A foot soak feels good. But with a few extra minutes, it can do a lot more than help you unwind.

Think of your weekly soak as a reset: a chance to slow down, check in with your feet, and take care of the skin and nails that carry you through every day. Because when it comes to foot health, a little regular attention can go a long way toward preventing dryness, cracking, irritation, and other common issues.

Once you’ve soaked, run through this simple five-step routine.

1. Take a closer look

We spend plenty of time looking at the skin on our faces. Our feet? Not so much.

After your soak, take a minute to look over your feet, including your heels, soles, toes, and nails. Keep an eye out for anything new or unusual: dry or cracked skin, redness, blisters, irritation, swelling, or changes in the color or appearance of your nails.

The goal isn’t to diagnose every little thing. It’s simply to get familiar with what’s normal for your feet so you’re more likely to notice when something changes. If something looks concerning, painful, or doesn’t improve, check in with a podiatrist or healthcare professional.

2. Dry thoroughly—especially between your toes

Warm water softens skin and makes a soak relaxing, but lingering moisture isn’t something you want to take with you.

After soaking, dry your feet thoroughly with a clean towel, paying particular attention to the spaces between your toes. Those small, warm spaces can trap moisture and create an environment where odor and fungus thrive.

3. Give your nails a trim

Post-soak is a great time for nail maintenance because your nails are softer and easier to cut.

Trim toenails straight across rather than rounding deeply into the corners. Cutting nails too short or curving the edges can encourage the nail to grow into the surrounding skin, increasing the risk of painful ingrown toenails.

And resist the urge to overdo it. Neat and comfortable beats aggressively short.

4. Gently file rough skin and calluses

Calluses are your skin’s response to repeated pressure and friction. Some callus formation is completely normal, but when that skin gets too thick or dry, it can become uncomfortable and more prone to cracking.

While your skin is softened from soaking, gently buff rough areas with a foot file. Focus on gradually smoothing the skin rather than trying to remove a callus all at once.

And skip the blades. Cutting or shaving calluses at home can remove too much skin and create an unnecessary risk of cuts, irritation, and infection.

5. Finish with moisture—where you need it

Once your feet are clean, dry, trimmed, and filed, finish by replenishing moisture.

Apply a hydrating foot cream to areas that tend to get dry, particularly your heels and soles. Consistent moisturizing helps keep skin soft, flexible, and better equipped to resist the dryness that can eventually lead to painful cracks.

A simple rule worth remembering: hydrate the skin that gets dry; keep the spaces between your toes dry.

Make it a weekly ritual

Most of us ask a lot of our feet without giving them much thought in return. They absorb thousands of steps, hours in shoes, workouts, commutes, errands, and everything else we throw at them.

A few intentional minutes can help keep your feet comfortable, healthy, and ready for wherever you’re headed next.