How geckos wash their feet

The unusual adhesive ability of gecko feet arises from molecular forces between millions of tiny hairs on their feet and the surface they are trying to stick to. In principle, this is sort of like velcro, but on a much smaller scale. The problem -- as is the problem with velcro -- is that everything sticks to their feet, so how do geckos keep clean? University of Akron researchers have come up with an answer, and the secret is all in the toes. “The analysis reveals that geckos have tiny sticky hairs on their toes called setaes, and due to the attaching and detaching mechanism caused by the rolling and peeling motion of their toes as they walk, they release the dirt particles leaving their feet clean,” said Shihao Hu, co-author on the study. So how do geckos wash their feet? They don't -- their feet clean themselves as the gecko walks.