Beauty
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What are the Best Personal Hygiene Tips?

Lainie Petersen
Lainie Petersen

Good personal hygiene demonstrates both self-respect and respect for other people. Tips for personal hygiene include bathing regularly, practicing good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing daily, keeping hands clean and using deodorants to address body odors. By following personal hygiene tips, people can improve their physical comfort, their emotional state, and prevent the spread of disease. They also can avoid upsetting others with their appearance or bad body odor.

Basic personal hygiene tips include the need to maintain personal cleanliness. This means bathing using soap and water at least every other day. It also requires the practice of good dental care, including brushing and flossing teeth at least once a day. Hand washing also is a crucial aspect of personal hygiene; in fact, it is so important that many institutions and even governments enforce hygiene rules that stipulate hand washing before and after handling food, performing medical examinations or procedures, and after using the toilet. Changing clothes, particularly underwear, on a daily basis is also important in maintaining one's appearance and preventing offensive odors.

Wearing deodorant can help reduce body odor and is usually considered part of good personal hygiene.
Wearing deodorant can help reduce body odor and is usually considered part of good personal hygiene.

Personal hygiene tips for hair care include the need to wash hair with shampoo at least every other day, though people with very fine or oily hair may not be able to skip a day. If an individual has physical mobility issues that preclude regular hair washing, dry shampoo can be sprayed into the hair so it can absorb oils and then be brushed out. Dry shampoo is also a great option for those who get their hair professionally blown-dry and wish to maintain their salon hairstyle between visits.

Many people choose to use body wash instead of soap for their personal hygiene.
Many people choose to use body wash instead of soap for their personal hygiene.

Most adults need to pay special attention to body odor. Simply washing with soap and water may not be enough to control odor, particularly in the armpits and on the feet. Deodorants and antiperspirants can be used on a daily basis to prevent most body odor, while those who have trouble with foot odor can take special care to wash their feet and use odor control sprays and insoles. While the subtle use of perfumes and scented body care washes can enhance a person's personal hygiene, overdoing either can be counterproductive and irritate those who are sensitive to scents.

Hand washing is a crucial aspect of personal hygiene.
Hand washing is a crucial aspect of personal hygiene.

Failure to maintain normal standards of personal hygiene can be a symptom of mental and neurological disorders, such as depression and dementia. If you notice that someone you care about is not paying attention to their personal hygiene, they may need assistance beyond kindly-offered personal hygiene tips. It may be necessary to take that person to a doctor or mental health professional who can assess their situation and assist in developing a treatment plan.

Discussion Comments

sneakers41

@GreenWeaver - That’s true. I just wanted to say that the writer is absolutely correct with respect to the poor personal hygiene and the link with dementia.

My friend’s uncle had a disheveled appearance and did not bathe often. He was also suffering from dementia and was receiving anti-psychotic drugs because he was starting to become aggressive with the nursing staff at the assisted living facility that he was living in.

In fact because of his poor hygiene many of his children had limited contact with him because they were embarrassed by his body odor and appearance.

I really did not even think that the condition of dementia was related to his poor hygiene. Thank you for the information.

GreenWeaver

@Icecream17 -I didn’t even think about it, but it is true. I also think that personal hygiene products like deodorants are critical especially for children that are going into puberty.

Even If they bathe daily they will sweat from daily activities and this sweat will cause embarrassing odor and it is so easy to fix. I also tell my children to wear socks with sneakers or any closed shoes because if not they will sweat and develop foot odor.

I also think that mouthwash is also important because it kills the germs that brushing leaves behind and leaves you with clean smelling breath.

icecream17

@Suntan12 - I agree I also wanted to say that many establishments and public places now offer free standing hand sanitizers. Daily hand washing is important especially for kids because they are always putting their hands in their mouth or touching their nose or rubbing their eyes.

These are the areas in which most diseases are transmitted. I always make my children sanitize their hands after they play in the park because even though those places are really fun for kids they are also riddled with germs.

suntan12

Personal hygiene habits should really start when kids are young. Teaching personal hygiene to children allows them the chance to develop lifelong habits that will demonstrate why personal hygiene cleanliness is preferred.

Children need to be taught why personal hygiene is important and the parents should develop daily routines that will reinforce personal hygiene habits. For example, brushing the teeth after dinner and in the morning when they wake up are good starters.

Also, bathing daily before dinner and always having clean clothes to change into are important. By focusing on these personal hygiene tips for kids they can see that this is an important aspect of their health and will most likely continue with these habits onto adulthood.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Wearing deodorant can help reduce body odor and is usually considered part of good personal hygiene.
      By: karam miri
      Wearing deodorant can help reduce body odor and is usually considered part of good personal hygiene.
    • Many people choose to use body wash instead of soap for their personal hygiene.
      By: Dessie
      Many people choose to use body wash instead of soap for their personal hygiene.
    • Hand washing is a crucial aspect of personal hygiene.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Hand washing is a crucial aspect of personal hygiene.
    • It is important to practice good oral hygiene.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      It is important to practice good oral hygiene.
    • Brushing with toothpaste is an important part of oral hygiene.
      By: philippe Devanne
      Brushing with toothpaste is an important part of oral hygiene.
    • Using hair care products when showering or bathing helps with personal hygiene.
      By: EuToch
      Using hair care products when showering or bathing helps with personal hygiene.
    • Scrubbing with soap while taking a shower is an important personal hygiene practice.
      By: red2000
      Scrubbing with soap while taking a shower is an important personal hygiene practice.
    • Sweat must be washed away with soap and water to prevent bacteria from producing foul odors.
      By: Iurii Sokolov
      Sweat must be washed away with soap and water to prevent bacteria from producing foul odors.
    • Regular flossing can help keep teeth and gums clean.
      By: Steve Morvay
      Regular flossing can help keep teeth and gums clean.
    • People with foot odor should take special care when washing their feet and use odor control sprays and insoles.
      By: maska82
      People with foot odor should take special care when washing their feet and use odor control sprays and insoles.
    • Brushing hair regularly keeps oils from building up.
      By: bedov
      Brushing hair regularly keeps oils from building up.
    • Using a pump bottle of soap instead of a bar of soap can help prevent the spread of germs.
      By: Africa Studio
      Using a pump bottle of soap instead of a bar of soap can help prevent the spread of germs.
    • Mouthwash can help kill the germs which cause bad breath.
      By: Matthew Cole
      Mouthwash can help kill the germs which cause bad breath.
    • Washing under one's armpits is important but not the only step for preventing body odor.
      By: Ariwasabi
      Washing under one's armpits is important but not the only step for preventing body odor.
    • Regular brushing is important to kill oral bacteria.
      By: Kurhan
      Regular brushing is important to kill oral bacteria.
    • Having tissues on hand can help prevent the spread of germs from sneezing.
      By: David Stuart
      Having tissues on hand can help prevent the spread of germs from sneezing.
    • Using a sufficient amount of toilet paper is a basic of personal hygiene.
      By: Ruggiero Scardigno
      Using a sufficient amount of toilet paper is a basic of personal hygiene.
    • Personal hygiene can help minimize the occurrence of breakouts.
      By: Ocskay Bence
      Personal hygiene can help minimize the occurrence of breakouts.