Soldiers sometimes pee on their boots or feet to treat fungal infections like athlete’s foot, soften stiff leather boots to prevent blisters on long marches, and historically, even to survive chemical gas attacks by placing the damp, peed-on fabric over their faces. [1, 2, 3]

The Real Reasons Behind the Practice

• Treating Foot Fungus: Urine contains urea and ammonia, which naturally have mild antifungal and antibacterial properties. Soldiers on extended deployments or in damp jungles historically used this trick to kill the fungus responsible for “jungle rot” or athlete’s foot when no medical supplies were available.[1, 2, 3, 4]
• Softening Leather: On long marches, stiff, new leather boots rub against the skin, causing severe, sometimes debilitating blisters. The acidity of urine breaks down and softens the leather faster than commercial conditioners available in the field. [1]
• Historical Gas Protection: During World War I, soldiers would sometimes urinate on their socks and place them over their faces during chlorine gas attacks. The moisture helped trap the gas, while the urea acted to partly neutralize the chemicals, buying just enough time to put on a proper gas mask. [1]