Yes, soaking your feet in apple cider vinegar (ACV) and baking soda is generally considered good for relaxing tired feet, neutralizing odor, softening skin, and potentially managing mild fungus due to their antibacterial/antifungal properties, but it's not a proven cure for serious infections and should be avoided with open sores or diabetes, always using warm water and limiting soak time.
Vinegar has a purifying effect on your skin. The acidity in the vinegar has a moisturizing effect on your feet and ensures that the skin can recover completely. If you take a foot bath with a slash of vinegar every day, you will see that your feet will be a lot smoother in just a few days.
Warm water – Not too hot, not too cold, but just right. Epsom Salts – Adding 1 Tbs Epsom salts to your foot bath can benefit your feet greatly. It can soothe dry skin, relieve aching feet, and help to remove foot odour.
It can interact with some types of medicines, including insulin, diuretics (water pills), laxatives and certain medications for high blood pressure. Nausea and vomiting. “Some people quite literally just can't stomach the taste and acidity of apple cider vinegar,” Czerwony warns.
Baking soda, aka sodium bicarbonate, is an alkaline salt. Vinegar is a weak acetic acid. When you combine them, two chemical reactions occur in a matter of seconds (a displacement and a decomposition reaction). The reaction produces carbon dioxide gas, which is also present in actual volcanoes.
Moisturizing After Baking Soda Treatment Is Key
After the baking soda bath or paste, it's important to moisturize your skin while it's still warm and damp.
Inadequate vitamin D can lead to osteoporosis, increased risk of falls, fractures and bone and muscle pain. In the foot and ankle, stress fractures of the metatarsal bones and ankle may be seen in those with vitamin D deficiency, as well as generalized foot pain.
Toenail fungus is tough to kill permanently, but the most effective treatments are prescription oral antifungal drugs (like terbinafine), followed by strong topical antifungals, often used together, while laser therapy and sometimes nail removal (surgery) are options for persistent cases, though home remedies rarely provide a complete cure and professional help is key for lasting success.
The type of vinegar you use doesn't necessarily matter — most people either take a white vinegar foot soak or an apple cider vinegar foot soak. The important thing is the pH of the vinegar, which should typically be 2-3.
Foot care. At home, you can take foot baths in warm water to soften the skin. Then, use a pumice stone or a foot file and gently sand the hardened area of skin.
Currently, there's no evidence suggesting that you'll get any benefit if you use apple cider for nerve pain. So, while it shouldn't cause you any lasting health concerns, taking an ACV shot probably won't give you the relief you're seeking.
Try adding 3–4 tablespoons of baking soda added to a basin full of warm water. Use 2 parts water and 1-part vinegar for a foot soak. The vinegar helps kill bacteria which reduces foot odor. It may also slow the growth of bacteria.
Tingling and numbness: One of the most common symptoms is a tingling, prickling or numb sensation in the hands or feet. This can happen if the vitamin deficiency causes damage to the myelin sheath, which is a protective layer that surrounds and protects nerve fibers.
Seven vitamins known to support nerve repair are B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cobalamin), Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin C. These vitamins promote nerve regeneration, reduce inflammation, and provide antioxidant protection to support overall nerve health.
Taking too much vitamin D causes a buildup of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia), leading to signs like frequent urination & intense thirst, digestive issues (nausea, vomiting, constipation), muscle weakness & fatigue, bone pain, and confusion or disorientation, all stemming from this calcium overload.
DIY Foot Soak Recipes
Okay, this trend looks wild but here's why baking soda and Vaseline together might actually make your skin glow. Vaseline locks in moisture by creating a protective barrier on the skin surface. Baking soda in small amounts can act as a mild exfoliant removing dead skin cells and helping to even out tone.
Treat yourself to a relaxing foot soak. Dissolve 3 tablespoons of ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda in a basin of warm water and soak feet for 10 - 20 minutes.
These are the best simple Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes listed in order of closest match (and the most likely to be in your kitchen).
Limited Effectiveness for Serious Clogs
The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar can break up some minor debris, but it won't dislodge or dissolve the heavier blockages caused by grease, hair, soap scum, or mineral buildup.
Baking soda and apple cider vinegar each have mild benefits—digestive relief, blood-sugar moderation, and possibly exercise support. However, overuse can lead to electrolyte imbalances, enamel erosion, and digestive upset.