Natural Nail Fungus Treatments: Effective Home Remedies - Ted's Q&A

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Cure for Thickening Toenails

Posted by Leslie (Salem, OR) on 07/15/2006

Hi Ted, I've only been using ACV and Peroxide for a few weeks now. It took me awhile to figure out that I had a toenail fungus because the only symptoms I had were thickening toenails. Since realizing that I have a toenail fungus I have been scouring the internet for information and remedies. Much of what I have read about this fungus has been pretty depressing. The information I have found on this website has given me some hope that I will be able to rid myself of the fungus. I have continued to wear sandals knowing that this is one of the best ways of fighting this fungus. But when winter arrives and it's time to put away the sandals and pull out my leather shoes I know I risk re-infecting my toenails because of the fungus that is probably in all of my shoes. I was wondering if you think spraying the insides of the shoes with some kind of fungicide or wiping them down with some kind of bleach solution would be effectivie in ridding the shoes of any fungus?

Replied by Ted
Bangkok, Thailand
391 posts

Dear Leslie The best way at least for me is to try to make a 20-30% solution of copper chloride and put it in a small sprayer or with gloves, use cotton balls soaked in them and paint the entire inner surface of your shoes with this solution. Once you apply it throughout, then you can use a hair dryer to dry out the solution. Then always with a new socks replaced everyday should your shoes be free of the fungus. The copper solution last long and I think about a monthly application should do. If you think this is too long then two week application. But for me, monthly application is more than sufficient to prevent the reinfection of fungus that keeps coming back.

The main carrier (the pulprit)of fungus is usually your shoes. Initially, I want you to make 3 applications after each drying so that the copper chloride gets fixed to the shoe. Wipe dry excess copper chloride using dry rags. On the last application, you can rinse using water so any excess copper chloride will not be there to irritate your skin. However unlikely, it is best to use it as a precautionary measures. Before you wear your shoes, it is best to remember to soak your entire feet for a 30 seconds a much weaker 10% copper chloride solution, then rinse away with the water and wipe dry. This way both the feet and the shoes have no fungus, while the socks are changed daily and laundered in bleach or borax.

Amongs the many shoes, the worse violator of fungus carrier of shoes are those with felt cloth or cloth underneath that seems to carry the fungus.

As an extra tip, since most of the fungus will be on the tip of the shoe, a more radical method is to tip the shoe vertically and pour maybe a 1/2-1 cup solution of copper chloride and leave their for only about 30 seconds before rinsing them (the outer exterior) to prevent blue color discoloration of your shoe.


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