FEET AND VINEGAR?

Marzz · Post by **Marzz** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:04 pm

I have heard that a 1/10th of vinegar to 9/10ths of water makes a great soothing bathing solution for your feet. Any feed back on this formula? and how much vinegar should one person expect to use?

Marzz

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:32 pm

Ah yes, "Feet And Vinegar". The sequeal to Hemingway's "Blood And Sand".....or was it an Elvis Costello album?

Yes, the vinegar helps counteract the foot-corrosive playa dust, although just regular footbathing and clean socks does a lot. Just one small bottle'll do you for the week, unless you plan to dye some eggs too.

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:57 pm

It's a common notion, and many people seem to like it. I'm not convinced it actually does that much more than soap and water. Then again, I don't go walking around without socks on so I've never had a problem with my feet. I just wipe them down with a wet nap, apply lotion, and put on the next pair of socks once a night and any time I take a shower.

I have started keeping one bottle of water with a little lemon juice for washing my hands. I don't know that it actually makes a difference, but I like the smell and I figure what the hell.

phil · Post by **phil** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:20 pm

I suspect the theory is that the playa powder is caustically alkaline, so a little acid will offset it: acetic or citric acid. Be careful, though - here's the MSDS for lemon juice:
http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/C4730.htm

I've never used an acid, finding that water and lotion works wonders on feet and lotion alone in hands. If people are happy washing in diluted vinegar or lemon juice, I'm happy for them.

I note that real men wear duct tape sandals and don't wash at all:

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 1:35 pm

Just wash up a couple times a day w/ soap & water & apply hand lotion. Never used vinegar in the desert, but sometimes at home or work after handling wet concrete.

falk · Post by **falk** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 5:04 pm

I had bad playa-foot my first time at BM. Water + vinegar was very soothing, but as soon as my feet were dry, the playa-foot was as bad as ever.

Prevention is your best approach. Just keep your feet well-lotioned and encased in good socks.

Marzz · Post by **Marzz** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:39 pm

thanks everyone for the input about vinegar and water. I think I'll go with the lotion, hemp socks and good sneakers!!
:lol:

DoctorIknow · Post by **DoctorIknow** » Wed Jun 06, 2007 6:49 pm

I got playa foot, on one foot, last year and after having the heel professionally peeled, after 6 months of cream, after lava rock, I finally went to the podiatrist and he told me to crazy glue the open seams. I've only done it a week now, but the pain is gone and it looks to be working. Doc said the new skin building up underneath now has a chance NOT to continue the "gash."

BTW, drop some straight vinegar on the playa for a little science show. And don't use a disposable aluminum oven pan to bathe the feet, the vinegar will eat right through it!

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 5:48 am

I've never (knock wood) had to Krazy Glue my feet, but I HAVE used it on my hands. A tube takes up very little room in the first aid kit, and can work miracles on those nasty corner-of-the-thumnail peelies and fingertip splits. I get them every year, because of the many little projects I get into and because of the calluses and old burn tissue on my hands that gets very dessicated in the playadrya. Keep your hands hydrated and lotioned just like your feet, and if you're a Worker instead of a Spectator, get some comfortable gloves. I swear by the Ironclad general-duty model, which protect well but still allow enough sensitivity to assemble a dome AND have a little terrycloth patch for wiping your forehead.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 6:45 am

And if you're a sensitive wimp like myself, go for the almost the same thing as crazy glue but not quite so irritating Liquid Skin.

Lotion for feet? You'll need something heftier than hand lotion. I get dry feet here in Utah over the winter, so I'm hooked on Gold Bond. I've tried stuff from Burt's Bees, bodyworks, but the Gold Bond works best for me.

For random scrapes and scratches, mylarry swears by Bag Balm. Our tin is ages old but still going. He likes it on his feet, but I think it feels ooky. Still haven't figured out why playa dust doesn't stick to it.

skygod · Post by **skygod** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 9:23 am

I like the way the vinegar makes my feet smell like gherkins.
One of my coworker nurses here brought in some free samples of Boudreaux's Butt Paste I might try this year. (on my feet!)

blyslv · Post by **blyslv** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 1:56 pm

Lemon juice smells better than vinegar.

i think both are effective.

clean cotton socks, even with sandals, is a de rigeur playa look.

Post by **trilobyte** » Thu Jun 07, 2007 3:59 pm

At my camp we do 'playa foot salad' - a mix of vinegar and olive oil. The acid in the white vinegar counteracts the alkali in the playa dust, and the olive oil takes the edge off the vinegar as well as feels really good. Wash hands/feet once a day with washcloth soaked in vinegar, then rub the olive oil in. Voila - playa foot salad!

~Trilo~

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:18 am

My Foot Salad has too much "feta".

diane o'thirst · Post by **diane o'thirst** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:04 pm

I don't like the smell of vinegar but I like apple cider vinegar. I just rub lime wedges on my face, hands, arms and feet during Sunstorm. If you want to save money on the lotion you can buy a pint of cheapie olive oil and rub that on your feet. Works just fine and also emulsifies the dust. My usual bedtime routine is to clean the feet with lemon water, rub olive oil/coconut oil/cocoa butter mixture on my feet, socks, into the bed.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 7:17 pm

I just wait until the JOTS are serviced and then soak my feet in the fresh blue water.

all kidding aside, newbies - Take care of your feet. Playa foot gets bad and cases esclate as the week goes by.

later

FEET AND VINEGAR?

FEET AND VINEGAR?

Playa foot cure ????