according to Healthline. The acetic acid in the vinegar gives it antibacterial and antifungal properties. It’s a gentle ingredient, though you should always dilute it before using it on your skin.
Carrier oil: A bit of carrier oil in the bath will help moisturize the feet as they soak. You can use any liquid carrier oil; I prefer fractionated coconut oil.
Essential oils: Use a single oil or create a blend to add aromatherapeutic benefits and promote skin health. Keep reading for some suggestions.

Essential Oil for a Detoxifying Foot Bath

Essential oils can be used to help skin irritations, cleanse, purify, and even gently detox the body. You can add a single oil or a blend of essential oils to the bath soak. Here are a few of my favorites:

Peppermint: Peppermint oil soothes achy muscles and provides a cooling effect on the skin. I use it in my homemade foot lotion for this very reason!
Lavender: Lavender is my go-to oil for skincare products because of its calming and relaxing effect and a plethora of skin benefits. Lavender oil aids dry skin, soothes sore muscles, and has anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties, to name a few.
Tea tree: Tea tree oil is known for its detoxifying properties and it can help with fungus on the feet or toenails.

Other great essential oils for detoxification include rosemary, tangerine, cilantro, lemongrass, geranium, and frankincense.

How to Make a Detoxifying Foot Bath

Ingredients for a foot bath poured into a glass bowl.

Step 1. Combine the dry ingredients (baking soda, Epsom salt, and sea salt) in a large bowl.

Dry ingredients for a detoxifying foot bath in a glass bowl, stirred well with a fork.

Step 2. Stir to thoroughly mix the ingredients.

Adding apple cider vinegar to the bowl of ingredients and stirring it with a fork.

Step 3. Add the carrier oil, then slowly add the vinegar. It will react with the baking soda and fizz; this is normal and temporary.

Adding essential oils for the foot bath mixture in a glass bowl.

Step 4. Add the essential oils and stir once more. Store in an airtight container.

How to Use

Once you have made the foot soak salt, you can use it in a relaxing and detoxifying foot bath.

Pouring the detox bath salt mixture into a basin with water for a foot bath.

Step 1. Add a half cup of the detoxifying foot bath salt to 2 gallons of warm water.

Feet soaking in a detoxifying foot bath in a teal water basin.

Step 2. Soak your feet in the bath for up to 30 minutes.

Expert Tips

I like to add dried lavender buds to my foot bath to create the ultimate relaxing experience.
After you have finished your foot bath, follow it up with a moisturizing foot mask or whipped body butter to moisturize the skin.
It’s always a good idea to check your water temperature before submerging your feet in the bath. You want it to be warm, but not scalding hot.
Avoid “hot oils” such as oregano or clove when choosing the essential oils for your foot bath.
You can make your foot bath in the bathtub or in a small bin or basin. I prefer to use a small tub so I can enjoy the foot bath at my desk or on the couch.
The salt in this recipe can be naturally drying to the skin, so limit use of it to 1-2 times a week.

Recipe FAQs

What are the benefits of a foot bath?

Soaking your feet in a homemade foot bath can have several benefits for you, especially if you have sore, tired feet. Foot baths can relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, hydrate the skin, reduce swelling, and even boost your magnesium levels if you use Epsom salt! Plus, relaxing with your feet in a warm foot bath is a great way to take some time for yourself and wind down at the end of the day.

What are the best essential oils for detoxifying?

There are many essential oils that can help your body to detox. Some of the best essential oils for detoxing are rosemary, tangerine, cilantro, geranium, lavender, tea tree, lemongrass, clove, frankincense, and myrrh.

How often should I do a detoxifying foot bath?

I would recommend limiting your detoxifying foot soaks to about once or twice a week. The ingredients in this foot bath are gentle on the skin, but they can be drying if used too often.

A spoonful of detoxifying foot bath being help up over a jar of foot bath.

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