奇速英语

Our feet are home to a tiny world of bacteria and fungi — typically containing up to 1,000 different types of these organisms. The foot also has a more diverse range of fungi living on it than any other part of the human body, and the foot skin has one of the largest numbers of sweat glands in the human body. Most foot bacteria and fungi prefer to live in the warm, wet areas between your toes where they feed on the nutrients in your sweat and dead skin cells. The waste produced by these micro-organisms is the reason why feet, socks and shoes can start to smell bad.

As socks can hold sweat in, this creates an even more ideal environment for smell-causing bacteria, and these bacteria can survive on fabric for months. The micro-organisms in your socks don’t just come from the bacteria and fungi on your feet, but also from the places around you like home or gym floors. They also carry harmful germs such as some kinds of disease-causing fungi, and can pass these micro-organisms to surfaces, spreading the fungi that cause athlete’s foot.

To reduce smelly feet and bacterial growth, avoid wearing socks or shoes that make your feet sweat a lot. You can buy socks that can kill the bacteria on your feet. Bamboo socks let more air flow through, making sweat dry up quickly. However, for socks made of cotton, wool or man-made fibres, it’s best to only wear them once to prevent smelly feet and avoid foot infections.

Wash your socks correctly between uses: if your feet aren’t unusually smelly, wash the socks in warm water (30–40°C) with a mild cleaning liquid. To clean and disinfect them thoroughly, use a cleaning liquid with enzymes(酶) and wash at 60°C. Drying socks outside is also a good idea, as ultraviolet(紫外线的) rays in sunlight can kill most of the bacteria and fungi on the socks.