Seven parts of the body you might be forgetting to clean

Your hygiene practices speak volumes about you. They can even determine your health because good hygiene helps keep infections away.

We shower daily and ensure we look presentable but still, there might be some forgotten areas that need more attention than we give them.

If you happen to be that type of person who just stands in the shower and hopes the trickling water will simply take the grime away, this a must read for you. Chances are your body is harbouring more dirt than you think.

These are seven essential areas you might not be cleaning as much as you need to.

i. Scalp

This is especially the case if you’re used to washing your hair in the comfort of your home. A professional stylist will have done all the work for you at the salon but do you get the same results when you do it yourself?

When washing your hair, don’t put all your focus on the hair itself. You might get rid of the dirt on your hair forgetting that a lot of the build-up is actually found on the scalp. Use warm water and wash your scalp using the tips of your fingers rather than your fingernails. This will ensure that your scalp is squeaky clean.

ii. Ears

Our ears are an easily forgotten part of the body but keeping them clean is absolutely essential. When showering, use your wash cloth to clean around the ears, especially at the back. Remember to get into the small canals around the ear but avoid digging into the main one.

Some of the best ways to clean the main canal is by softening up the wax with some hydrogen peroxide and warm water or by going to the doctor if you have excess build up. And before you even think of using cotton swabs, do not! They can push the wax deeper into your ear or end up harming your ear drum.

iii. Tongue

Oral hygiene is something that many people don’t fully observe. You might brush your teeth every day, floss regularly or even use mouthwash but if you don’t remember to clean your tongue, you could still harbour some bacteria. And we all know what that leads to. Bad breath! All you have to do is use a tongue cleaner to scrape off the dirt or simply use your toothbrush as you brush your teeth.

iv. Belly button

This is also another area you might be forgetting to clean often. The belly button can turn into another breeding ground for bacteria when you don’t pay enough attention to it. This area is easy to clean because all you need is a wash cloth and some soap. Remember to be gentle while cleaning it because it is quite sensitive.

v. Genital areas and hidden folds

Ensure that you always clean between all the folds when washing those areas. During the day, a lot of sweat accumulates there. For the ladies, the best way to is by using plain water. Other soaps and harsh chemicals can cause irritation or lead to infection.

vi. Between the toes

Prevent infections and stinky feet by properly washing and drying in between your toes. We often wash and scrub our feet but it’s also important to remember to take care of those hidden areas. Letting soap trickle down from the rest of your body to your feet when showering, isn’t enough to get the dirt out. Wash with soap and water and dry those areas well after you shower.

vii. Toe nails

It’s very easy to forget to clean your toe nails. This is another area that can clog up with dirt without you noticing. Even short toe nails need to be cleaned often. Scrub with a nail brush to get to those hard to reach places.