How to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus with Bleach

Toenail fungus is extremely hard to get rid of once you have a severe infection. Many turn to the most powerful thing that they can think of; bleach. But you are probably wondering… Does it work? How do I use it for my feet?

Does It Work?

The answer is yes, bleach is extremely effective in getting rid of toenail fungus. It works by killing the fungi that live under your toenails. There are several ways to use it but they all have one thing in common; they are very powerful and harsh on the skin.

How To Use?

Some choose to soak their feet in bleach for 15 minutes. Some choose to soak their feet in bleach with hydrogen peroxide for 15 minutes. Some choose to soak their feet in bleach with vinegar and peroxide for 10 minutes.

There is no perfect answer as they all work very well and have varying degrees of harshness on your skin! I would recommend trying each one to see which works best for you.

Why Use Bleach?

Many people ask, “Why to use bleach?” Well, there are three main reasons…

It is extremely effective in killing the fungus that made its way under your toenails. It kills all of the fungi on contact which prevents it from coming back (unlike many drugs).  It will not go away after a few weeks like many drugs.

It is extremely harsh on the skin! This might be why it works so well. The active ingredient in bleach that kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses is called sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). It penetrates all of your skin causing minute damage to the outer layer of cells, but also killing all of the fungus and bacteria that live on the surface of your skin.

The bleach cannot get into your body through tiny cuts because it is a strong oxidizer and would break down inside you. This is why it’s safe to use on open wounds like blisters (and also why you shouldn’t drink it, haha)

It is extremely cheap compared to buying the drug Diflucan.

How to Use Bleach for Nail Fungus

There are many methods of using bleach for nail fungus, but they are all very harsh. It is recommended that you do not use bleach if you have any broken skin at the site of where your toenail fungus used to be.

It is also recommended that if your feet are wet or moist before putting on your socks, wait until they are dry to put on socks.

With that being said, here are the various ways you can use bleach for nail fungus.

Option 1: Soak Your Toes in Bleach with Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide

For this method, you will need….

1 cup of water ¼ cup vinegar 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide ½ teaspoon of bleach (the active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl)

It is recommended that you only use ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. Anything more will damage your skin! Also, if there is too much vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide the solution may become too foamy and the reaction time will be slowed down.

Preparing the Solution:

Start by mixing ¾ of a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. To this solution add ¼ cup vinegar and mix very well until all of the ingredients have been combined. Now you can use this solution to soak your toes in.

It is suggested that you soak your feet for 10-15 minutes  – longer soaking times will increase the harshness of the bleach on your skin and may give you blisters. If this happens, take a break from using the solution for several days to heal any damage done to your skin before continuing with treatment.

Option 2: Soak Your Toes in Bleach with Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide for 10 Minutes

In this method, you will need….

1 cup of water ¼ cup vinegar 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide ½ teaspoon of bleach (the active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl)

It is recommended that you only use ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. Anything more will damage your skin! Also, if there is too much vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide the solution may become too foamy and the reaction time will be slowed down.

Preparing the Solution:

Start by mixing ¾ of a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. To this solution add ¼ cup vinegar and mix very well until all of the ingredients have been combined. Now you can use this solution to soak your toes in for 10 minutes.

Option 3: Apply Bleach with Vinegar Directly to Your Nails

For this method, you will need….

1 cup of water ¼ cup vinegar 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide ½ teaspoon of bleach (the active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl)

It is recommended that you only use ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. Anything more will damage your skin! Also, if there is too much vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide the solution may become too foamy and the reaction time will be slowed down.

Preparing the Solution:

Start by mixing ¾ of a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. To this solution add ¼ cup vinegar and mix very well until all of the ingredients have been combined. Now you can use this solution to soak your feet in for 10 minutes.

Option 4: Apply Bleach with Vinegar Directly to Your Nails Every Other Day for 2-3 Weeks

For this method, you will need….

1 cup of water ¼ cup vinegar 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide ½ teaspoon of bleach (the active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl)

It is recommended that you only use ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. Anything more will damage your skin! Also, if there is too much vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide the solution may become too foamy and the reaction time will be slowed down.

Preparing the Solution:

Start by mixing ¾ of a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. To this solution add ¼ cup vinegar and mix very well until all of the ingredients have been combined. Now you can use this solution to soak your feet in for 10 minutes.

Option 5: Apply Bleach with Vinegar Directly on Your Toenails Every Day

For this method, you will need….

1 cup of water ¼ cup vinegar 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide ½ teaspoon of bleach (the active ingredient in bleach is sodium hypochlorite, NaOCl)

It is recommended that you only use ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. Anything more will damage your skin! Also, if there is too much vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide the solution may become too foamy and the reaction time will be slowed down.

Preparing the Solution:

Start by mixing ¾ of a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. To this solution add ¼ cup vinegar and mix very well until all of the ingredients have been combined. Now you can use this solution to soak your feet in for 10 minutes.

For All 5 Options: Once the solution is no longer needed, be sure to wash it off with water and dry thoroughly before returning your foot back into your shoe. If the skin on the bottom of your toes has become red or irritated during treatment you may need to take a break before continuing. If this happens, be sure not to use the solution for several days and let your skin heal (you may even need to soak in water as needed). Once the skin is back to normal you can begin treatment once again.

When using bleach, you can expect results pretty quickly. Most people report seeing a huge difference within the first few days of treatment; however, some experience relief within one week, and others do not see noticeable results until weeks or even months later.

After Application: See How Your Feet Respond:

You may be wondering, “How will I know if the bleach treatment is working?” There are three things that you can do to find out:

• Look at your nail bed: If it looks whiter than usual and is glossy (almost like a plastic coating) then you are on the right track!
• Smell your shoes: If you start to notice a mild bleach-like scent then it is working.
• Watch for side effects: If your toenails become soft and start peeling off, this may be a sign that the treatment is too harsh and you should discontinue use. It’s also recommended that you take a break from usage every so often if this happens.

Be sure not to use the bleach treatment more than once or twice a week, because it can damage your nail bed and cause discoloration of the skin around your toes!

If you are constantly using bleach on your nails but you don’t see results, it’s probably because the solution isn’t strong enough. If this happens, you can purchase a stronger solution from a local drugstore. Another option would be to use the standard bleach treatment but to increase the concentration by adding less water or more bleach!

Remember that everyone’s skin reacts differently to different solutions and so too will their toes! If you don’t see results after following these instructions, try taking a break from the treatment for a few days and then give it another try.

There are many other steps that you can take to get rid of toenail fungus including vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, orange oil, almond oil, sesame seed oil, bleach, pumice stones… etc. It is important that you try out different methods in hopes of finding one that works best for your skin.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Bleach

Advantages

This process is extremely cheap and usually accessible to everyone. Unlike most prescription medications used to treat nail fungus, bleach has few side effects (more likely none at all). Bleach can rid your nails of fungal infections pretty quickly if done correctly.

Disadvantages

Bleach cannot kill the root cause of toenail fungus so it is very important to continue treatment after the infection has been removed. Bleach can also damage your skin and nails if not used properly so it is imperative that you read over all of the instructions and precautions before beginning this or any type of treatment.

Many people report having nail fungus for several years before finding a treatment that works. If you are one of those people who suffer from difficult toenail fungus or simply want to take preventive measures against re-infection, bleach may be the answer for you. It is cheap, highly accessible, and highly effective when used properly.

Causes of Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is caused by the same fungi that cause athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm. The infection usually enters through cracks in your skin around or near your nail.

It can also infect toenails after an injury (like stubbing your toe). If you are not careful, the fungal spores can be transmitted to your other foot after walking barefoot in public areas like showers, pools, and locker rooms.

Prevention of Toenail Fungus

One of the best ways to prevent this infection is through regular washing of your feet. You should also be sure you are cleaning around your nails properly and that your shoes are not too tight or too loose. If you feel like you may have a fungal infection, visit your doctor as soon as possible to avoid infecting other parts of your body and worsening the problem.

So… Does Bleach Really Work?

Yes, bleach is very effective in getting rid of toenail fungus. It does have harsh side effects so it’s all about trying what works best for your skin! I hope this article helps you on the road to healthy toes!