How to Be Hygienic

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Updated: June 17, 2019

Explore this Article Putting Your Best Foot Forward Preventing Illnesses Article Summary Questions & Answers Related Articles References

Managing your personal hygiene is important not only to look and smell your best on a daily basis, but also to prevent the onset and spread of infectious diseases. Taking the proper precautions can help you avoid getting sick and passing illnesses on to those around you. Read this article to learn how to manage personal hygiene to both improve your overall appearance and ward off infections.

Part 1
Putting Your Best Foot Forward

  1. 1
    Shower daily. This is the best way to get rid of any dirt, sweat, and/or germs that your body may have accumulated throughout the day, and prevents hygiene-related diseases.[1] As a plus, showering daily helps you feel, look, and smell your best throughout the day.
    • Use a loofah, sponge, or hand towel to gently scrub your entire body, removing dead skin cells and dirt. Remember to replace these items regularly as they can easily harbor bacteria.
    • If you don't have time to shower, then use a hand towel to rinse your face, underarms, and genitals at the end of the day.
  2. 2
    Choose a daily face cleanser. Remember that the skin on your face is more sensitive than on other parts of your body. You can either use your face cleanser in the shower or wash your face separately at the sink. Avoid using hot water as this will make your skin irritated and flaky.
    • Take your skin type into account when choosing a face cleaner. If you have very dry skin, avoid products that has high alcohol content, as this will further dry out your skin. If you have very sensitive skin, opt for hypo-allergenic products that contain less harsh chemicals.
    • If you wear a lot of makeup, find a cleanser that also specializes in removing makeup. Otherwise, buy a separate makeup remover and remove all makeup before washing your face at the end of the day.
  3. 3
    Brush your teeth every morning and evening. Regular tooth-brushing and flossing helps prevent gum disease, which has been linked to other illnesses elsewhere in the body like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.[2] It is especially important to brush teeth after eating sweets or acidic foods that cause tooth erosion.
    • To keep your gums extra strong, carry around a travel-sized toothbrush and toothpaste and brush your teeth in between meals.
    • Floss your teeth every night to prevent the gum disease gingivitis.
  4. 4
    Wear deodorant. Antiperspirant helps control excessive sweat, while deodorant covers up unpleasant body odor caused by sweat. Consider using a natural, aluminum-free deodorant to reduce potential health risks associated with conventional deodorants.[3]
    • If you choose not to wear deodorant on a daily basis, then consider wearing it on the days when you plan on sweating excessively, or for special occasions. Apply deodorant before playing sports, going to the gym, or attending a formal occasion.
    • If you don't wear deodorant, then rinse your underarms with soap and water throughout the day to remove unpleasant odor.
  5. 5
    Wash your clothes after wearing them. In general, shirts should be washed after every use, while pants and shorts can be worn a few times before they require washing. Use your best judgment to determine how often to wash your clothes.
    • Remove any stains from your clothing before wearing them.
    • Iron out wrinkles, and use a lint-remover to remove unwanted lint and hair from clothing.
  6. 6
    Trim your hair every 4-8 weeks. Whether you're trying to grow your hair out or prefer to keep it short, trimming it will keep hair healthy, get rid of split ends, and give an overall cleaner, healthier appearance.
  7. 7
    Clip your fingernails and toenails regularly. Not only will this keep your hands and feet looking their best, it will prevent hangnails, breakage, and other potential damage to your nails. Short nails can't trap dirt under them the way long nails do. How often you clip your fingernails will depend on your personal desired length. To decide, take into account what you use your hands for on a daily basis. If you spend a lot of time typing on a computer or playing the piano, for example, short nails are probably the best option for you. If you prefer longer nails, that's fine too, but be sure to trim them every so often to prevent breakage.
    • Use an orange stick to remove dirt from underneath the fingernails to prevent bacterial infections.

Part 2
Preventing Illnesses

  1. 1
    Wash your hands with soap and water. This is one of the most important ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.[4] Wash your hands after using the restroom; before, during, and after preparing food; before eating food; before and after caring for someone who is sick; after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; and after handling animals and/or animal waste.
    • Consider keeping a hand sanitizer with you at all times in case you can't reach a bathroom to wash your hands.
  2. 2
    Clean the surfaces in your home regularly. You should wipe the kitchen counter, floors, shower, and dining tables at least once a week using either soap and water or conventional household cleaning products. If you live with other people, consider coming up with a system of chores and alternate cleaning jobs every week.
    • Consider using eco-friendly cleaning products that contain less harsh chemicals than the conventional brands.
    • Always wipe your shoes on a doormat before entering the home. Consider taking your shoes off and leaving them at the door before entering the home, and asking guests to do the same. This will prevent the spread of dirt and mud throughout the house.
  3. 3
    Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. This is extremely important if you want to avoid spreading germs to those around you. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after you cough or sneeze.
  4. 4
    Don't share razors, towels, or makeup with other people. Sharing personal items like these with other people increases the likelihood of spreading Staph infections.[5] If you do share towels or clothing, be sure to wash them both before and after lending them to others.
  5. 5
    If you are a woman change your tampon/pad regularly. Women who use tampons should change them at least once every 4-6 hours to reduce the likelihood of getting toxic shock syndrome (TSS).[6] Women who use pads should change them every 4-8 hours. If you plan on sleeping more than eight hours, then wear an overnight pad instead of a tampon while you sleep.
  6. 6
    Keep up with doctor's visits. Seeing your doctor regularly can help catch illnesses and infections early, making it much easier to treat them. Visit your primary care physician, dentist, gynecologist, cardiologist, or any other physician you may be seeing on a regular basis. Visit your doctor when you are feeling sick or think you may have an infection, and be sure to keep up with routine check-ups.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    What if I have very little money and few supplies?
    Community Answer
    Try to use a little less of each product to make it last. See what happens if you only use half the shampoo or toothpaste you usually do. You can always add more if it doesn't seem like it's enough, but most people use more than they need out of habit. Also, bar soap tends to cost less and last longer than shower gel. A dollar store can be a great place to find low-cost care products if you have one in your area. Some food banks also stock personal care items. Teach yourself how to cut your own hair, or ask a family member. There are many videos about cutting your own hair online.
  • Question
    How do I remember these things easily?
    Community Answer
    Make a to do list and check off everything you have done and keep up with -- it really helps.
  • Question
    What things should I do or not do as a 10 year old starting puberty?
    Community Answer
    Shower or bathe everyday. Wear deodorant. Wash your face twice daily if you are starting to get acne. Brush and floss your teeth. Wash your hair regularly. Wear clean clothes and underwear. If you are a female and have started menstruating, then make sure to change your pad/tampon regularly (preferably every 2-4 hours). Have regular doctor and dentist checkups. Drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep, exercise and eat healthily for overall well being. Try to eliminate any negative stress in your life, and enjoy your youth. You should not consume alcohol, smoke, or do drugs. Talk with a trusted adult if you have any questions or concerns.
  • Question
    I am in school and we wear special uniforms. How will I wear them every day? And that school allows us to buy only one uniform?
    Community Answer
    Wash the under parts of a uniform (shirts, t-shirts, underpants) every night, dry and iron them. Then when you wake up in the morning, your uniform is nice and clean, ready to wear. Wash the outerwear weekly (tunic, sweater, skirt, pants, shorts, etc.). It is a good idea to have five shirts/t-shirts, two skirts/pants, two tunics/dresses and one or two sweaters if possible, to allow you to change them each day and give the other outwear a rest. Dresses and pants should be washed more regularly if it is hot weather.
  • Question
    It seems like being hygienic takes a lot of time. How can I do it faster?
    Community Answer
    Don't linger in the shower, use a combination shampoo/conditioner and shave while you are in the shower to save time. Taking small steps each day will increase your hygiene and save you time in the long run.
  • Question
    How can I mange my hygiene in terms of ear wax?
    Community Answer
    For starters, don't use Q-tips inside your ear canal, as this can push the wax further back into your ear. Wash your ears lightly in the shower (but avoid getting too much water inside the ear, for obvious reasons). Ear drops that dry out the ear can help. When you think or know you have excess wax in your ear, get a ear wax kit from a drug store and follow the instructions.
  • Question
    How do I keep hygiene when menstruating?
    Community Answer
    Wash your hands every time you change your tampon/pad and when you go to the toilet. Change the sanitary ware regularly. Wear clean clothes daily. Shower each night.
  • Question
    How do I keep a fresh scent smell throughout the day when having musty problems?
    Community Answer
    Shower at least once a day. If you are exercising or if you sweat a lot, you might have to do it twice a day. Wear a mixture of deodorant and antiperspirant. It will keep you fresh longer. Wear some body spray and maybe some scented body wash and lotion can do the trick. Wash your hair regularly.
  • Question
    Do I need to shave or wax to be hygienic?
    Jocelyn Bohle
    Community Answer
    You do not have to remove body hair to be clean. If you feel better with waxing or shaving, that's great, but it doesn't make you more hygienic.
  • Question
    How often should clothing be changed when only worn at home?
    Community Answer
    You have to change your clothing every single day. After bathing at night or evening is best. Even though one may only be at home, he's still exerting activity.
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    Article SummaryX

    To be hygienic, take a shower every day, which will get rid of any dirt, sweat, and germs your body has accumulated. Also, make sure you brush your teeth once in the morning and once at night so they're clean and your breath smells nice. You should also wash your clothes after wearing them so they don't start to smell. When you're getting ready in the morning, put on some deodorant, which will help control sweating and body odor so you feel fresh and clean all day. To learn how to keep yourself from getting sick by being hygienic, scroll down!

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    Categories: Personal Hygiene

    In other languages:

    Español: ser más higiénico, Deutsch: Hygienisch sein, Italiano: Curare la Propria Igiene, Português: Ter Higiene, Français: s'occuper de son hygiène, Русский: соблюдать гигиену, Nederlands: Hygiënisch zijn, Čeština: Jak být čistotný, ไทย: รักษาสุขอนามัยของร่างกาย, 中文: 保持整洁, العربية: الحفاظ على نظافتك الشخصية, Tiếng Việt: Giữ gìn vệ sinh cá nhân, 日本語: 衛生的になる

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