Get Rid of That Pesky Toe Fungus with These Home Remedies

17 Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus (and Thick Toenails) That Actually Help

Written by Montoya Sigafoose, founder of Home Remedy Shop · Medically reviewed by Veronique Claes d’Erckenteel, D.C., chiropractor since 1991 · Last reviewed: 22 October 2026

The best natural remedy for toenail fungus is tea tree oil applied twice a day to a filed, clean nail: in a clinical trial it worked about as well as a common antifungal solution. Combine it with daily vinegar or Epsom salt soaks, file thick nails down once a week, and keep your feet and shoes dry. Be patient: toenails grow slowly, so it takes 6 to 12 months for a healthy nail to grow out completely. If the fungus covers most of the nail, affects several nails, hurts, or you have diabetes, see a podiatrist, as you may need prescription treatment. And see it as a signal: toenail fungus is often the body’s first nudge towards a small or big lifestyle change, from more green vegetables to shoes that breathe.

Toenail fungus is common, stubborn and often embarrassing: yellow, thick, crumbly nails you’d rather hide in closed shoes. About 1 in 20 people worldwide has it, and it becomes more common with age (Gupta et al., 2017). The good news is that there’s plenty you can do at home, especially when you start early. This guide explains the different types of toenail fungus, what causes thick toenails (which aren’t always fungus), 17 home remedies with step-by-step instructions, how long treatment really takes, and when to see a professional. It’s part of our hands and feet series; for the main guide, see home remedies for calluses and corns, or browse all our natural home remedies.

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Table of Contents

• A Holistic View: What Your Toenail Fungus Is Telling You
• Does Toenail Fungus Go Away on Its Own?
• Types of Toenail Fungus
• Signs and Symptoms of Toenail Fungus
• What Causes Thick Toenails?
• 17 Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
• A Simple Daily Routine
• How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus?
• How to Cut and Treat Thick Toenails
• Who Treats Toenail Fungus, and When You Need Prescription Treatment
• Nail Removal for Fungus Under the Toenail
• How to Prevent Toenail Fungus and Stop It Spreading
• Related Foot Guides
• Frequently Asked Questions

A Holistic View: What Your Toenail Fungus Is Telling You

From a holistic point of view, toenail fungus is a primal sign: your body is telling you it’s time for a lifestyle change, small or big. Fungi don’t take hold just anywhere; they grow where the conditions suit them. So before you reach for a remedy, it’s a good moment to step back and look at what those conditions are in your life.

Your diet

Toenail fungus can be a first indicator that it’s time to look at what you eat, and to increase your intake of green vegetables for a better pH balance in your body. Leafy greens, cucumber, broccoli, courgette, herbs and sprouts nourish the body, while a diet heavy in sugar, white flour, alcohol and processed food gives yeasts and fungi more to feed on. There’s a known link here too: high blood sugar is one of the strongest risk factors for toenail fungus, which is why it’s so common in people with diabetes (review on nail changes in diabetes, 2021). Our alkaline diet list is an easy place to start, with a downloadable guide.

Your shoes

Or it could simply mean your feet need more air. Closed, non-breathable shoes keep feet warm and damp all day: the perfect home for fungi. Choose shoes that breathe, like the well-known breathing shoes from Geox with ventilated soles, or leather and mesh shoes rather than plastic, rotate your pairs so each one dries out for a day, and go barefoot or in open sandals at home.

Your daily foot care

Clean and dry your feet every day, especially between the toes, and change your socks daily (more often if your feet sweat). It sounds basic, but it’s the foundation every remedy below builds on.

Either way, toenail fungus is a good moment to analyse the aspects of your lifestyle you can improve and make healthier. Treat the nail, and treat the reason it got there.

Does Toenail Fungus Go Away on Its Own?

Unfortunately, toenail fungus rarely goes away on its own. Left alone, it usually spreads slowly through the nail, to other nails, and sometimes to the skin of the feet as athlete’s foot. The fungus lives in and under the nail, where creams and oils struggle to reach, and the nail itself grows very slowly. That’s why treatment, natural or medical, takes patience and consistency.

Toenail fungus (onychomycosis) is usually caused by dermatophytes, the same fungi behind athlete’s foot, and sometimes by yeasts or moulds. It loves warm, damp, dark places: sweaty socks, closed shoes, gym showers and pool floors. Risk goes up with age, sweaty feet, nail injuries, diabetes, poor circulation, a weak immune system and athlete’s foot.

Types of Toenail Fungus

Distal subungual onychomycosis (DSO)

The most common type. It starts at the tip or side of the nail and spreads back towards the cuticle, making the nail thick, yellow and crumbly, with debris building up underneath. A daily vinegar soak and tea tree oil under the nail tip are good home options.

White superficial onychomycosis (WSO)

White, powdery patches on the surface of the nail, often caused by Trichophyton fungi feeding on the keratin of the nail. Because it sits on top of the nail, it responds best to topical remedies: file the white patches gently and apply tea tree oil twice a day.

Proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO)

Starts near the cuticle and spreads forward under the nail. It’s less common and is seen more often in people with a weak immune system or diabetes, so it’s a reason to see a doctor.

Candidal onychomycosis

Caused by Candida yeast rather than dermatophytes, more often on fingernails than toenails, and in people whose hands are often wet. The skin around the nail can be red and swollen. Coconut oil, tea tree oil and keeping hands dry help; see a doctor if it’s painful. For nail problems on the hands, see also our guide to an ingrown fingernail.

Signs and Symptoms of Toenail Fungus

• Thick toenails
• Yellow, brown, white or dull nails
• Crumbly, ragged or distorted nail edges
• Debris under the nail
• A slightly unpleasant smell
• The nail lifting from the nail bed
• Itching, scaling or rashes on the surrounding skin, often from athlete’s foot

Does toenail fungus cause pain? Often not at first. As the nail gets thicker and lifts, it can press in shoes and become painful, and a thick fungal nail is more likely to grow into the skin (see our ingrown toenail home remedies).

What Causes Thick Toenails?

Fungus is the most common cause of thick toenails, but far from the only one. Many thick, discoloured nails turn out not to be fungal at all, which is why podiatrists often test a nail clipping before treating (Gupta et al., 2017). Other causes of thick toenails:

• Age: nails grow more slowly and get thicker as we get older.
• Repeated injury: running, sports, tight shoes or a toe that hits the end of the shoe.
• Psoriasis: pitting, thickening and yellow-brown “oil drop” spots.
• Poor circulation and diabetes, which slow nail growth and change nail texture (review on nail changes in diabetes, 2021).
• A single injury, such as dropping something on the toe.

Thick toenails but not fungus? If only one nail is thick after an injury, there’s no smell or debris under the nail, and the skin around it is healthy, it may not be fungal. Natural antifungals won’t help then, but filing, softening and better-fitting shoes will. Can thick toenails be reversed? Fungal thick nails often grow out thinner once the fungus clears. Thickening from age or old injuries usually can’t be fully reversed, but regular filing and urea cream keep it manageable.

17 Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus

1. Tea tree oil

The best-studied natural remedy for toenail fungus. Tea tree oil contains terpinen-4-ol, which kills fungi in the lab (Carson et al., 2006). In a randomised trial in people with toenail fungus, pure tea tree oil applied twice a day for six months worked about as well as a 1% antifungal solution: in both groups about 60% of nails looked better, though fewer were completely cured (Buck et al., 1994). The same oil helps athlete’s foot, which often comes with nail fungus (Satchell et al., 2002).

• File the surface of the nail lightly so the oil can soak in.
• Apply 2 to 3 drops to the nail, around the edges and under the tip, twice a day.
• If your skin is sensitive, mix it 1:1 with coconut or olive oil.
• Keep going for at least 3 to 6 months, until a healthy new nail has grown out.

The best-studied natural antifungal

Tea tree oil for toenail fungus

Tea tree oil is the natural remedy with the most research behind it for toenail fungus: in a trial, twice-daily tea tree oil did about as well as a common antifungal solution. It’s the oil I keep in the bathroom for nails, athlete’s foot and itchy toes.

• Pure Melaleuca alternifolia oil
• Apply to the clean, filed nail twice a day, including under the edge
• Mix with coconut oil if your skin is sensitive
• Expect months, not weeks: keep going until the new nail has grown out

Shop Revive tea tree oil

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2. Apple cider vinegar soak

Vinegar’s acetic acid makes the skin and nail a less friendly place for fungi. It’s a traditional soak with lab support for its antifungal effect, but no trials in nails.

• Mix 1 part apple cider vinegar with 2 parts warm water.
• Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes a day.
• Dry thoroughly, especially between the toes.
• Use less vinegar if your skin gets irritated.

3. White vinegar soak

White vinegar works the same way as apple cider vinegar and is cheaper.

• Mix 1 part white vinegar with 2 parts warm water.
• Soak for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse and dry well.
• Every day, or every other day if your skin gets dry or irritated.

4. Mentholated chest rub

The famous blue-jar vapour rub is a popular folk remedy for toenail fungus, and it has a small study behind it: in a case series of 18 people who applied it daily for 48 weeks, most saw their nails improve, and about a quarter cleared completely (Derby et al., 2011). Its thymol, eucalyptus oil, menthol and camphor all have antifungal activity.

• Trim and file the nail.
• Rub a small amount onto and around the nail once a day, ideally at night.
• Wear clean cotton socks.
• Keep it away from children, and it’s not for under 2.

5. Epsom salt soak

Epsom salt doesn’t kill fungus by itself, but a warm soak softens thick nails so they’re easier to file and trim, and helps other remedies penetrate.

• Dissolve ½ cup of Epsom salt in a basin of warm water.
• Soak for 15 to 20 minutes, then dry well and file the softened nail.
• Follow with tea tree oil or another topical remedy.

6. Baking soda paste

Baking soda helps absorb moisture and makes the area less friendly for fungi.

• Make a paste of baking soda with a little water (or 3% hydrogen peroxide).
• Apply it to the nail and surrounding skin for 10 minutes, then rinse and dry.
• Dust a little baking soda in your socks and shoes to keep them dry.
• The old version of this recipe (with peroxide, Epsom salt and vinegar every 10 hours for four weeks) was too harsh for daily use.

7. Garlic

Garlic contains allicin and ajoene, which have antifungal effects in the lab. Eat it raw or cooked, or apply a crushed clove mixed with olive oil to the nail for 30 minutes, then wash off. It can burn the skin, so keep it on the nail.

8. Coconut oil

Coconut oil contains lauric and caprylic acid, which have antifungal effects against yeasts in the lab. It’s a good base for other oils and keeps the skin around the nail soft. Apply a thin layer after drying your feet, twice a day.

9. Oregano oil

Oregano oil is rich in carvacrol and thymol, strong natural antifungals. It’s very potent: mix 1 drop with a teaspoon of coconut or olive oil and apply to the nail twice a day. Not for children or in pregnancy.

10. Lavender oil

Lavender oil has antiseptic and antifungal properties and is gentle on the skin. Dab it on the nail and under the edge with a cotton ball, then put on clean socks. It mixes well with tea tree oil.

11. Orange oil

Orange oil is a traditional antifungal. Apply a few drops (diluted 1:1 in a carrier oil) on and under the nail and between the toes, and leave for an hour. Test on a small patch of skin first, as citrus oils can irritate. More in our orange oil uses guide.

12. Lemon juice

Lemon’s citric acid is mildly antifungal and lightens yellowed nails. Research is limited. Apply fresh lemon juice to the nail for 10 minutes, rinse with warm water, and repeat daily. Skip it on cracked skin.

13. Grapefruit seed extract

A traditional antifungal and antimicrobial. Apply a few drops of the diluted extract to the nail twice a day, following the label.

14. Aloe vera

Aloe vera soothes the skin around an infected nail and has mild antifungal effects. Apply fresh gel to the nail and surrounding skin once or twice a day.

15. Turmeric

Turmeric’s curcumin has antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties in the lab. Mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric with a little coconut oil, apply to the nail, leave for 20 minutes and rinse. It stains, so use an old towel.

16. Scots pine extract

Scots pine needle extract is a traditional antifungal used in some natural nail treatments, often combined with other plant oils in one product. Research on it in toenail fungus is still limited, so see it as one part of a routine together with good foot hygiene. Some natural nail products combine several of the ingredients on this list in one ready-to-use formula.

17. File, trim and soften thick nails

Not a remedy in a bottle, but one of the most important steps. Fungus lives in and under the thick nail; thinning it lets your remedies reach the fungus and relieves pressure. Soak, then file the top of the nail with a nail file or emery board once a week, and trim straight across. A cream with urea (around 40%) softens thick fungal nails so they’re easier to file. Use a separate file for infected nails and don’t share it.

A Simple Daily Routine

1. Soak: 15 minutes in warm water with vinegar or Epsom salt.
2. Dry completely, including between the toes (a hairdryer on cool works well).
3. File: once a week, file the top of thick or white nails with a separate nail file.
4. Apply: tea tree oil (or another oil from the list) to the nail, edges and skin, twice a day.
5. Treat the skin too: if you have itchy, peeling skin between the toes, treat the athlete’s foot at the same time.
6. Socks and shoes: clean cotton or wool socks every day, rotate your shoes, and dust them with baking soda.

How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of Toenail Fungus?

Longer than most people expect. Toenails grow only about 1.6 mm a month (Yaemsiri et al., 2010), so a big toenail takes 12 to 18 months to replace itself completely. Whatever treatment you use, the damaged nail doesn’t turn healthy again: a clear, new nail grows out from the base while the old part is trimmed away.

• After 1 to 3 months: less smell, less debris, and a clear band of new nail at the base.
• After 6 months: about half of a big toenail has been replaced.
• After 12 to 18 months: the whole nail has grown out.

A review of complementary therapies found that natural treatments like tea tree oil can help, but that the evidence is still limited and cure rates are lower than with prescription treatment (systematic review, 2022). Keep going until the new nail has grown out fully, and keep up prevention afterwards: toenail fungus often comes back.

How to Cut and Treat Thick Toenails

• Soak first: 15 to 20 minutes in warm water softens thick nails.
• File the top down with a coarse file or emery board, a little each week. Don’t file into living tissue.
• Cut straight across with large, sharp toenail clippers, in small cuts from the side towards the middle, rather than one big cut.
• Use urea cream (around 40%) at night under a sock to soften very thick nails.
• Keep separate tools for infected nails, and clean them after use.
• Older people or people with diabetes: let a podiatrist cut very thick nails.

Who Treats Toenail Fungus, and When You Need Prescription Treatment

Podiatrists (foot specialists) and dermatologists treat toenail fungus. They can test a nail clipping to confirm it’s fungal, thin the nail, and discuss treatment options. Home remedies work best for mild fungus at the tip or surface of the nail. Consider professional treatment when:

• more than half of the nail is affected, or several nails
• the fungus has reached the base of the nail
• it’s painful, or the nail is lifting off
• you’ve used home remedies consistently for 6 months without a clear new nail growing in
• you have diabetes, poor circulation or a weak immune system

To be honest about it: prescription antifungal tablets clear toenail fungus in more people than natural remedies do, although they take months too and fungus can return afterwards (Kreijkamp-Kaspers et al., Cochrane, 2017). Prescription nail solutions are another option (review on topical therapy, 2014). You can keep using natural remedies alongside.

Nail Removal for Fungus Under the Toenail

When the infection is severe or very painful, a doctor or podiatrist may remove the nail, partly or completely. A new nail grows back, but it can take up to a year. The exposed nail bed is sensitive and needs to be kept clean, dry and protected while it heals, and the fungus can still return if the cause isn’t dealt with.

How to Prevent Toenail Fungus and Stop It Spreading

Reinfection is one of the main reasons toenail fungus comes back. Treating your shoes and socks is part of the treatment (practical guide to curing onychomycosis, 2018):

• Eat more green vegetables and less sugar and processed food.
• Wear breathable shoes (ventilated soles, leather or mesh) and rotate your pairs.
• Keep your nails clean, dry and short, cut straight across.
• Dry your feet well after showering, especially between the toes.
• Change socks daily; wash them hot (60 °C).
• Rotate your shoes so they dry out, and dust them with baking soda or an antifungal powder.
• Don’t share socks, shoes, towels, files or nail clippers.
• Wear flip-flops in public showers, pools and gyms.
• Make sure tools at a nail salon are sterilised.
• Treat athlete’s foot quickly: see our athlete’s foot home remedies and itchy feet.
• Avoid tight shoes, and keep sweaty feet in check (see sweaty hands and feet).
• Wash your hands after touching infected nails.

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Related Foot Guides

• Home remedies for calluses and corns (our main hands and feet guide)
• Ingrown toenail home remedies
• Athlete’s foot home remedies
• Cracked heels home remedies
• Home remedies for shiny, healthy nails
• Numbness in hands and feet
• Our essential oils glossary

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best natural remedy for toenail fungus?

Tea tree oil, applied twice a day to a clean, filed nail. In a randomised trial it worked about as well as a common antifungal solution. Combine it with daily soaks and weekly filing.

How do you get rid of toenail fungus?

Soak, dry, file and apply an antifungal (tea tree oil or another remedy) every day, treat any athlete’s foot, and keep socks and shoes dry, until a clear nail has grown out. That usually takes 6 to 12 months; for severe cases, see a podiatrist.

Does toenail fungus go away on its own?

Rarely. It usually spreads slowly through the nail and to other nails if left untreated.

Does vapour rub work on toenail fungus?

A mentholated chest rub applied daily improved nails in most people in a small case series, and cleared about a quarter completely after 48 weeks. It’s a cheap option to try, but it’s slow.

What causes thick toenails?

Most often fungus, but also ageing, repeated injury from shoes or running, psoriasis, poor circulation and diabetes. A podiatrist can test a nail clipping to find out.

Can thick toenails be reversed?

Fungal thick toenails often grow out thinner once the fungus is gone. Thickening from age or injury usually can’t be fully reversed, but filing and urea cream keep it under control.

How long does it take to get rid of toenail fungus?

Toenails grow about 1.6 mm a month, so it takes 12 to 18 months for a whole big toenail to grow out. You should see a clear band of new nail at the base within 2 to 3 months.

What does toenail fungus say about your health?

From a holistic view, it’s a sign that something in your lifestyle needs to change: often more green vegetables and less sugar, more breathable shoes, and drying your feet and changing your socks every day. It’s also more common with high blood sugar, so it can be worth having that checked.

Is toenail fungus contagious?

Yes, it can spread to other nails, to your skin as athlete’s foot, and to other people through shared towels, shoes, nail tools and wet floors.

Recommended

• Home Remedies for Calluses and Corns
• Athlete’s Foot Home Remedies
• Ingrown Toenail Home Remedies
• Healthy, Shiny Nails
• More natural home remedies

Some links on this page are affiliate links, marked as such. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This article is for general information and does not replace a diagnosis from a qualified professional. Read our medical disclaimer or browse more natural remedies.

montoya sigafoose

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