What you can do yourself
Use the parts of the routine you can complete comfortably while seated, without straining to see or reach.
Free large-print checklist
A simple weekly foot-care routine.
Five calm steps for ordinary foot care, with clear boundaries for when help is useful. Steady on Feet does not collect or receive anything you write.
The five steps
- Look. In good light, check the tops, soles and spaces between your toes for anything new or changing.
- Wash. Use comfortably warm water and a mild soap or wash. A long soak is not needed.
- Dry. Pat rather than rub, taking particular care between each toe.
- Moisturise. Use a thin layer on dry skin, but not between the toes, and let it soak in before standing.
- Check what you wear. Look inside socks, slippers and shoes for rough areas, grit, wear or pressure points.
Choose the right level of help
When help is useful
Ask someone you trust to help you see an area, prepare the items or steady the practical setup while you remain involved.
When to ask a professional
Get advice when pain, nail thickness, reduced sight or difficulty reaching means the care cannot be done safely.
What to avoid
- Do not use blades, razors, corn plasters or acid preparations on hard skin.
- Do not cut down the sides of a nail or continue if you cannot see clearly.
- Do not put moisturiser between the toes or stand while the floor or feet are slippery.
When to ask for help promptly
Ask an appropriate healthcare professional about broken skin, a wound, redness, heat, swelling, discharge, sudden colour or temperature changes, new loss of feeling, or severe or worsening pain. Call 999 in a medical emergency.
Sources
- Caring for your feet and toenails — Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Accessed 7 August 2026.
- Ageing feet — Royal College of Podiatry. Accessed 7 August 2026.
- Ageing feet — Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust. Accessed 7 August 2026.
