Alright, folks, buckle up because we’re about to dive into a topic that we all know is important but often gets overlooked – hygiene! It’s time to get real about the do’s and don’ts of keeping yourself clean and fresh, and we’re starting with a question that’s been asked a few times: “What are some hygiene tips you wish more people knew?”
One person asked these, and we’ve compiled a list of the most useful yet often overlooked hygiene tips that we think everyone should know. So, get ready to take notes because these tips might just change your life (or at least your nose). Let’s get started!
Clean Accessories
“Clean your hairbrushes, especially if you have oily hair/scalp.”
“Cleaning your glasses includes the frames and nose pads.”
“Ultrasonic cleaner for your glasses. It even gets the sunscreen out of the cracks in the frames and the nose pads. Mine was the second cheapest on Amazon, and it’s great.”
Water Bottles
“PLEASE wash your reusable water bottle! I know, I know, refilling your water bottle is super eco-friendly, but you gotta make sure you’re washing it regularly to avoid any gross bacteria buildup.”
“Pro tip: denture tablets, broken in half and mixed with water, will kill all the nasties in your water bottle nicely. Flush out the nozzle with the mixture, and then rinse once more. Note that these will dissolve plastic water bottles if left in too long, so don’t let those sit more than 10m or so!”
Pretty Pillows
“Pillowcases need to be washed often.”
“This for sure. I used to get terrible acne even as an adult, and changing my pillowcase frequently has been a game changer. I change mine usually every other day, but some people probably don’t need it that often.”
Wicked Washing Machine
“Maybe this is hygiene-adjacent, but to stop that old laundry smell, you have to leave your washing machine open to dry out. Every time!”
“And periodically clean your washing machine! Nothing can be cleaned properly by a dirty machine (goes for your dishwasher as well).”
Bad Perfume
“Perfume is not a substitute for washing and deodorant.”
“I’m French. Instructions not clear.”
“Smoking is also not a substitute for washing and deodorant.”
Special Scent
“I wish I had known that the natural Ph of certain secretions was acidic enough to stain clothing and such. It would’ve saved me a lot of anxiety of wondering what was wrong with me. Yes, it IS NORMAL for this to happen.”
“Basically, if you don’t itch or have an unpleasant smell or (sorry for this descriptor) a cottage cheese-like discharge, you’re most likely good. Learn what’s normal for you, and if it changes, that’s when you should get it checked out.”
Wear Deodorant
“Deodorant works on under boob and cleavage.”
“A lifesaver in the summertime.”
“Glycolic acid (which many women already have now to use for skincare) works even better.”
Pristine Phone
“Cleaning/ disinfecting your phone. It has so much bacteria, and I hate when someone shows me to look at their phone, and that stuff is crusty.”
“This should include removing your case and washing the inside of that/the phones back regularly, as well!”
Better Belly
“Wash behind your ears and inside deep of your belly button.”
“Sometimes, when I scratch deep in my belly button, I feel a little tingle. Does the same happen to you? Anyone can share.”
“Vagus nerve stimulation, maybe? That nerve actually goes all the way down at your lower pelvis and hits multiple, ah, junctions (is probably the best non-medical jargon word) on the way.”
Bad Scent
“If you can smell you, we all could smell you two days ago.”
“I know what you mean, but I’ve had friends honestly ask if they smell because they can smell themselves, and I cannot smell them, at least not from a normal people’s distance. If you’re going in for hugs and stuff, that’s different.”
Number 1 Rule
“Nobody realizes the amount of pee, blood, and feces on the stall latch. Wash your hands.”
“I see so many people at work who go in the stall on their phones, then come out and not wash their hands!!! I’m like, dude, people touch that that have fecal matter, etc., on their hands.”
In the Shower
“Washing your behind in the shower. Crack and hole, my friends. Crack. And. Hole.”
“Don’t forget the seams between your legs.”
“Why do I feel like this is turning into a nursery rhyme.”
Double Wash
“If you leave your washing in the machine for over a day, please rewash it before you dry it. Few things are worse than being stuck in a room with someone who smells like a sewer dog.”
“That smell! I get it on the Underground when people cram on a rainy day. Wet dog smell everywhere.”
“It’s repulsive; then I spend the whole day worrying it rubbed off on me or not.”
Being Polite
“If someone offers you a breath mint. Take it. Assume he/she is giving you a polite hint.”
“Omg, no! Have I been unintentionally offending people? I love mints, and I like to share candy.”
“It’s a bit different if you’re well-known to be just sharing candy in general.”
Ear Cleaner
“Clean behind and inside your ears…that stuff stinks.”
“Inside the shell of your ear, not the ear canal. You should never shove anything into your ear canal.”
“It’s not even hard to clean piercings. I give mine a rub with a cloth in the shower.”
Clean Tongue
“Brush your tongue!”
“This needs to be at the top of the list. Like, almost higher than flossing. Getting a purpose-built metal tongue scraper has been a transformative experience.”
“Plus, it gets more stuff off. It helped me learn how bad breath actually works, and it changed my life.”
Dentist’s Darling
“Floss your damn teeth. Brushing isn’t enough to prevent the bad things that happen to good teeth. Ask your hygienist to show you how. 90% of people aren’t doing it right.”
“Had to scroll too long to see this. Please don’t wait for a cavity or, worse, to start flossing. Also, consider a water floss if you hate flossing; my oral hygiene has improved by leaps and bounds since using one regularly. That and an electric toothbrush are worth it. Costs much less than having a root canal or extraction and implants.”
Filthy Feet
“You actually have to SCRUB your FEET.. just standing in soapy water doesn’t actually wash off the bacteria between your toes.. if you have stinky feet, this will most likely fix your issue. I didn’t learn this till THIS YEAR. I’m 37; I’ve always had some stinky feet and never knew that I actually had to bend over and scrub my toes and bottoms of my feet. I now no longer have stinky feet!! lol, so basic, but also just never occurred to me because I always thought the soapy water I was standing in was enough.”
Before the Problem
“Deodorant goes on before you start stinking.”
“Deodorant goes on right after you wash yourself. Edit: people, I know that you should also dry yourself, etc. – What I meant is that putting on deodorant without washing yourself you are making it worse, not better.”
“Out of the shower, towel off, deodorant, blow dry (if necessary).”
Flush Particles
“Close the lid before you flush.”
“And after the toilet is done flushing, open up the lid to see if you need to flush again. Don’t leave remnants for the next person.”
“We just recently put signs up at work. ‘Close the lid. Stop the poop tornado!’”
Mask Problems
“Wearing a mask doesn’t camouflage not brushing your teeth in the morning.”
“True, but it does make the offender suffer, so that’s good.”
“Look, sometimes I’m in a rush and forget…”
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