Tag Archives: hygiene

The Nasty Truth About ‘Poo Plumes’ — And How To Protect Yourself From Them

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A wise philosopher once noted, “everybody poops,” and if you live in the United States and many other parts of the world, you’re probably using a toilet when you do.

So just how germy are they? And what can we do to keep our toilets, our bathrooms, and ourselves as faecal-matter-free as possible?

That’s what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — asked microbiologist Jason Tetro, aka “The Germ Guy,” when he recently chatted with us about the grossest parts of our bathrooms and how to vanquish the bad germs that might be thriving in them.

Listen to the full episode by pressing play:

“There are trillions and trillions and trillions of microbes that are essentially part of you,” Tetro, the author of “The Germ Files” and “The Germ Code,” told us. “The majority of them happen to be in your gastrointestinal system … As you might expect then, the majority of germs that we’re going to encounter in any household happen to be in the toilet.”

Many of those microbes are harmless, but some can make us sick. Even though our toilets do a great job of capturing and eliminating our waste, rogue “poo particles” (a decidedly non-scientific term Michelson used) can still escape the bowl — especially if we don’t shut the lid when we flush.

“This first started [to be studied in 1976], and the whole idea was, is there something that’s coming out of the toilet when you flush it if you don’t keep the lid down?” Tetro said. “[Back then we called it] a ‘plume.’ So it’s not ‘poo particles,’ it’s a plume of droplets in the air.”

Scientists placed petri dishes around a toilet, flushed it multiple times, and looked to see if anything sprouted.

“Sure enough, within six feet of that toilet, you had microbes that were growing because that’s the droplets’ span,” Tetro said.

“Let’s jump to today, because we now have had the ‘Austin Powers’ movies, and as a result of that, what are we going to use to be able to identify poo droplets? A freakin’ laser,” he said laughing.

After using lasers to map toilet plumes, scientists confirmed that they can launch as high as six feet in the air and the spray can land as far as six feet from the bowl.

“Within six feet of your toilet is usually your toothbrush,” Tetro noted. “When you think of it from that perspective, then you start to begin to realise that if you’re not closing the lid, then what ends up happening is that plume of droplets that contains your poo particles are getting onto things that are going to be touching your face and going inside of your mouth.”

That’s bad news because, as Tetro explained, “those fecal microbes can potentially cause infection and other problems.”

Though a partial plume could still escape from the sides of the seat even with the lid down, Tetro assured us most of the spray would be contained.

“If you keep the lid closed and you do end up with a little bit of a plume coming out of the sides, it’s just essentially gonna drop,” he said. ”[Just] make sure that you’re cleaning the floor around your toilet.”

What about cleaning the toilet itself?

“If you were to be able to swab a [toilet bowl] and then run that on a petri dish, you’re probably going to get a bunch of bacteria, but most of those are going to be environmental because it’s from the water,” Tetro said. “The reason for that is because toilets do what they’re supposed to do, which is to remove whatever is in the bowl — other than the plume — and take it down into the drain. So, in that sense, you really don’t need to worry too too much about contamination and growth and all that stuff.”

What we do need to worry about are biofilms, which are caused by bacteria in the water and often form as rings in our toilet bowls (and other places like our bathtubs and shower heads).

“They become very sticky and that’s where the poo bacteria can essentially start to accumulate,” Tetro said. “So what you want to do is try and prevent any of these biofilms from forming. It takes about three days to start creating a biofilm that isn’t visible, but could start being sticky. So if you really wanna be clean about it, then you want to be cleaning about every three days.”

However, Tetro said that it takes about seven days before “any of that stickiness could lead to poo sticking around,” so he advised cleaning our toilets once a week.

“The only time that I would say that you would want to do it more than that is if someone does have a gastrointestinal infection,” he added. “We’ve seen Salmonella survive in a toilet bowl up to seven weeks… [so] if you have any GI issues, then you really should be cleaning up later on that same day.”

We also chatted about the parts of our bathrooms with the most germs (they probably aren’t the spots you’d guess), how often we should be washing our towels (and the gross reason they start to smell), and much more.

So listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts.

Make sure to subscribe to “Am I Doing It Wrong?” so you don’t miss a single episode, including our investigations of the ins and outs of tipping, how to apologise or vanquish your credit card debt, how to find love online or overcome anxiety, tips for online shopping, taking care of your teeth and pooping like a pro, secrets to booking and staying in a hotel, how to deal with an angry person, cooking tips from celebrity chef Jet Tila, shocking laundry secrets, the tips and tricks for cleaner dishes, getting your best workout and more.

For more from Jason Tetro, visit his website here.

Need some help with something you’ve been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.

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Keep Your Makeup In A Makeup Bag? We’ve Got Grim News For You

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We are in our rot era. We’re letting ourselves be a little more slobby, a little more gross, a little less refined because you know what? Life’s too short. So who cares if our lipstick is a bit old or if we can’t remember the last time we cleaned our makeup brushes?

Well, it turns out our bodies might.

While we’re leaning into being a little less refined, we could be putting our health at risk, according to Saffron Hughes, the makeup artist at FalseEyelashes.co.uk.

While we may think of makeup as something that we do for fun or quickly put on before going out, it’s actually always interacting with our skin and this means that if we don’t take good care with it, we could be encouraging anything from blemishes to E. coli.

The makeup hygiene mistakes we have all unknowingly been making

Storing our makeup in makeup bags long-term

I know, I know, what are they for, then?

Well, Hughes said: “Dead skin cells and bacteria from your brushes are transferred to your makeup bag after every application. Shockingly, researchers have found that 90% of makeup bags are contaminated with superbugs, such as E.coli, due to improper cleaning.”

Screaming.

Instead of keeping your makeup in a bag, when you’re home, keep it in drawers or on a dressing table as the more robust materials used to build these are easier to clean than a fabric makeup bag.

Don’t have to tell me twice.

Leaving lids open inside the makeup bag

This isn’t likely to be something you’re doing intentionally but it’s always worth a second check that you’ve definitely put the lid back on properly after using your favourite mascara or lippie.

Hughes said: “Accidentally leaving makeup product lids open is a silent invitation to bacterial growth. So, when you use a makeup product, double-check that the lid is tightly shut to prevent moist air from entering the product and creating the perfect humid conditions for bacterial growth.”

Hughes added that wet conditions, such as bathrooms, are bad places to store makeup, for the same reason.

Not cleaning your actual makeup products

Um. I’ll be real with you. I didn’t know this was a thing.

Hughes said: “Whilst everyone knows the importance of regularly cleaning their makeup brushes, dust, dead skin cells, and product build-up can accumulate on your beauty products themselves.”

“The same study previously mentioned found that E.coli, fungus, and staphylococcus aureus, otherwise known as a staph infection can be found on beauty products – all of which can cause skin infections.”

Never cleaning where you store your makeup

Hughes said, “As well as cleaning your makeup products, you should clean where you store them otherwise you’ll be placing clean products into a potentially germ-infested area.”

She added that once you have cleaned, ensure that the drawers or surfaces are fully dry as, “the moist air can enter your makeup products and produce the perfect humid conditions for bacterial growth.”

Not cleaning your beauty blender after every use

Over the past few years on TikTok, people have been cutting open their beauty blenders and sponges just to find that mould was thriving inside of them.

Speaking on this cursed phenomena, Hughes said: “This happens for a number of reasons; firstly, the porous structure of beauty blenders and makeup sponges allows them to absorb dirt, oils, and leftover makeup residue, creating an environment where mould is likely to grow if the beauty blender isn’t regularly or adequately cleaned.”

The makeup artist went on to warn that when mould combines with dirt and grime, it clogs pores which can, “bring on an array of other skin problems, including breakouts, skin irritations, redness, and more.”

She advises that sponges and blenders should be cleaned thoroughly using a mild soap or specialist cleanser made for blenders after each use.

Disregarding expiration dates of makeup products

Hughes warned: “The first thing you should always do before opening any new beauty product is check the label. On the label, you will find a small jar symbol with a number followed by the letter M inside.

“The number followed by the letter M determines how long the product will work best and how long it should be used once opened and exposed to air.

“After this timeframe, the products will decline in quality and can become a breeding ground for bacteria. So if it’s a product that you’re less likely to finish using during the timeframe, make a note of when you opened it to avoid disappointment.”

She added that after this timeline, the products will decline in quality and become a breeding ground for bacteria. So, if it’s a product you’re unlikely to finish in the timeframe, make a note of when you opened it to avoid disappointment.

Ignoring changes in textures or smells of products

Hughes said, “One way of determining if your product has expired is by the smell. If the product now has a new distinctive odour that it didn’t have before, then it’s time for it to go.

“Another way you can determine if your product has expired is if the texture has changed. If your liquid products have thickened or become clumpy, then they need to be disposed of. Cosmetics also begin to separate, and this becomes very visible.”

She added that the colour of a product can be a tell-tale sign of expiration. This is because cosmetics oxidise when exposed to air. The longer they are sat for, the more likely they are to oxidise.

If you’ve noticed you are looking a bit more orange than usual, your makeup may be out of date!

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The Most Hygienic Way To Pee On A Plane

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With a new year, many people are making plans for their holidays in 2024 and it’s safe to say we’re excited to hop on a plane.

Still, the idea of spending hours in a metal tube with dozens ― if not hundreds ― of strangers understandably might not feel super-appealing. Being forced to share a small number of tiny bathrooms with them is even less so.

Thankfully, there are ways to minimise the spread of germs in the lavatory. Below, health and travel experts break down the most hygienic way to use the bathroom on a plane.

Disinfect surfaces.

“As an infection prevention specialist and someone who travels a lot, I have a routine when I fly,” said Michelle Barron, the senior medical director of infection prevention and control at UCHealth in Colorado. “When I sit down in my seat, I use a disinfecting wipe to wipe down the armrests, tray table and anything else that someone may have touched. Then I use hand sanitizer to clean my hands. The same routine works for a bathroom.”

Barron advised using disinfectant wipes on any lavatory door handles, lids and sinks before touching them.

Philip M. Tierno, a professor of microbiology and pathology at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine, noted that although skin is a natural barrier to germs, he suggests traveling with a small tube of disinfecting spray for areas like the airplane bathroom.

“I would use Lysol spray on the seat before sitting on it,” Tierno said, then wait about a minute and wipe it off with a paper towel or face tissue. “The friction caused by the rubbing process as you wipe helps remove most debris there as well as many germs.”

Touch as little as possible.

Make sure you have a barrier between your bare hands and any surfaces you have to touch.

“The restroom likely holds a higher number of germs, and it is used by more people,” Barron said. “So it is important to limit contact with surfaces and use a disposable item like a paper towel to touch any door handles, toilet lids or handles, sinks, etc.”

Jagdish Khubchandani, a professor of public health at New Mexico State University, advised putting tissues on the toilet seat or paper seat covers if they’re available. Dispose of them when you’re finished.

“This helps maintain hygiene and saves others who follow a lot of hassle,” Khubchandani said. “Open the door with the tissue paper or wipes when exiting the lavatory. Put these tissue papers in trash.”

Consider not using the toilet paper to wipe.

“My biggest airplane bathroom hack is using the airplane tissues instead of the toilet paper,” said Brenda Orelus, a flight attendant and founder of Krew Konnect.

Earlier this year, Orelus posted this bathroom hack in an Instagram reel in which she explained that toilet paper is generally more exposed to liquids because it is usually located at a lower level.

“The tissue paper is typically located at eye level on commercial aircrafts,” Orelus told HuffPost. “Significantly increasing the likelihood that any liquid splashed on it is in fact just water.”

Close the lid before flushing.

We know that infectious microbes can spread through “toilet plumes” ― the dispersal of particles caused by flushing a toilet. These toilet aerosols can be vectors for diseases, including COVID-19.

There’s a simple way to help combat this.

“You can close the toilet’s lid before flushing to avoid spreading germs into the air during the flush cycle,” Barron said.

Practicing good health hygiene on a plane will also keep your bathroom trips as clean as possible.

Jaromir Chalabala / EyeEm via Getty Images

Practicing good health hygiene on a plane will also keep your bathroom trips as clean as possible.

Wear shoes.

“On long duration flights, I have noticed people ― often, kids ― walk barefoot towards or into the bathroom,” Khubchandani said. “This is a very unhygienic tendency with potential for infection if someone has skin cuts and injuries on their foot. Also, you stay with the germs on your skin from the restroom for the entire flight unless you wash feet, which doesn’t happen much.”

He also suggested rolling your hems at the bottom if you’re wearing sweatpants or other long, loose garments to avoid droplets of urine, bits of tissue or other waste from getting on your clothes.

“Everything from the waist down is in an area where turbulence can lead to poor aim,” Orelus noted. “So no, it’s unlikely the liquid on the floor is water.”

Sanitise your hands.

Washing your hands thoroughly and frequently with soap and water is an important way to prevent the spread of germs. However, studies have suggested airplane lavatory water can be quite poor in quality.

“The reservoir of water in the bathroom tank can be grossly contaminated,” Tierno said. “As such, I would use 62% alcoholic gel to sanitize your hands rather than using the bathroom sink water.”

Avoid touching your face or mouth in the bathroom before cleaning your hands. The same goes for other steps of your travel journey.

“I’d also recommend keeping hand sanitiser nearby to use before and after eating or touching your face,” Tierno said.

Clean up after yourself.

“While going to the restroom, be considerate about others who may follow,” Khubchandani said. “We often don’t think about this or assume someone else will clean. This is disrespectful to other passengers and flight attendants if they have to clean up for us. So, flush as you go, dispose of trash in cans designated for waste, wipe the sink area and clean the toilet bowl if pieces of tissue or urine are spread around.”

He also advised using a different lavatory and notifying the flight attendant if you enter a bathroom and find previous passengers have left an overwhelming mess.

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6 Unexpected Signs Your Pub Pint Glass Is Actually Filthy

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’Tis the seasons for good food, great company, and yes, a trip to the pub. But as John Cutts, a glass expert at MeandMyGlass.co.uk, says, “it’s easy to get carried away with the celebrations without realising the pint glass you’re drinking from hasn’t been cleaned properly.”

Signs of dirt and oil aren’t always immediately visible when you get a glass, Cutts shared. Instead, telltale bubble and foam patterns might be a better way to give the grime away.

In fact, “A filthy beer glass can be easily identified if bubbles start to cling to the side and if the foam leaves an unusual pattern after taking a sip,” Cutts says.

So, we thought we’d share some of his tips:

1) Bubbles might cling to the side of your glass

This can be a sign of soap residue or grime, Cutts says. The bubbles cling onto the residue on the inside of the glass, causing them to gather on the side of your pint.

2) Look at the foam pattern on the glass

This is known as the “lacing test,” Cutts shared. “Once the glass has been filled and you’ve taken your first sip, take note of the pattern that forms. The lacing that the head will form should be even around the side and create rings as you continue to drink. Any unusual patterns indicate a dirty glass,” he shared.

3) A flattened head that goes away quickly

Nobody likes an overly foamy head ― but “if the head instantly flattens after being poured, it’s a sign that you’ve received a dirty glass,” Cutts says.

4) Check for particles at the bottom of your glass

Okay, it sounds obvious, but Cutts says that if you’re not sure about the state of your glass, checking the bottom of the pint for residue could be illuminating.

“Before taking a sip, lift the glass so you have a full view of any particles floating at the bottom,” he advises.

5) A discoloured rim

Discolouration around the rim of your glass could mean it’s still for some oil lingering on it, Cutts warns (delicious). “Visible marks like fingermarks and lipstick stains are also signs to be wary of,” he warns.

6) It’s all in the taste

Lastly, the final test is how your drink tastes. “If any of the obvious signs aren’t showing, the final and most prominent way to test a dirty glass is the taste of the beer itself. Make sure to have a small first sip to begin with so you’re not washing down a dirty pint,” Cutts warns.

Ah, the joys of socialising…

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The 1 Sign You Should Check Your Home For Mould Immediately

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According to housing charity Shelter, over a quarter of renters experience dampness and mould in their homes.

While these can be unsightly, difficult problems to address in the home, they can be incredibly damaging to your health, particularly over an extended period of time.

And according to Healthline, one of the signs of mould in the home that could sneak up on you is a consistently runny nose and congestion as well as irritated eyes.

If you find over time that these symptoms aren’t clearing up and worsen over time, it’s time to fully inspect your home for mould and dampness.

Signs of mould in the home

If you have been worried about the potential of mould in the home, now is the perfect time to address it as according to the BBC, it’s more likely to occur during colder months.

The signs of mould in the home include fuzzy black, white or green patches on the walls, and a damp and musty smell.

According to the UK Government, “Damp and mould primarily affect the airways and lungs, but they can also affect the eyes and skin. The respiratory effects of damp and mould can cause serious illness and, in the most severe cases, death.”

How to clear mould in the home

If you rent your home, your landlord has a legal duty to address damp and mould issues and to check six weeks after action that the problems have stayed away. However, according to Ronseal, there are some things you can do to address the issues:

  • Fill a bucket with water and a mild detergent like washing up liquid. Or use a dedicated mould remover to make quick work of it
  • Dip a cloth in water and wipe the mould off the wall. Don’t brush it as this can release mould spores
  • Once you’ve removed the mould, use a dry rag to remove the rest of the moisture
  • Throw away the cloth and vacuum the room to make sure you’ve removed all of the spores

The sealant experts add, “If you have mould on soft furnishings like clothing or soft toys, they should be shampooed or professionally dry cleaned.”

Shelter has a wealth of advice and resources for renters facing damp and mould problems on their website.

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I’ve Survived A Bed Bug Infestation. Here’s What You Actually Need To Know

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Few things in life make me want to rip my skin off — bed bugs, however, could incite me to peel myself like a tangerine.

Lately, my skin has been itching. With so many stories about bed bugs in Paris, the idea of an overrun London has rendered me tacky-tongued and breaking out into cold sweats. Not to mention googling with ferocity how to ward off the invasion of tiny bloodsuckers.

I’ve become obsessed. Smelling phatom smells and peeling back corners of carpets just to “make sure” that it’s all good. That we’re safe. Why? Because I’ve lived through this before.

Living alone is supposed to be fun — empowering, even. Here I was, 24 and doing it all by myself. Except I wasn’t as alone as I thought I was.

Dormant inside the cavity walls, thousands of bed bugs lay in wait. The cold winter and the vacant flat had meant they’d retreated into hibernation, only to ambush when the heating — and the smell of breakfast, lunch and tea (i.e. me) sat her sorry self down on the carpet.

I didn’t notice anything for the first week. My furniture was organised, clothes put away and for a brief moment in time, I was at peace. Reaching this milestone was a huge accomplishment. As a working-class girl from North Wales, I never thought I’d be in a position to afford living alone.

My run of good fortune had finally ended, though. And, a week later I was struck with glandular fever. Lying in bed, unable to move my skin began to itch as small welts appeared up and down my legs and arms.

Black dots appeared around plug sockets and in the corners of my room. Mould, I thought. Then, to my horror, a small reddish thing scuttled across the carpet.

My heart dropped and my stomach hit the floor. I googled “bed bugs” and I sank further into my bed. My flat was infested and I was bedbound.

The realisation that night by night I would be the subject of torture by many tiny mouths made me sob uncontrollably as I watched black dots, their faecal matter, leave traces along my furniture, my bedding and my walls.

My legs slowly became red raw from scratching, but mentally the load was more painful.

Shame crept into my thoughts and set there like a millstone around my neck. What would people think of me if I told them? Would my landlord blame me? How could I ever escape from this fresh hell?

A week passed, slowly. I was feeling somewhat better, though still incredibly unwell. I was able to shower and get dressed, which meant tending to the scabs across my scarred body. I ordered packages upon packages of bed bug spray, traps and natural remedies like tea tree and lavender oils.

On the phone, I begged and pleaded with my landlord to find me alternative accommodation while the infestation was seen to. But, as a young woman, they intimidated me. Threatening me with eviction and fines until I could prove I hadn’t brought them in with my own furniture.

After making threats of my own to bring on legal proceedings, they soon moved me to a budget hotel where I could finally sleep in peace. In the meantime, exterminators lay more boobie traps throughout the flat.

When my stay came to an end, I was advised to take on the role of “bait” in order to weasel the critters out of the walls and into the traps. Reluctantly, I returned.

With nobody able to visit me, I became more and more isolated. My mental health deteriorated as I began to feel too nauseous to eat and too anxious to go to bed. I was signed off from work on extended sick leave long after my glandular fever passed. My money drained and I sank further and further into my overdraft. With only statutory sick pay to support me, I became more and more depressed at the situation I had found myself in.

I didn’t sleep for weeks. To the legs of my bed, I taped double-sided sticky tape — only for them to crawl up the walls and drop from the ceiling onto my duvet. I taped up plug sockets and watched them pile onto one another, as they got more and more stuck. Beneath the cills, the sellotape caught almost transparent juveniles. It was becoming a peepshow of horror. And I was still getting bitten.

It didn’t matter how many times I cried on the phone, literally begging my estate agents to release me from my contract. The answer was always no. Until I sent them photos of infected sores on my legs and threatened legal action against them.

After four months, I was free. What followed, though, was just as difficult as the infestation itself. My furniture, bedding and my most beloved belongings, my books, were incinerated. What I was able to salvage, filled me with dread. What if they were still there? What if I brought them with me?

For months afterwards, I would crawl the carpet picking apart every fibre in search of signs they’d hitched a ride. Every speck of dust was obsessively inspected and cleaned. Over time, my scars began to fade and I was able to find some semblance of normal.

A month passed in my new flat, and not one new bite. The relief washed over me and my health improved. I slept better. I was able to leave a sock on the floor. My bed no longer had double-sided sticky tape wrapped around its legs. I was free.

Even now, when I visit anywhere, the legacy of that trauma surfaces. I check the walls and peek behind wallpaper in hotels. So far, so good. Until recently.

The threat of bedbugs coming back into my life has meant old habits have resurfaced. I think about them constantly and check every inch of my house for signs of vampiric life. If they make their way to my home, I’ll be left with no option but to burn the place to the ground.

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The 1 Thing To Fight Bed Bugs Is Probably Already In Your Pantry

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Oh 2023, the year that just keeps givinhg! As if we didn’t have dramatic climate change events and the cost of living crisis to battle with, we now have the fear of, uh, bed bugs. Love this for all of us.

In case you missed it, there’s been a huge breakout of bed bugs in Paris and while TFL has urged people to stay optimistic, there are still fears that bed bugs could enter the UK and cause chaos here, too.

While it may seem alarmist to worry about bed bugs making their way over to us, we have our own bed bugs problem here already. Back in August it was reported that there has been a 65% year-on-year increase in bedbug infestations in the UK

Additionally, they are incredibly difficult to get rid of and over the past couple of weeks, X has been filled with stories about how much having bed bugs can impact your life and mental health.

Home remedies for bed bugs

Of course, if you have a bed bug infestation, it’s best to call in the experts but if you can’t afford to or if there’s a waiting time to get them into your home, some home remedies could be exactly what you need to keep these pests at bay.

According to the experts at Nectar Sleep, these are some of the best solutions for a bed bugs infestation:

If bed bugs seem to making themselves at home on your bedding, clothes, blankets etc, giving them a wash on the highest setting that they can withstand in order to kill the critters. Nectar Sleep add, “Heat treatment is an effective method for getting rid of these pesky creatures because they get dehydrated due to the intense heat.”

Baking soda

Apparently, if you sprinkle a light later of baking soda on the areas where you think bed bugs are nestling, you can effectively “dry them out” by soaking up their moisture which kills them. It’s advised that the baking soda is left for a week before being vacuumed up. Keep doing this until there are no bugs or eggs left.

Speaking of vacuuming, you’re about to do more than you’ve ever done before. Nectar Sleep recommend that you vacuum your bedding, furniture, and any cracks in your bed frame, walls, and wallpaper. You might feel a bit weird doing it but it’s an effective solution.

The experts add that using a brush to loosen up bugs and eggs that you see on our mattress and upholstered furniture is useful in the vacuuming process, too.

Once you’re done, ensure that you seal the contents of your vacuum into a bag before binning it and clean your vacuum every single time, too.

Tea tree oil

Finally, if you only have a mild infestation on your hands, diluting 20 drops of tea tree oil in a spray bottle of water and spraying onto all affected surfaces can help to eliminate the bugs though washing these fabrics is still the most important step!

How to avoid bed bugs

The pest experts at Rentokil suggest that for anybody trying to avoid letting these restless critters in their house, the following steps are taken:

  • Wash and dry clothes at the highest possible temperatures
  • Eliminate clutter so that they have less places to hide
  • Don’t take clothes, suitcases or furniture to your loved one’s homes to avoid spreading or getting bed bugs
  • Tidy all areas of your bedroom, especially the floor around and under your bed and bedside cabinets
  • Vacuum often

Brb, I’m off to vacuum every single inch of my house,.

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Let’s Settle This Once And For All, How Often Should You Wash?

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Celebrities have been sharing some dirty secrets – about their own hygiene habits.

It all started when Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis confessed that they don’t bathe daily. The pair told the Armchair Expert podcast that other than washing important parts of their bodies, they don’t shower every day, and this approach is something they’ve extended to their children.

Kunis told host Dax Shepard: “I don’t wash my body with soap every day. I wash pits and t*** and holes and soles… When I had children, I also didn’t wash them every day. I wasn’t the parent that bathed my newborns – ever.”

Kutcher agreed by saying: “If you can see the dirt on them, clean them. Otherwise, there’s no point.”

Other celebs soon joined the debate, with Jake Gyllenhaal admitting: “More and more I find bathing to be less necessary.” But we all breathed a sigh of relief, when Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reassured us showering is still cool, telling fans: “I’m the opposite of a ‘not washing themselves’ celeb.”

Their antics have sparked an online debate about hygiene and whether we should be taking a shower every single day. Considering the past year has focused on staying clean and trying not to get Covid-19, we asked a leading expert how much washing is enough.

Professor Sally Bloomfield from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine actually agrees with Kunis and Kutcher. “I think it’s important that we don’t wash every single day,” she tells HuffPost UK.

“The skin is our barrier and it’s evolved and developed to have properties that sustain that barrier function, against the ingress of disease and toxins and so forth so it wasn’t developed to be washed every day.”

Washing our skin every day can wash off natural oils and upset the natural balance and the essential properties of the skin, Bloomfield adds. She knows bathing is a source of personal comfort, but doesn’t see washing every day as necessary.

Similar to Kutcher and Kunis, Bloomfield thinks we should be washing specific parts of our body every day. “Most of our body odours come either from the armpits or the anal area and they can be quite well controlled by washing those sensitive areas daily without having to bathe the whole body,” she says. “If it’s very hot and you’re sweating, then you will want to rinse off the salts and make yourself feel comfortable again. Obviously, personal hygiene is important for controlling odour.”

How about it when it comes to preventing diseases such as Covid-19? Since Covid is an airborne transmitted disease, Bloomfield says you don’t need to wash your entire body, only your hands. “It’s controlled by good hand hygiene and hand contact hygiene. You’re only getting it on your hands, you’re not getting on your whole body. There’s no point in washing your whole body because the risks of transmission via your body are very, very small, all you need to do to prevent transmission of infection, is by keeping it off your hands and prevent your self-touching.”

The only way we get some infections is by touching our mouth, nose, and face. Other infections are caught by a breakdown in the body such as cuts or grazes. So overall, Bloomfield doesn’t see any health benefits to having a daily shower.

Those are the facts, but we won’t be ditching bath time just yet. Sorry, Dr Bloomfield.

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Seriously Guys, You Really Need To Wash Your Face Masks

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You grab your face mask from your pocket, think “I really should wash this soon”, forget all about it, then repeat the process next time you pop to the shop. Sound familiar?

Just 13% of people who wear reusable face masks are washing them frequently enough and in the right way, according to a study by YouGov.

A third (32%) wash their mask after every use, which is recommended. But even among those people, only 41% wash them at 60 degrees or higher, despite the fact lower temperatures are not enough to kill viruses like Covid-19.

Dr Roger Henderson, a senior GP who’s been working with Copper Clothing on their masks, is calling on Brits to take their mask care seriously to prevent the spread as lockdown measures ease.

Face masks become ineffective if they aren’t clean, he says. “If you take your mask off and set it down somewhere or leave it in your pocket, this allows for potentially harmful bacteria to spread onto other surfaces,” he tells HuffPost UK.

“Masks made from different materials will have different risks, but overall, it is best practice to wash your mask daily and wash your hands after every use. Really, you should be washing your mask as regularly as your pants.”

The government’s website says you should wash your face covering “regularly” and follow the washing instructions for the fabric. “You can use your normal detergent. You can wash and dry it with other laundry,” it adds. “You must throw away your face covering if it is damaged.”

Meanwhile, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) says you should wash and dry wet or dirty masks as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming mouldy. “Wet masks can be hard to breathe through and are less effective than dry masks,” it says.

Dr Ed Wright, senior lecturer in microbiology at the University of Sussex, previously told HuffPost UK coronavirus particles have a fatty, oily outer layer – and washing is important, because detergent damages that layer.

“That layer is required for the virus to be able to infect a cell,” he said. “If you use soap or detergent, they will interact with this waxy, oily layer and disrupt that, so the virus will fall apart and won’t be able to infect anybody.”

The World Health Organisation adds that you should store fabric masks in a clean, reusable bag when you’re out and about – shoving them in a pocket next to your phone and keys is not recommended.

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‘I Can’t Smell Smoke Or Perfume’: The Reality Of Life Without Scent

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