Stay Hygienic: Keeping Your Grooming Utensils Clean

We all have our daily routine when it comes to personal hygiene and grooming. Without our regular morning rituals, the rest of the day just wouldn’t feel right.

But, although we rely on our toothbrushes and razors to keep us clean and looking presentable, we often take their cleanliness for granted. We naturally associate our grooming tools with hygiene, and many of us might never stop to think about the build-up of dirt or bacteria on these items, and how we might be re-applying this bacteria to our bodies.

When skin or gum tissue comes into contact with certain bacteria, this can in some cases lead to irritation and even infection, requiring antibiotic treatment – so it’s always important to keep the state of your grooming tools in mind:

Toothbrushes 

Dried saliva and toothpaste residue can harbour bacteria, so after brushing your teeth, ensure you rinse your toothbrush thoroughly to remove any stray bits of debris. A lot of people focus on cleaning the head of their toothbrush, but neglect to clean the neck – however, it’s important to do this as the neck still comes into regular contact with your lips and mouth.

Electric Razors

Electric razors are intricate machines with lots of nooks and crannies, making them a breeding ground for bacteria. Where possible, ensure you regularly dismantle yours (after powering off and disconnecting from the mains, naturally), and clean the individual parts with a suitable cleaning product to remove any build-up.

Combs and Brushes

It goes without saying that brushing or combing our hair with the same implement every day can present a bacteria risk, as many of us use them on unwashed as well as freshly-washed hair. So, be sure to clean your combs and brushes regularly with hot water and shampoo. If you have some particularly stubborn chunks clinging to your brush, try soaking it in a cup of hot water and shampoo for a couple of hours.

Straighteners and Curling Tongs

Again, we use these implements on dirty as well as clean hair, and frizz-reducing products can often leave a residue on the heated areas. To clean, first switch your straightening or curling tool off and unplug. Once it has sufficiently cooled, use a damp cloth and an iron cleaning solution to sanitise the area. You might use a cotton bud to get into those more difficult, hard-to-reach corners.

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