Did you know there are areas on your body you are likely to forget often to clean during your hygiene routine? You may be surprised that you have never cleaned these areas. I’m talking about inside your belly button, your tongue, and even your behind. In this blog post, we will explore these areas and I will share four hygiene habits you can start today for a cleaner and healthier you. At the end of this post, I have included a list of the items I will mention in this post that you can use as a list the next time you shop for your hygiene and self-care items. Therein I include the prices and where you can find each item.
- Behind the Ears: Why it matters
Imagine where all the sweat, gunk, and excess oil on your head/hair goes. Well due to the force of gravity, one of the areas where the dirt and grime lands is behind your ears. If this area is left unchecked over a long time, bacteria accumulate and may even start to smell bad. It’s even more important to clean this area especially if you have an active lifestyle like going to the gym or you sweat a lot.
That’s why it is important to clean this area daily. To do this, every morning and night, get your cotton washcloth, rinse it in warm water, wring out the water, and wipe the area. As you clean behind, also don’t forget inside your ears. Ensure you wipe inside the crevices where your skin folds, as dirt and wax may hide there.
2. The Belly Button: The hidden germ hub
The next hidden hygiene habit is cleaning the belly button, which I refer to as the hidden germ hub. When was the last time you cleaned your belly button? I’ll give you a few minutes to think. Actually, how about I ask that question again?
Have you ever cleaned your belly button?
Just as per the title, the belly button can be a hidden germ hub, mostly contributed by how much the skin has folded in there. I never thought of cleaning this area until a few years back, and when I cleaned it for the first time, this black gunk of dirt came out.
Just like behind the ears, this area should be cleaned daily, either in your morning or night shower, or both. To clean it, get your cotton washcloth, rinse it in warm water, and wipe while ‘digging’ inside to ensure all the dirt comes off.
3. The Tongue: Your Secret to Fresh Breath
The next hidden hygiene habit is cleaning your tongue. Aside from brushing your teeth twice daily, cleaning your tongue is essential to ensure your breath stays fresh. Your tongue can be a hub for countless types of bacteria that when not cleaned can lead to bad breath, a weakened immune system due to the accumulated bacteria, and in severe cases, you could get oral thrush or a yeast infection on your tongue.
According to Colgate, some of the benefits of cleaning your tongue are fresher breath, reduction of the chances of getting cavities, improved sense of taste, and improved look and feel of your tongue.
Cleaning your tongue is usually one of the last steps in your oral hygiene routine. After flossing and brushing, brush your tongue with your toothbrush’s bristles. Ensure to cover all areas and brush as far back your mouth as you can without gagging.
You can take it a step further…
Do you see the ridges behind your toothbrush, they are for cleaning your tongue. Gently run the ridged surface along your tongue to clean it.
If you want to take it even further, you can invest in a tongue scraper.
This is a plastic/ metal tool that you can use to clean your tongue. Just like the name, it is used to scrape all the gunk off your tongue. I started using one last year and I’ve never gone back. I prefer the metal one to the plastic one, as they tend to be more long-lasting.
To use a tongue scraper, scrape the gunk off along your tongue in a downward direction, using light to medium pressure. Concentrate on the middle part of your tongue as that’s where most bacteria like to settle.
4. The Bum: The cheeky bottom
The last hidden hygiene habit is cleaning your buttocks, and not just cleaning in there, but cleaning that area thoroughly.
Most of us tend to forget that area because it’s so hidden. However, it needs attention.
Lack of cleaning and maintaining this area could lead to bad odor due to leftover fecal (poop/stool) matter. This can lead to further issues such as UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections), especially for my girlies. Since our front downstairs area is so close to the bum area, if the bum area is not cleaned properly, some of the leftover fecal matter may find its way there leading to infections.
To clean this area, this is how.
In between the shower
Before I get into how to clean this area in the shower, every time you use the washroom for a number two, wet the tissue with water before wiping, and wipe from front to back. Use enough tissue and wipe until there’s no residue left on the tissue.
You can also use a bidet, which is an attachment connected to a water source, that you can use to spray water into that area to give it a thorough clean.
An even more convenient item you can carry with you is a portable bidet bottle.
In the shower
To practice this hidden hygiene habit in the shower, after cleaning your entire body, get your wet cotton washcloth, an unscented body wash or soap bar, lather, and gently but thoroughly clean the area as you clean any other part of your body. Afterward, rinse off with warm water and pat dry with your towel. The secret is to be gentle and use an unscented soap. The skin there is very thin and sensitive and being too thorough or using the wrong product may irritate it.
I figured it could be a bit difficult for me to describe how to do this hidden hygiene habit in writing, therefore I will share these videos from a YouTuber I have been watching for years. Her name is Chloe Yazmean and she in-depthly explains how to thoroughly clean your bum and your body in general, which is what we’re talking about today. She even mentions some of the hidden hygiene habits I have mentioned in this post. Watch here;
How to thoroughly clean your buttocks for 24/7 freshness.
How to thoroughly clean your body from head to toe
As promised, here is a list of items I have mentioned in this post that you can use as you begin to practice these hidden hygiene habits.
Item | Price | Where to Buy |
Cotton Washcloth | Ksh. 70 | Naivas/ Home & Beyond |
Dettol Antibacterial Bar Soap | Ksh. 179 | Naivas/Carrefour |
Tongue Scrapper | Ksh. 399 (non-inclusive of shipping/delivery fees) | Jumia |
Portable Bidet Bottle | Ksh. 1,150 (non-inclusive of shipping/delivery fees) | Jumia |
I hope this post was informative and left you having learned a thing or two. Please like and share this post, and comment on the hidden hygiene habit that shocked you the most, and you will be trying for today.
Till next post,
xoxo,
Miss Kambe.
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