Bad Hygiene Habits Exposed: Are You Guilty of These Habits?
Horrible hygiene is more common than you think. Failing to frequently wash your hands, brush your teeth, and take showers, are all generally big turnoff to anyone who has to be around you. Someone on Reddit decided to ask people to name hygiene mistakes that are way too common. Because apparently, it’s fun to occasionally remember just how gross we all are.
Horrible hygiene habits that are way too common.
So far, the thread has over three thousand comments and almost five thousand impressions. And they did not disappoint. Someone dived right into pandemic talk. They said, “Remember the beginning of the pandemic when the government had to remind people that they should be washing their hands with soap? Yeah, it turns out a disturbing number of people don’t do that.”
Colgate, the oral health and dental care brand recommends replacing your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months. They also say to get a new toothbrush sooner if you have been sick. That’s a great tip but not everyone follows this according to many Reddit comments. One person shared some advice from their mother who is a retired dental hygienist, saying, “She always told me to change my toothbrush when the seasons change. It’s an easy way to remember when it’s time for a new one.”
Not washing your sheets and pillowcases made many appearances throughout the discussion. According to WebMD, you can put yourself at risk of health hazards if you don’t wash your sheets. Just think of the drool, sweat, dandruff, and other “stuff” you leave between the sheets. They say ideally, you should wash them every week or at least every other week.
Now, here’s a saying you may have heard before “If you can smell yourself, then other people other people can definitely smell you.” Someone emphasized this by writing, “Wash your a–.” They continued to say, “Seriously have had to have this conversation with adults before. They honestly believe soap running down is enough. No. Do the flipper motion between the cheeks and wash your a–.”
Other horrible hygiene habits mentioned include never cleaning your phone, keys, or AirPods, not flossing and not brushing the back of your tongue, and not cleaning your piercings.
9 Unspoken Rules for Public Restroom Etiquette
Skip the complicated stuff
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Feel free to touch up your makeup or give your teeth a quick brush. But skip the complex routines like flossing, clipping your nails, or shaving. Keep phone calls at bay, and save emails and browsing for later. Remember, public bathrooms are riskier for hygiene. According to Health, a health and lifestyle website, illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and colds can be found on surfaces. So, minimize your time there for safety’s sake.
No touchy, touchy
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If you spot someone you know, a nod is perfectly okay. No need to shake hands! In fact, CNN reported that only 5% of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. It’s risky to assume otherwise. No one needs to guess where your hands were. Wet handshakes are bad, worse if it’s mystery liquid.
Stall chats and gossip
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Avoid engaging in conversations between stalls or near urinals. This holds particularly true within the office environment, where you can’t be certain if a colleague or supervisor is in the adjacent stall, potentially overhearing any complaints or gossip you share. A Redditor shared their frustration on the discussion board saying that talking in stalls should only be for, “Can you pass me some toilet paper? This ones out” or “Crap. Do you have a tampon?”
Hold off on phone conversations
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Staying connected is great, thanks to our trusty smartphones always being by our side. But let’s not take them to the bathroom. Besides the germs, it can get awkward. The person on your call hears bathroom noises and flushes. The nearby stall occupant gets only half the conversation, making the shared bathroom uncomfortable.
Welcoming yourself in without knocking
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You’re eyeing a solo bathroom, uncertain if it’s taken. Start with a knock on the door. No response? Next, put your hand on the doorknob and carefully turn it to one side. Did it open? If not, odds are someone’s inside, so hold on. No need to shake the handle like you’ve never met a doorknob. That’s a surefire method to give the person inside a shock. And just in case the person in the restroom forgot to lock the door, at least all your bases are covered.
Don't flush with your feet
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There are some people who think they’re maintaining hygiene by flushing toilets with their feet. In reality, this is one of the least hygienic actions. Shoes aren’t clean, particularly after navigating a public restroom, exposing them to unclean surfaces. This transfers germs where others touch. If you’re concerned about germs, consider using a piece of toilet paper to operate the flush handle.
"Be a sweetie and wipe the seatie"
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Tidy up after use. This rule covers all areas of the restroom. After you’re done, take a look at the seat and floor, and clean as needed. To put it simply, be considerate and give your seat a wipe. This also pertains to the sink. While soap is clean, leaving a large blob under the dispenser isn’t polite behavior.
Stall hogger
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According to Geisinger, a health organization, studies indicate the average time spent in the restroom is about 12 seconds. Occasionally, it might take longer, but it’s generally recommended not to exceed 10 minutes. So, if you find yourself scrolling through Instagram and Facebook during your bathroom time, you may want to reconsider. Keep in mind that others may be waiting their turn, and lingering around the restroom door isn’t the most comfortable scenario. On the other hand, if the restroom is occupied, it’s courteous to step away and return later. It’s unnecessary to wait outside the door, which could potentially be embarrassing for the occupant. However, if waiting is not feasible, forming a line is an acceptable option.
Don't peak through the stall gaps
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Making stall doors with a gap has benefits. If the door went all the way down, people couldn’t see if someone needed help. The gap helps in emergencies and lets responders assist without breaking in. Also, the gap can stop actions like sex or drug use, in stalls. But don’t make things weird by staring at people through them. That’s just uncomfortable.
