How to keep clean: your guide to good hygiene practices
As Covid-19 swept the world, personal hygiene hit the headlines like never before. Experts took to the media to emphasise the importance of cleanliness in curbing the spread of the pandemic.
But it’s not just about Covid-19: the human body can harbour all manner of germs and parasites, some of which can lead to nasty diseases. Practise good personal hygiene though, and you can easily keep troublesome germs at bay.
At Wet Ones, we’re all about keeping you and your family clean and healthy, whether you’re on a long flight, spending the weekend camping or simply cleaning up after the kids. Our products can play a small but effective part in your hygiene routine – and here are some pointers on what that routine should include.
How often should you shower or bathe?
One of the most basic, but most important hygiene practices is giving your body a good wash with soap or shower gel. You should take a shower or bath every day if you can, particularly if you’ve been playing sport or exercising.
If you don’t have access to a shower or bath, a dip in a pool or the sea is a good alternative. You could also use a wet cloth or one of our biodegradable wipes, which are perfect for festivals and camping trips.
Although they tend to get a bit messier than adults, you don’t necessarily need to bathe babies every day. The alternative here is ‘topping and tailing’ them.
How often should I wash my hair?
Although some people do it more often, you should wash your hair with soap or shampoo at least once a week. Make sure you massage your scalp well to remove dirt, dead skin cells and excess natural oils. Conditioner isn’t necessary for hygiene purposes, but it can help keep longer hair more manageable.
What about beards? Facial hair should also be washed once a week, using soap, shampoo or special beard shampoo. Again, conditioner is optional, as are beard oils.
Keeping your head hair and/or beard clean will make it a less hospitable place for lice or dandruff.
Keeping your teeth clean
Your teeth work hard every day, chomping their way through all manner of food, including sugars that can really harm them if left alone. So make sure you return the favour by giving your teeth a good scrub at least twice a day – once before bed and on one other occasion (ideally after your breakfast). You should brush every surface of all your teeth, which should take two minutes.
You should brush babies’ teeth as soon as they appear, but just be careful to use a very small amount of fluoride toothpaste designed for children under three.
If you don’t keep good oral hygiene up, it could lead to tooth decay or gum disease.
Washing your hands properly
You’ve been washing your hands your whole life, several times a day, but maybe you’ve been doing it wrong all this time. And you wouldn’t be alone.
The Covid-19 pandemic put the issue of hand washing firmly in the limelight. Experts everywhere were suddenly advising the nation on how to wash your hands properly, and pointing out that washing your hands is key to killing off harmful germs.
In essence, you need to wash every surface of your hands with a generous amount of soap, for at least 20 seconds. And you should do this after going to the toilet; before, during and after preparing food; before and after eating; and after touching anything else dirty.
If you can’t wash your hands with soap and water, give them a 20-second wash with some antibacterial hand sanitiser or wipe them with antibacterial hand wipes.
Change your clothes
Dirty clothes don’t only smell, they can attract potentially harmful bacteria. So it’s crucial that you wash dirty clothes with detergent, hanging them in the sun to dry, if possible; sunlight helps to kill some germs and parasites that can transmit diseases.
Change into clean clothes daily, if you can. Changing your underwear each day is particularly important since these garments cover areas with less ventilation.
Put together, all these hygiene tips can help you and your family stay clean and contribute to your overall health. Make sure they’re part of your daily routine to keep the germs away.