30+ Common Hygiene Habits That Are Actually Not Good for Us

There are some things that you do every day to make sure that you're clean and hygienic. However, if you want to make sure that you're getting as clean as possible, you may want to take a second look at some of your hygiene habits. There are some that may be doing more harm than good!

Fabric towels have become popular for good reason. Not having to replace them every time that you use them is a great benefit for multiple reasons. However, it's easy to leave a towel hanging and forget to replace it. After a while, it just isn't as hygienic as when you first pulled it out of the linen closet. Especially if you dry off after a shower with them, that moisture can attract bacteria. Hang them to dry and wash them every few uses.

When you get out of the shower, the first thing that you probably do is dry yourself off before you get dressed. If you're in a hurry, you might just dry off "enough." Despite how convenient this might seem, you'll want to take the time to dry yourself thoroughly before getting dressed. It follows a pretty good rule of thumb: if you trap moisture, there's a higher chance that you'll invite bacteria, fungi, and more.

When you hop in the shower, you might have more than just your towel habit working against you. The way you shampoo can make a difference, too. In fact, it's about how often you shampoo. Yet, you don't want to over-wash your hair either. It's a great idea to do some research on the needs of your hair type to find the balance that works for you.

This seems like it should go without saying but it's actually a more common hygiene mistake than you might think. After all, none of us are infallible. Still, if you aren't making sure you wash your whole person in the shower, you aren't getting as clean as you possibly can. That means you should make sure to take your soapy washcloth to your hands, feet, and every other part of your body when you shower.

Once you've jumped out of the shower and toweled off your hair, you might reach for your hairbrush and start running it through to get rid of any tangles. Don't forget — your hairbrush needs a little TLC too. Of course, you need to start by pulling all that old hair out that gets caught in the bristles. To sanitize it a bit, you can stir a bowl of hot water and shampoo with your hairbrush for a deeper clean.

If you're like most people, you probably brush your teeth twice a day. Usually, the ideal habit is to do this once in the morning and once at night. However, also like many people, you might be cutting your brushing short. That means that you won't get your teeth as clean as you could be. If you make sure to brush for two full minutes, you can dodge plaque, gingivitis, and other oral problems between dental visits.

When it comes to brushing your teeth, you might think the only thing to worry about is brushing too little. However, there's another consideration to keep here. When you brush your teeth, time and care win out over brute force. Believe it or not, a lot of people brush their teeth too hard! It might seem impossible but when you brush too hard, you can damage the enamel on your teeth and put your gums at risk.