Personal Hygiene: How to Take Care of Your Body

Personal hygiene means keeping your body clean. Doing this helps prevent infection and sickness. It also helps you avoid spreading germs to others.

Supplies needed:

• Water, shampoo, soap, and a clean towel or air dryer.
• Alcohol-based wipe, spray, or hand sanitizer, if soap isn't available.
• Nail clippers.
• Foot powders and a scrub brush for nails, if needed.
• A comb or a brush.
• A toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss.
• A mouth rinse, if needed.

How to wash your hands

Germs get on your hands from the things that you touch. Washing your hands properly and often is a good way to prevent these germs from making you sick and spreading sickness to others.

When to wash your hands

• Wash your hands when they're dirty.
• Also, wash them:
  • Before and after eating or preparing food.
  • After using the bathroom.
  • Before touching your face.
  • After sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.
  • Before and after caring for a wound.
  • After touching garbage or dirty items.
  • Before and after visiting or caring for a sick person.
  • After touching animals or being outside.
  • Before and after changing a diaper.

Proper handwashing

• If you have running water:
  • Wet your hands.
  • Apply soap.
  • Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, covering all areas. This includes the backs of your hands, under fingernails, and between fingers.
  • Rinse your hands with clean, running water until all the soap is gone.
  • Dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towel, or let them air-dry. Do not use your clothing or a dirty towel to dry your hands.
• In a public restroom:
  • Use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.
• If you don't have soap and water:
  • Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
  • Rub it on your hands and wrists until dry.

How to bathe properly

• Shower or bathe regularly.
  • Use soap to clean yourself.
  • After sweating or exercising, take a bath or shower.
• Use a soapy wash cloth.
  • Clean all areas of your body, including skin folds.
  • Start with your head and face, then move to your arms, chest, abdomen, back, legs, genitals, and butt.
  • When cleaning your genital area, wash from front to back.
    • For males, start at the tip of the penis.
    • For females, start at the labia. These are the folds of skin around the vagina.
• Rinse off all of the soap.
• Dry with a clean towel.

How to care for your fingernails

• Trim your nails with nail clippers.
• Clean under your nails with a scrub brush.
• Do not bite your nails.

How to care for your feet

Keeping your feet clean and your toenails trimmed can help you avoid infection, irritation, and fungus from growing. Follow these tips:

• Wash your feet daily with soap and water, if possible.
• Wash your feet after activity and sweating.
• Dry your feet after you wash them. This includes between your toes.
• Trim your toenails straight across. Do not cut them too short to prevent ingrown toenails.
• Keep your footwear clean. Wash your sneakers and clean the insides of your shoes often.
• Think about using foot powders to lessen moisture in your shoes. This can help prevent fungus and other germs from growing.
• Always wear shoes or flip-flops in shared spaces like public showers, pools, locker rooms, and training facilities.

How to care for your teeth and gums

• Brush your teeth for 2 minutes, at least 2 times a day.
• Floss your teeth at least once a day.
• Brush your tongue daily. A tongue brush is often on the backside of a toothbrush.
• Rinse with mouthwash as told by your dentist.

How to care for your hair

• Shampoo your hair regularly.
• Brush your hair daily. Start at your scalp and move towards the ends of your hair.
• Use your own comb or brush.
• Remove loose hair from your combs and brushes.
• Clean and disinfect your hair tools often.
• Avoid head-to-head contact with others.
• Avoid sharing:
  • Hair styling tools.
  • Hair accessories like binders and headbands.
  • Headphones.
  • Hats, scarves, and earmuffs.

General tips

• Never share personal hygiene items, such as towels, razors, deodorant, or toothbrushes.
• Throw away disposable razors after a few uses.
• Make sure that you use only your own items in shared public spaces, such as showers, locker rooms, and pools.