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Smelly feet/shoes
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
One of my housemates has quite smelly feet and is ALWAYS barefoot as she says she hates having her feet covered up. Now, this would be fine however her feet really do smell, as do her shoes which she tends to leave in the living room. And all she wears are ballerina/pump style shoes, which she wears barefoot and also smell. One of our friends who lived with her last year spoke to her several times about it but never got anywhere. I really don't know what to do, I find bare feet a bit gross as it is but I can cope when theyre not dirty/smelly. How do you go about telling someone their feet smell and asking them to wear socks/slippers when they hate covering their feet?? Or shall I just put up with it?
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yep, do it in private and approach with caution.
Buy her a foot spray or something.
I would tell somebody if they stank. You shouldn't have to suffer for her poor hygeine.
I'm glad I don't live with you (not that I smell or anything). That's a bit judgmental. She might suffer from a bad case of hyperhidrosis - you don't know. Always best to approach these things with tact rather than assuming that it is down to poor hygiene
If she has a problem with smell, but doesn't realise she stinks, then she should be told.
If she has a perspiration problem, then she should at least wash her feet before walking around the house (obviously once she's aware of it) or wear shoes. I don't see why other people should have to share the smell if it can be masked...
She probably isn't aware of it at all mind, else she'd be embarrassed and try to hide it.
I would be upfront and ask the person if they know they smell... I would want people to do the same for me as well.
There's a difference between being upfront and tactless. You do need to approach these issues sensitively, just in case there is a problem.
Hyperhidrosis isn't down to poor hygiene at all (as you seem to keep missing based on your reply). Depending on the severity of it a person could wash and change their clothes numerous times in a day and still end up smelling due to sweat. There are treatments available, but most people are too embarrassed to go to their doctor (or are under the mistaken belief that simply washing constantly, using deodorants or other sprays is enough or that there isn't anything that can be done). I'm not saying this person has such a condition and maybe they are just unhygienic, but as the original poster hasn't mentioned about any washing habits (or lack of) it is a bit much to instantly conclude that it's down to poor hygiene.
There is often a problem with people noticing that they smell due to some biological make-up of the smell receptors etc. in our bodies. From what the original poster has stated it would appear that they have been made aware of this fact in the past.
The only thing I'm getting at is don't judge people you don't know. Have an open mind as to all the reasons as to why, in this instance, a person might smell and deal with it tactfully.
But you're right, I shouldn't judge that people who smell do so because they're dirty.