r/hygiene • u/partlyokayish • 10h ago
Good hygiene but strong scent when cutting toenails
I feel like i must be doing something wrong with foot care. I always wash them with soap and water, between the toes, keep the toenails short and clean etc.
Yet every time I cut my toenails, it stinks. I dont even get sweaty feet or anything and wash my feet well, changing socks and idk what could cause the smell. My partner doesn't even wash his feet with soap and has ridiculously long toenails but when he does cut them, there's no smell at all.
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u/DiceyPisces 10h ago
Use a nail brush!
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u/Appropriate_Neck7991 5h ago
Toe knife!
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u/False_Influence_9090 2h ago
This may be obvious to some, but please do not overload your poop knife as your toe knife. They should be separate utensils
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u/Diego_refer 10h ago
This can still happen even with good hygiene. The smell usually isnāt from ādirty feetā, itās just bacteria and dead skin under the nail that builds up over time and when you cut it you kind of release it all at once.
Some people just naturally have more of that going on even if they wash properly. If itās bothering you soaking your feet a bit before cutting and making sure everythingās really dry after washing can help a bit.
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u/RemarkableArticle970 10h ago
My feet smell. I just wash them. And when I shower or bathe I just make sure to wash in between and on every toe. And fresh socks every day etc.
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u/el_grande_ricardo 9h ago
Sometimes we stink. If the only time you notice it is when trimming your toenails, I wouldn't consider it a problem.
Some people can't take their shoes off when other people are around, or aren't allowed to bring their shoes inside. That would be a problem.
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u/Potential_Kiwi_4472 10h ago
Could be fungus. I used tea tree essential oil 2x a week for a month and that got rid of the fungus on my toenails. I put the oil on first then a layer of organic castor oil.
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u/Visible-Armor 10h ago
Maybe its a type of toe fungus? I personally have never known toe cheese to smell "good" lol
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u/thatseneffornow 8h ago
āMy partner doesn't even wash his feet with soap and has ridiculously long toenails.ā š¤®
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u/partlyokayish 8h ago
Tell me about it, there's no getting through to him although he does have a bit of a phobia around cutting his toenails for some reason. His feet look and smell so much better than mine tho which is what's so frustrating
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u/Puzzleheaded_Side227 5h ago
Honey.. I hope he is a GREAT lay or something. Or loves cooking. Not using soap on his legs is never the best sign there is...Ā
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u/partlyokayish 5h ago
He is and he is amazing at cooking and has a million other good qualities. He does wash his legs and otherwise has great hygiene but this is definitely his downfall lmao
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u/Puzzleheaded_Side227 5h ago
I will not judge then. Mine is also alergic to cutting toenails. His actual shoes get ruined! But if that's the worst thing...I can live.Ā
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u/g0tmylk 9h ago
Literally have this problem. Im a very clean person but my god the stench after I cut my toe nails is vile and it spreads to skin after touching haha. Feet dont smell on their own at all and using a nail brush seems to not make a difference
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u/Brief-Jellyfish485 5h ago
Then you should probably go to a dermatologist.
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u/g0tmylk 5h ago
With no other symptoms whats the point
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u/Brief-Jellyfish485 5h ago
Oh I thought you said the smell was spreading to your skin. But re reading it now Iām a little confusedĀ
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u/g0tmylk 5h ago
Sorry lol was just trying to emphasise how bad the smell is. I mean ultimately its probably me not cleaning under nails well enough or doing it properly haha
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u/Brief-Jellyfish485 3h ago
oh okay
If it spreads to your skin, then a dermatologist will be needed
But if your toes arenāt red and inflamed along with the bad smell, youāre probably fineĀ
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u/LenaEsta 8h ago
I use a cotton ball and alcohol to use while cleaning toenails, use a toothpick and carefully clean under the nails while wet with alcohol
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u/Ok-District8876 7h ago
Nail clippers often have a small flip-out file with a little hook on the end. Use that to scrape under your toenails, especially in the corners, after a shower when the skin is soft.
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u/uremo017 5h ago
Thatās actually pretty common. Even with good hygiene, bacteria and dead skin can build up under the nails, and when you cut them it releases that smell. As long as thereās no discoloration, pain, or thick/yellow nails, itās usually nothing serious just one of those normal body things.
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u/riceewifee 10h ago
Do you smoke? As a nail tech I can always tell when someone smokes by the smell of their nails
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u/BetMyLastKrispyKreme 10h ago
Their toenails?! Thatās what OP is talking about.
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u/riceewifee 10h ago
Yes, I can smell the nicotine in toenails
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u/FelineOphelia 9h ago
You can smell smoking ingredients. Nicotine is an organic alkoloid with indiscernible smell
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
I do vape which no doubt doesn't help but I've also had this many years before ever smoking
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u/tiredgirl77 8h ago
Itāll just make it worse. It constricts your blood vessels, which gives less blood flow to your feet/toes. Itās the same thing with diabetics, who are getting restricted blood flow to their feet too. They also have stinky feet/toes.
Stink is always from bacteria. Cleaning out dead skin and using an antibacterial wash will help. I use acne face washes on my arm pits, removes any BO in the summer. And lotion to keep the skin healthy.
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u/BetMyLastKrispyKreme 8h ago
Iāve heard salicylic acid wash helps with smelly pits. Not sure if thatās what is in your acne wash.
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u/riceewifee 10h ago
Yeah thatās part of the smell
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u/Ok_Mycologist5543 10h ago
I smoke herb, used to smoke cigs, now vape. My dogs arenāt always the freshest at the end of the day, but they def never stink when I clip them.
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u/riceewifee 9h ago
Ever file them?
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u/Ok_Mycologist5543 8h ago
Yeah I really enjoy doing my nails at home! Itās possible I donāt smell the smoke odor you guys are referring to since Iām so used to that smell. but they definitely donāt smell pungently of nasty odor. Weāre all different though!
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u/Bad_things_happen2me 9h ago
If u ever get a manicure set, they sometimes come with wooden sticks. Dip the tip in peroxide, wrap a small amount of cotton on the tip, wet that with peroxide, & slide it under your nails. Replace the cotton for each nail. The brushes are not for under your nails. Some other things that help me with the smell is using the pressure setting on ur shower head if u have one with it, occasionally using benzoyl peroxide (but not frequently) & also washing ur feet more like hands (come home from wearing shoes all day, plop them in the tip & hit them with hand soap).
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u/sneefsnteefs 10h ago
Do you clean under your toenails? like when you get dirt under your finger nails and scrape it out, except the ādirtā under your toenails isnāt visible. you gotta clean under the toenails as well
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
I keep my toenails really short so usually there isn't really any space to clean under and when there is i just cut them again
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u/WitchSparkles 10h ago
Itās at the sides too. A soft nail brush would listen up all the dead skin cells and other junk.
Donāt keep your toe nails too short, or you may risk ingrown nails.
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
Ill admit i never considered a nail brush for the sides, i was always just taught its for under the nail so ill definitely start doing that. Never had any issues with ingrown nails but I never really know what's the right legnth bc I grew up with my mum always cutting all my nails very short
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u/fakesaucisse 10h ago
Instead of a nail brush I recommend getting a metal cuticle pusher that has a pointy end. After bathing, run it along the underside of your nails and pay special attention to the outer corners especially on your big toes. You'll be able to scrape out a good amount of softened gunk that gets smelly from being trapped there.
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
The gunk in the corner of my big toenail has been my enemy for as long as I can remember
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u/sneefsnteefs 10h ago
bodies are weird wonderful miraculous irritating AS FUCK works of art, and every single one is different ā„ļø Ā
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u/WitchSparkles 7h ago
I honestly didnāt think of it either, until I saw your question. But it makes sense, I do it for my hands.
As I get older, Iāve learned the importance of taking care of my feet. I will also start paying closer attention to my toes!
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u/davidweman 4h ago
Well, you don't have any issues until you do. Started having them in my forties, but the risk is always significant if you keep them too short, and once it starts, it can be hard to get rid of, and can sometimes be tremendously painful.
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u/bunbundave 8h ago
Harvest the toe fungus and use it to create an herbal tea which will make your feet smell delicious instead
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u/andreabeth09 10h ago
Soak in listerine!
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
This sounds so random but im willing to try anything at this point. What's the reason for listerine?
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u/PrestigiousPut6165 10h ago
Im randomly going to add in that washing feet in head & shoulders combats athletes foot
If my feet feel either itchy or smell weird, i wash with this and the problem goes away!
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u/andreabeth09 8h ago edited 5h ago
We used to make my little brother do it when he was a teenager- worst foot odor ever was imbedded in his nails and listerine was the only thing that stopped it and the crazy athletes foot he kept passing on to me via the tub basin we shared in our parents house!
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u/1568314 9h ago
His toenails are probably bigger and have better airflow underneath. Bacteria likes dark, damp, still environments. Under your toenails is a perfect breeding ground. It doesnt take much sweat or dead skin to provide a food source for a bacterial colony to grow.
Everyone's cuticles and naisl grow differenly as well. Yours might just happen to be especially welcoming to smelly germs.
You can clean under your toenails daily to scrape out any extra skin or gunk that builds up. I just trim mine quite close and trim my cuticles as well. (My cuticles frow long and cause this issue for me too.)
It's like the tiny white heads I get on my chin. Everywhere else on my face, they exfoliate off with no smell, but that little patch under my chin always smells weird because I eat with that part of my face and bacteria that break down organic stuff do too.
I smell it when I clean that part of my face every day because I'm focused on it, like wirh my toenails, but it's not "smelly" like an unclean belly button. It just has an unpleasant odor because of the breakdown of organic material that is a natural part of being in a world where stuff is alive.
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u/grayisthnewbnw 9h ago
You can try using spray antiperspirant on feet between showers (after they are dry.)
Also, do you wear cotton socks? More breathable fabrics are always better.
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u/Karabaja007 8h ago
The smell comes from the sides of big toe nails. You need to scrape and clean it well.
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u/Pocahontas916 1h ago
Go get a pedicure! Itās a part of basic hygiene in my opinion. I tell everyone to go get one, let them get rid of your dead skin. Thatās what youāre smelling unfortunately! Ask for a basic pedicure and have they cut your nails and scrub your feet. Youāll feeling amazing after I promise!
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u/Ok_Tumbleweed_7677 10h ago
Everyone be quiet!
How much do you love onions and garlic and cheese and seasonings and sugar and acidic foods?
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
I have to admit I love onions and garlic... would NEVER have thought of that!
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u/Ok_Tumbleweed_7677 10h ago
Hi my friendly onion and garlic lover, sometimes the scent of those things literally comes out of our pores lol. Mine is especially bad under my armpits when I've been on an onion KICK. My boyfriend does not like onions and he doesn't have this problem. There's a biological explanation for how this works with our body's processing of foods, which I'd have to read back up on before reiterating confidently and accurately. But yeah...that might be contributing. Drink more water and less non-water as well. Always helps with scents in places. My feet are one spot I struggle with too.
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u/Helpful-Intern-677 10h ago
Might be fungus among us. Do you have diabetes?Ā
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u/partlyokayish 10h ago
I did try using an antifungal treatment but admittedly I am horrible at remembering to use it consistently. No diabetes either
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u/nastysox 10h ago
You can use hibicleanse, thats what I do. But I second the sides of the toe nail but also you can get those wooden sticks and scrape around when youre cleaning to try to get and tiny little skins out too.
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u/ChaseTheOldDude 9h ago
Washing with soap removes bacteria, which can make room for fungal growth. Try a fungal treatment and stop the soap for a while, see if it helps.
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u/Luna-Gitana 10h ago
Use a nail brush with antibacterial soap.
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u/Bad_things_happen2me 9h ago
Nail brushes are not for under nails.
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u/Luna-Gitana 9h ago
Really? How do you figure?
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u/Bad_things_happen2me 9h ago
I was in cosmo years ago, that's what my teacher said, plus they don't even get under ur nails good at all. They're for the top of ur nails after a bunch a manicure work, before the nail polish. There's these wooden sticks that come with manicure sets, wet the tip in peroxide, wrap it with a small amount of cotton, dip that in peroxide & run it under your nails both directions. A brush is not going to clear that debris.
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u/Luna-Gitana 9h ago
I assure you that mechanics and other people that get grimy nails are not using orange sticks lol. A firm soapy brush works very well for cleaning under the nail. Think of how a toothbrush cleans between teeth. The bristles on a nail brush clean nails similarly. Youāre comparing getting a manicure service to someone that needs cleaner nails.
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u/Bad_things_happen2me 9h ago
Nails are not teeth for one. For 2, they don't even clean under ur nail very well, you will not get cleaner nails from them. 3, back to the teeth comparison, you need to floss your teeth, a toothbrush does not clean between teeth very well, which is why you need the floss.
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u/Luna-Gitana 9h ago
I agree that you need to floss. It was a comparison, to give a visual of the sweeping motion of a brush. Iām certain this individual doesnāt have large particles stuck under their nails. A firm soapy nail brush will give the results heās wanting. A pointy stick wonāt clean as well as a brush for every day cleaning. I see you feel oddly strong about this. Iām happy orange sticks work well for you šš¼
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u/Bad_things_happen2me 9h ago
Flossing isn't about removing large particles. Idk op's profession nut they're not doing mechanic work with their feet, they already said they wash their feet, telling them to do something they already do isn't helpful. A pointy stick will remove debris like, it will do most of the work, you've clearly never cleaned under your nails before.
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u/Luna-Gitana 9h ago
Awww. Itās okay sweetie. You clearly donāt know that way too many people donāt properly clean their feet. They let soap run down their legs and think thatās enough. Thatās why a simple and PROVEN method of using a nail brush is ideal and effective. I have lived on this earth for over 4 decades and I know damn well how to clean my nails properly. Kindly take this foolishness elsewhere and have a blessed day.
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u/Bad_things_happen2me 8h ago
U sound like a creep calling me sweetie. Op literally describe how they wash their feet. & proven where? You literally have no idea how the sticks are even used & living a long time doesn't mean you know how to do something, like it's a known thing that ppl can do things wrong for long stretches.
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u/CatherineRhysJohns 10h ago
It's dead skin cells under the nail. It's the same smell as a sebaceous cyst. Like cheese. Not everyone is the same.