Blue Mouthwash Foot Soak: What Happened After 5 Days?
For years, home remedies have circulated online promising softer feet, reduced odor, and even relief from fungal issues using a surprising ingredient: blue mouthwash. Many people specifically mention soaking their feet in a mixture of warm water and blue mouthwash for several consecutive days and claim dramatic results. Curious about whether this method truly works, I decided to explore what happens when you soak your feet daily for five days in a solution made with a cup of blue mouthwash and warm water.
Here’s the full breakdown — the recipe, the science behind it, what actually happened, and whether it’s worth trying.
The “Recipe”
Although often shared casually online, the method usually follows a simple formula:
Ingredients:
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1 cup blue mouthwash (commonly original formula varieties)
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2–3 cups warm water
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Optional: 1 cup white vinegar (some variations include this)
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A basin large enough for both feet
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Towel
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Moisturizer
Many people use blue varieties of mouthwash such as those made by Listerine because they contain antiseptic ingredients like menthol, thymol, eucalyptol, and methyl salicylate.
Instructions:
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Fill a basin with 2–3 cups of warm (not hot) water.
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Add 1 cup of blue mouthwash.
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(Optional) Add 1 cup of white vinegar for added acidity.
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Stir the mixture gently.
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Soak feet for 15–20 minutes.
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Pat dry thoroughly.
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Apply moisturizer afterward to prevent dryness.
This routine is typically repeated daily or several times per week.
Why Do People Try This?
The appeal of this soak comes from three main claims:
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Softens rough, cracked heels
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Reduces foot odor
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Helps with mild fungal issues like athlete’s foot
Let’s look at why people think it works.
Blue mouthwash contains:
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Alcohol (in many formulas) – drying and antibacterial
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Menthol – cooling sensation
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Thymol & eucalyptol – mild antiseptic properties
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Methyl salicylate – anti-inflammatory properties
Vinegar (if added) is mildly acidic, which may help create an environment less favorable for certain bacteria and fungi.
But do these ingredients actually produce visible changes after five days?
Day-by-Day Observations
Day 1: Immediate Sensations
The first soak feels refreshing. The menthol creates a cooling effect, and the warm water relaxes tired feet. After drying, the skin may feel slightly tighter due to alcohol content evaporating.
No dramatic changes occur after the first session, but feet may feel cleaner and smoother to the touch.
Day 2: Mild Softening
By the second day, subtle softening of surface skin can occur. This is mostly due to:
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Prolonged exposure to warm water
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Light exfoliation from soaking
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Temporary hydration of the outer skin layer
However, any rough calluses remain largely unchanged.
Day 3: Noticeable Texture Changes
Around the third day, some people report:
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Reduced foot odor
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Slight improvement in dry patches
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A smoother surface after towel drying
If vinegar was added, the mild acidity may assist in gently loosening dead skin. However, no peeling or dramatic shedding typically occurs unless the skin was already very dry.
Day 4: Dryness Begins
By day four, a new pattern often emerges.
Because many mouthwashes contain alcohol, repeated daily soaking can begin to dry out the skin. This may result in:
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Tight feeling skin
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Mild flaking
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Increased sensitivity in some individuals
Without moisturizer, dryness becomes more noticeable.
Day 5: Mixed Results
After five consecutive days, here’s what typically happens:
What Improves:
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Feet feel cleaner
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Odor may be reduced
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Surface softness temporarily increases
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Minor surface bacteria may be reduced
What Doesn’t Dramatically Change:
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Thick calluses
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Deep heel cracks
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Significant fungal infections
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Chronic skin conditions
In short, after five days, the results are mild — not miraculous.
What’s Actually Happening Scientifically?
The improvements people see are mostly due to:
1. Hydration and Soaking
Warm water softens the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum), making it feel smoother temporarily.
2. Mild Antiseptic Action
The antiseptic ingredients can reduce surface bacteria, which may help with odor.
3. Temporary Skin Tightening
Alcohol evaporates quickly, which can make skin feel firmer for a short period — but it also removes natural oils.
Does It Kill Fungus?
This is one of the biggest claims online.
While mouthwash contains antiseptic ingredients, it is not designed or clinically proven to treat fungal infections like athlete’s foot.
Mild cases may appear slightly improved because:
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The area is cleaned regularly.
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Moisture is reduced.
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Surface microbes are temporarily decreased.
However, persistent fungal infections usually require antifungal treatments formulated specifically for skin.
Risks of Daily Use
Soaking daily for five consecutive days is unlikely to cause harm for most people, but there are potential downsides:
1. Skin Dryness
Alcohol can strip natural oils, leading to cracking if moisturizer isn’t used.
2. Irritation
People with sensitive skin may experience redness or burning.
3. Disruption of Skin Barrier
Excessive drying can weaken the protective barrier, potentially increasing susceptibility to infection.
4. Staining
Blue mouthwash can temporarily tint skin or nails slightly blue in rare cases.
Who Should Avoid This Soak?
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People with open wounds
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Individuals with diabetes (especially with foot complications)
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Those with eczema or dermatitis
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Anyone with severely cracked heels
When in doubt, consulting a healthcare professional is always safest.
Is Vinegar Necessary?
Adding vinegar increases acidity, which may:
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Help reduce odor
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Gently loosen dead skin
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Create an environment less friendly to certain microbes
However, it also increases the risk of dryness and irritation.
If trying this method, starting without vinegar may be gentler.
Better Alternatives for Soft Feet
If your goal is smooth heels, there are more effective approaches:
1. Warm Water + Epsom Salt Soak
Gentler and less drying.
2. Foot File After Soaking
Mechanical exfoliation removes thick calluses more effectively.
3. Urea-Based Creams
Urea softens hardened skin more efficiently than mouthwash.
4. Moisturize Daily
Applying a thick cream and wearing cotton socks overnight produces stronger results than mouthwash soaking.
So, What Happened After 5 Days?
Here’s the honest summary:
After soaking feet daily for five days in a cup of blue mouthwash mixed with warm water:
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Feet felt fresher.
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Mild odor improved.
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Surface skin felt smoother.
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No dramatic peeling occurred.
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Thick calluses remained.
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Skin began feeling slightly dry by day four.
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Moisturizer became necessary.
The transformation was subtle, not dramatic.
This remedy works more like a refreshing foot bath than a medical treatment.
Why the Internet Exaggerates the Results
Many viral claims rely on:
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Before-and-after photos with lighting differences
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Simultaneous exfoliation not disclosed
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One-time dramatic peeling from other products
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Confirmation bias
Because mouthwash has a strong smell and cooling sensation, people associate it with effectiveness — even when results are modest.
Can It Be Used Occasionally?
Yes, if:
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You don’t have sensitive skin
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You moisturize afterward
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You limit it to once or twice a week
Daily use long-term is not recommended due to dryness risk.
The Bottom Line
The blue mouthwash foot soak is not harmful for most healthy individuals when used short-term. It can:
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Provide a refreshing sensation
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Reduce mild odor
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Slightly soften surface skin
But it is not:
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A cure for athlete’s foot
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A replacement for medical treatment
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A miracle callus remover
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A deep exfoliation method
After five days, the change is noticeable but minor.
If you enjoy the cooling effect and fresh feeling, it can be an occasional self-care ritual. However, for significant foot concerns, targeted skincare or medical treatments are far more effective.
Final Thoughts
Home remedies often gain popularity because they are affordable and accessible. A cup of blue mouthwash and warm water is certainly inexpensive compared to spa treatments. But expectations should remain realistic.
The five-day experiment shows that while the soak may improve freshness and mildly soften skin, it doesn’t deliver dramatic transformations.
If your goal is smoother, healthier feet, combining proper exfoliation, consistent moisturizing, and appropriate treatments will produce better results than relying on mouthwash alone.
Would you like me to turn this into a more dramatic, viral-style 2000-word blog post version — or keep it factual and evidence-based like this?
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