Good personal hygiene is essential for maintaining good health and preventing the spread of illness. It involves taking care of your body and your environment to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria. Today, we’ll discuss the top 11 rules for good personal hygiene.
1. Wash Your Hands Frequently
Keeping yourself clean is the key to personal hygiene. Hands are the primary mode of transmission for many infections, so it’s crucial to wash them thoroughly and frequently. Use soap and water, and scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds, making sure to clean between your fingers and under your nails.
If you don’t have access to soap and water, use a hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol. This helps to remove dirt, sweat, and bacteria from your hands, which can spread to other people and surfaces. You need to wash your hands:
- Before and after preparing food
- After using the bathroom
- After coughing or sneezing
- After blowing your nose
- Before and after treating wounds or sick people
- After touching animals
2. Choose Hygiene Products Wisely
When it comes to personal hygiene, you need to choose hygiene products wisely. For example, if you have dry skin, use a moisturizing soap or body wash, and avoid using products that contain alcohol or other harsh ingredients. Use products that suit your skin type. If you have sensitive skin, look for products that are labelled “hypoallergenic” or “gentle.”
Remember to also avoid products that contain harsh chemicals or fragrances, which can irritate your skin and make sure you don’t share personal hygiene items, such as razors or toothbrushes, with others. This can spread germs and bacteria.
3. Cover Your Mouth When Sneezing
Covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze is another essential rule for good personal hygiene. This helps to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria that can cause illness. Use a tissue or the crook of your elbow to cover your mouth and nose, rather than using your hands, which can spread germs to other people and surfaces.
4. Take Regular Showers or Baths
Bathing or showering regularly helps to remove dirt, sweat, and dead skin cells, which can accumulate on your body and lead to unpleasant odours. Use a mild soap or body wash, and pay particular attention to areas that tend to sweat more, such as your armpits.
5. Brush and Floss Teeth Regularly
Good oral hygiene is essential for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, as well as preventing bad breath. Brush your teeth twice a day, and floss at least once a day to remove food particles and plaque from between your teeth. Use toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush, and replace your toothbrush every three to four months.
6. Keep Your Nails Clean and Short
Dirt and bacteria can accumulate under your nails, so it’s essential to keep them clean and trimmed. Use a nail brush to scrub under your nails, and keep them trimmed to prevent them from becoming a breeding ground for germs.
7. Wash Your Clothes Regularly
Clothes can keep dirt, sweat, and bacteria, so it’s essential to wash them regularly. Follow the care instructions on the label, and use a laundry detergent that’s appropriate for the fabric and your skin type.
8. Wash and Change Bed Linens Regularly
Photo by Elina Fairytale/Pexels
Washing bed linens, such as sheets and pillowcases, is an important part of good personal hygiene. Here are some reasons why it’s important to wash your bed linens regularly:
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Remove Sweat and Dirt: When you sleep, your body produces sweat and sheds dead skin cells. These can accumulate on your bed linens, which can create a breeding ground for bacteria and dust mites. By washing your bed linens regularly, you can remove sweat and dirt and keep your bedding fresh and clean.
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Prevent Skin Irritation: If you have sensitive skin, sleeping on dirty bedding can irritate your skin and cause rashes or breakouts. By washing your bedding regularly, you can prevent skin irritation and keep your skin healthy.
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Prevent Allergies: Dust mites are tiny insects that feed on dead skin cells and thrive in warm, humid environments like bedding. If you’re allergic to dust mites, sleeping on dirty bedding can trigger allergy symptoms like sneezing, congestion, and itching. By washing your bedding regularly, you can remove dust mites and prevent allergy symptoms.
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Remove Germs and Bacteria: If you’re sick, your bed linens can keep germs and bacteria that can spread to other members of your household. By washing your bedding regularly, you can remove germs and bacteria and prevent the spread of illness.
9. Keep Your Place Clean
Keeping the place you stay in clean is an essential way of maintaining hygiene easily. You can do that by regularly cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces like countertops, doorknobs, and light switches, vacuuming and dusting regularly to remove dust and allergens.
One can also keep their home clean and hygienic by making sure it is well-ventilated to improve indoor air quality, keeping pets clean and groomed to prevent pet dander and bad smell and also disposing of rubbish and recyclables regularly to prevent the buildup of garbage.
10. Practise Safe Food Handling
Practising safe food handling is an important part of maintaining good personal hygiene. It helps prevent foodborne illnesses, cross-contamination, and food from going bad quickly. Practising safe food handling is easy and you can do so easily by following these tips:
- Wash Your Hands: Always wash your hands with soap and warm water before handling food. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria and other harmful microorganisms.
- Use Clean Utensils and Surfaces: Make sure all utensils and surfaces that come into contact with food are clean and free from bacteria. Use hot, soapy water to clean utensils and surfaces before and after use.
- Cook Food Thoroughly: Cook food thoroughly to kill any harmful bacteria or microorganisms that may be present. Use a food thermometer to ensure that meat, poultry, and fish are cooked to the correct internal temperature.
- Store Food Properly: Store food at the correct temperature to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, and use a refrigerator thermometer to ensure that your fridge is set to the correct temperature.
11. Stay Home When You’re Sick
If you’re sick, stay home to prevent spreading germs to others. Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and dispose of used tissues promptly. Wash your hands frequently, and avoid close contact with others until you’ve recovered.
In conclusion, good personal hygiene is essential for maintaining good health and preventing the spread of illnesses. By following these top 11 rules, you can help keep yourself and those around you healthy and safe.
Check out: 5 Simple Ways to Look Clean and Sexy
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