Easy 20-minute home pedicure + DIY foot scrub

Why I switched to home pedicures
Beauty & style26 Comments on Easy 20-minute home pedicure + DIY foot scrub

Easy 20-minute home pedicure + DIY foot scrub

A salon pedicure is a little luxury that many of us indulge in. But have you considered the environmental impact of a visit to the nail salon? Read on to find out why I switched to home pedicures. Plus, a 20-minute home pedicure routine and DIY foot scrub recipe to let you enjoy some convenient and low-cost pampering.

This post was originally published in July 2020 as “Why I switched to home pedicures” and updated in May 2023.

Jump to foot scrub recipe

My history of pedicures

Although I love the look of brightly painted toenails, I was a latecomer to the pleasure of pedicures. In fact, I had my first pedicure when I was in my mid-40s after a conversation with a couple of co-workers. When I told them I had NEVER had a pedicure, they couldn’t believe it.

For Christmas that year, my boss gave me a gift card to a local spa. We were going on a cruise for winter break so I decided that was the perfect opportunity for my first pedicure. So, I made an appointment for the day before our trip and off I went.

I have to say that, although it wasn’t a life-changing experience, I did enjoy the pampering and found it very relaxing. After that, I would make a point of going for a pedicure 2 or 3 times every summer.

Until I considered the environmental impact.

Why I am not going back to the nail salon

After starting my waste reduction journey, I became hyper-aware of any unnecessary use of plastic and other disposable items. When I last visited the local nail salon, I was shocked when they lined the plastic tub with a disposable plastic liner. I didn’t recall them doing that in the past so it must have been a new procedure.

Seeing this made me wonder why it was necessary. Are they not cleaning the tub between customers? If they’re not cleaning the tub, what else aren’t they cleaning?

Needless to say, it turned me off enough that I decided to dust off my old Dr. Scholl foot spa and start doing my own pedicures at home.

What I like about home pedicures

I’m not going to lie. I do miss the pampering. But, part of my eco-friendly focus is being willing to give up some things I like in the interest of the environment or my health. If I am perfectly honest, there are a few things I prefer about home pedicures:

  • It saves time. I can do a pedicure in the comfort of my own home whenever I have a spare half hour.
  • I have control over the products I put on my feet. Nail polish and nail polish remover are pretty toxic, so I have stopped using them. I have also replaced foot scrub, cuticle oil and lotion with natural alternatives.
  • It saves money. At an average of $60 per visit depending on the service, I’m saving between $120 and $180 a year.
  • Nail salons have a horrible reputation for unethical labour practices. I no longer feel guilty for exploiting underpaid staff working in dangerous conditions that expose them to toxic chemicals on a daily basis.

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20-minute chemical-free home pedicure

I have my home pedicure down to an easy 20-minute routine using all-natural products. Here’s how it goes.

20-minute at home pedicure
  • Fill a foot spa or bowl with hot water.
  • Turn on the massage function (if using a foot spa).
  • Soak feet for 5-10 minutes.
  • Push back cuticles and massage oil into cuticles. I have replaced cuticle oil or lotion with sweet almond, olive or grapeseed oil.
  • Use a foot file to smooth calluses.
  • Rinse and dry feet.
  • Trim toe nails.
  • Apply Easy natural foot scrub (see recipe below). Massage well into feet paying special attention to calluses.
  • Rinse and dry feet.
  • Buff nails.

Easy 4-ingredient natural foot scrub

This natural recipe takes 10 minutes to make using ingredients you probably have in your kitchen. It makes my feet feel so soft, I don’t need lotion. You can also use it on hands and elbows.

Easy DIY foot scrub

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup coarse salt – regular table salt works fine
  • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar
  • Your choice of 1/2 cup oil. Sweet almond, olive, grapeseed or coconut oil are good options.
  • 10 – 12 drops of your favourite essential oil (optional). I use lemon essential oil because it goes well with the honey.
  • 2 tablespoons of honey

How to:

  • Mix the salt and sugar together
  • Slowly add the oil and mix well
  • Add in the essential oil and honey and mix thoroughly

You can store the scrub in a mason jar for 3-4 months.


While I do miss the pampering from time to time, giving up salon pedicures is a decision I feel good about for so many reasons.

Are there things you have given up in the interest of waste reduction? Tell us about them below.

Hi there! I’m Michelle and I live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. I am married with two young adult daughters. I’m a big fan of reducing waste, using less plastic, decluttering and simplifying life as much as possible.

26 thoughts on “Easy 20-minute home pedicure + DIY foot scrub

  1. Living more, with less. I ditched my haircut appointment every 3 weeks, saving the money to my TFSA & treat myself to fresh flowers, donate food. Wild Irish hair I’ve discovered my hair is curly! HA! Who knew!
    Foot massage would be good tho, I miss those.

  2. I made a really great candy cane smelling foot scrub around the holidays one year. I like pedicures and all, but besides the issues you point out, they can really add up cost wise! Thanks for all the info.

    1. Ooh candy cane foot scrub sounds amazing. I will have to get out my peppermint essential oil and give that one a try. Thanks for the tip!

  3. Love this! While I’ve never actually had a professional pedicure I’d love to give the home version a try just for the sake of a bit of extra pampering! x

  4. This foot scrub looks amazing! I also have the ingredients here too so I think I’ll treat myself this weekend 🙂 Another great reason to do your own pedicure is you can choose an eco-friendly nail polish without all of those chemicals! Great post 🙂

    1. I agree. Pampering at home lets you control the ingredients you’re uisng. Coincidentally, I just created some pins today for a post I wrote on that topic for breast cancer awareness month last fall. Too many toxic chemicals around us!

  5. This is so great & thank you for the recipe ! I’ve definitely been wanting to go and get a manicure and pedicure but the risk is just not worth it. Will give the recipe a try !

  6. This is fabulous, Michelle! Thank you so much for not only sharing your experiences about home pedicures, but for the excellent recipe as well! I haven’t had a pedicure at a salon since the COVID pandemic began, nor a haircut! I’m so worried about salons and spas too, so for now, it’s longer hair and roots!

    1. Yes. I did get a haircut a couple of weeks ago but my hairdresser runs a small salon in her house so it was just the two of us. I am not sure I would venture into a larger salon either.

I'd love to hear your ideas. Drop me a comment below.

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