Clean Doesn't Always Mean Clean
Most of us have been washing ourselves for so long that the routine barely requires thought, but those everyday showers actually need a little more attention than you’re giving them! Some areas need more than a quick pass with soap, and others can get irritated when you scrub, dig, or clean more aggressively than you need to. Before you draw your next bath, come with us as we figure out which places you’re probably washing right, and which ones you’re likely washing wrong.
1. Between the Cheeks
That’s right—we’re going there! One rinse isn't enough for an area that spends most of the day warm, covered, and prone to sweat. Gently washing between the cheeks with warm water and mild soap on the external skin helps remove sweat and residue without aggressive scrubbing (which is the last place you want irritation). Just rinse thoroughly afterward; leaving soap sitting in sensitive skin folds can cause irritation.
2. Behind Your Ears
Your ears get plenty of attention while your hair’s being washed, but what about the skin directly behind them? It’s surprisingly easy to skip, even though it’s a prime target for oil, dead skin, hair products, and sweat. Those issues are only worse if you wear glasses, so run a soapy washcloth or your fingers behind each ear, rinse well, and you're done.
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3. Your Belly Button
Unless you deliberately clean your belly button, shower water doesn’t reach everything tucked inside it. Deeper navels can collect sweat, lint, skin cells, and body oils, so gently washing inside with soap and water is usually more than enough. Just don't start digging around with sharp objects or scrubbing hard—that can leave the delicate skin sore.
4. Between Your Toes
We hate to break it to you, but standing in soapy water doesn't count as washing your toes. Those narrow spaces can stay moist after a shower, which is why it's worth deliberately cleaning (and drying) them. Give each gap a gentle pass with soap, rinse it, then make sure your feet aren't still damp before snuggling into socks.
5. Under Your Fingernails
Our fingers are just as important as our toes, but they’re also just as prone to being neglected. Don’t kid yourself—you can wash your hands repeatedly and still miss what's sitting beneath your nails. Dirt and debris can remain trapped there, particularly after cooking, cleaning, or handling anything grimy. A soft nail brush and ordinary soap can reach the area without any aggressive scraping that damages the skin.
6. Your Scalp
Dumping shampoo onto your hair doesn't clean the skin underneath! Shampoo is generally meant to be worked into the scalp with your fingertips, and it’s a good thing too since that’s where all the oil, sweat, dead skin, and styling products are. Concentrate the massage around the roots rather than piling shampoo onto the ends, and there's no need to attack your scalp with your nails.
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7. Your Creases
People often think about cleaning their private areas while forgetting the folds where the thighs meet the pelvis. Those creases deal with plenty of their own obstacles, like friction, sweat, and tight clothing, particularly during hot weather or exercise. Mild soap on the external skin followed by careful rinsing and drying is usually all the area needs.
8. Your Back
Unless you're especially flexible, there's a good chance the middle of your back isn't getting much attention. Running water doesn’t count as cleaning, either. Sweat and oil can build up there, and people prone to body acne may notice breakouts in areas their hands never quite reach. A long-handled shower brush or clean back-washing cloth makes the job much easier.
9. Your Eyelids
It’s easy to assume your face is spotless, but don’t forget that mascara, sunscreen, oil, and other residue cling to the lash line. They need a good scrub, too, so keep your eyes closed and gently cleanse the skin with a suitable cleanser. Anyone dealing with persistent crusting, swelling, or redness should treat that as something more than a washing problem!
10. Your Neck Creases
We’re not done with creases just yet. The front of your neck gets rinsed easily, but the back and any deeper skin folds can be forgotten when you’re in a hurry. Sweat, sunscreen, hair products, and dead skin can hang around in there, particularly underneath long hair or collars. Make a point of washing all the way around your neck!
Now let’s dive into which areas just about everyone has a handle on.
1. Your Hands
Handwashing is so ingrained in us that we all pretty much have the basics down. Soap, running water, rubbing all surfaces of the hands, and cleaning between the fingers is a straightforward routine that doesn't need anything fancy. The biggest mistake isn't technique so much as rushing.
2. Your Armpits
We all know that armpits deserve regular attention. They're packed with sweat glands and spend much of the day covered, so washing them with soap and rinsing away deodorant feels like an obvious part of showering. As long as you aren't scrubbing hard enough to irritate freshly shaved skin, you're doing just fine.
3. Your Face
Most people understand that facial skin needs a gentler approach than elbows or dirty feet. And plenty of us have invested in a good cleanser that gets the job done. That’s a good place to start! You don't need to scrub until your face feels squeaky, either; stripping away too much oil can leave skin feeling tight and irritated.
4. Your Teeth
Brushing your teeth is one cleaning job almost nobody forgets, even if consistency can slip. Using fluoride toothpaste and brushing the outer, inner, and chewing surfaces gives your teeth the everyday cleaning they need. Now if we could just find the willpower to floss.
5. Your Hair
People have wildly different hair types, but the more attention it needs, the more attention it gets. By now, people understand their hair needs, have specific products, and know all about which routine works best for them. Don’t forget that frequency can also vary considerably, which is why copying somebody else's schedule isn't necessary.
6. Your Knees
Knees aren't exactly mysterious territory when you're in the shower. They're easy to reach, easy to see, and usually get cleaned while you're washing the rest of your legs. If yours tend to feel rough, gentle washing followed by moisturizer is kinder than repeatedly trying to scrub the texture away.
7. Your Elbows
Like knees, elbows rarely manage to hide from a soapy pair of hands. Ordinary soap and water remove everyday sweat and grime without much effort, so this isn't an area that needs complicated care either. Dry elbows can also benefit more from moisturizer than another round of vigorous exfoliating.
8. Your Cheeks
No, not those cheeks! We’re talking about what’s south of the equator. Like it or not, we all know how to wash that fleshy area, and it doesn’t take more than soap and water to make them sparkle (though not literally, of course).
9. Your Lower Legs
Luckily for us, soapy water reaches our lower legs without any planning, especially when we’re already washing our feet or shaving. Even if that wasn’t the case, our legs don't need intense daily scrubbing, and people with dry skin may find that using too much cleanser makes matters worse.
10. Your External Intimate Areas
Despite an enormous market for scented intimate washes, cleaning external areas doesn't need all that. Gentle washing with water and, where appropriate, a mild unscented cleanser is usually a smarter move than perfumes, deodorizing sprays, or harsh scrubbing.
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