When bathing, it is easy to focus on the obvious parts of your body, but some areas need special attention because they’re often forgotten. Neglecting these areas can lead to hygiene issues and sometimes, skin problems. To ensure a thorough clean, pay extra attention to these 8 body parts in order not to miss them while bathing:
1. Belly Button
The belly button is one of the most neglected areas during bathing. Interestingly, most people remember to wash their stomachs but tend to gloss over the belly button as if it doesn’t exist. In reality, it is a part of the body that needs utmost care and attention.
Not cleaning the belly button can lead to sweat and dirt buildup, causing it to smell bad or, worse, become infected.
To clean your belly button, take a clean, soft piece of cloth, dip it into a mixture of soap and water, and gently wipe the inside or surface of your belly button, depending on whether yours is an innie (located inside) or an outie (located on the surface)
Healthline recommends you clean your belly button at least once a week.
2. Neck
Your neck deserves as much attention as your face. It’s easy to wash your face and forget about the neck, but this area can accumulate dirt and sweat, leading to darkened, unpleasant-looking skin.
Treat your neck as an extension of your face. A tip to help you remember to wash your neck is to rub soap on both your face and neck as soon as you enter the shower.
3. Middle of the Back
The middle of your back is notoriously difficult to reach, which can result in missed spots during your shower. To ensure your back is well-cleaned, try this method:
Hold a sponge in one hand, reach over your shoulder with the other, and move the sponge in a crisscross pattern across your back. This technique allows you to clean hard-to-reach areas without straining.
4. The Outer Ear
Although close to the face, the ear is also one part of the body that doesn’t get enough attention, making it the ideal dance floor for bacteria.
To ensure you don’t forget to clean them, make your ear your next stop after washing your face.
5. Heels
The heels of your feet are prone to cracking, infections, and dead skin buildup if not washed regularly. Make it a habit to scrub your heels during your bath to prevent these issues. A pumice stone or foot scrubber can also help remove dead skin cells.
6. Between the Toes
While most people remember to wash their feet, the spaces between the toes are often overlooked. These areas can harbor bacteria and dirt, leading to unpleasant odours and infections.
Make sure to clean between your toes with soap and water to maintain proper foot hygiene.
7. Armpits
The armpit is a part of the body that must be washed daily, especially because it gathers a lot of sweat. When this sweat is left unwashed, the armpit starts to feel itchy and emits a bad smell over time. Just running water over it is not enough. You need to cleanse the area with soap to remove sweat and dirt effectively.
8. Between the Buttocks
One of the most important areas to clean when bathing is between the buttocks. This area can accumulate sweat and dirt, leading to irritation, among other things.
Cleaning between the butt cheeks isn’t just necessary after using the restroom; you also need to wash it with soap and water during your bath to get rid of any dirt caused by sweat and other factors.
