25 personal hygiene tips you need to know now

Winner, would you like to get your hands on some of the BEST personal hygiene tips for a healthier you?

Then keep reading. Because this post has 25 tips to help you achieve exactly that.

Practicing good personal hygiene is an essential component of a successful lifestyle.

Because when you practice good personal hygiene, you tend to:

And guess what? These personal hygiene tips are very easy on your pocket. (Some of them are even free of charge!)

Now you can have the best personal hygiene AND save money!

Sold? Great! Because here’re:

25 personal hygiene tips that work like magic

Tip #1: Make your bed as soon as you get out of it

Making your bed not only tidies your room up.

But it also helps you control bed bugs (if any).

Remember to let your bedding air-dry outside at least once a week.

Winner, you’ll spend $0 to make your bed every morning.

Tip #2: Brush your teeth at least twice a day

And that’s in the morning. And before you go to bed at night.

Use a fluoride toothpaste that thoroughly cleans. And maintain a good quality toothbrush.

And when you brush, get in between your teeth.

And be sure to scrape your tongue.

For less than $2 you can get a good quality toothbrush. And I buy a month-worth of flouride toothpaste for less than $2.

Tip #3: Floss every day

Flossing might be a pain. Especially if your teeth are too close together (like mine).

But you’ll benefit from cultivating the habit of flossing.

Because it will help you keep clean teeth and gums between your dentist’s appointments.

And if your teeth are too closely packed, then don’t worry. You can use a water flosser.

A good quality dental floss will cost you as little as $5.

Tip #4: Bathe at least once a day

Bathing in the morning helps you start your day with freshness.

And at night, a bath washes off the germs your body accumulated all throughout the day. Relaxes your body. And gets you prepped for bed.

In my culture, we do take at least one bath a day.

Showering daily – is it necessary? Harvard Medical School best answers that.

You can get a good quality wash cloth for $1. (Or $0 by making your own wash cloth from a torn towel). And a bar of soap also for $1.

Tip #5: Exfoliate your skin

Exfoliating your skin takes your cleanliness to a whole new level. And that’s essentially because it removes dead skin cells from your body.

Which is why your body tends to glow after a good exfoliating session. (That’s a big plus).

I use my wash cloth to exfoliate my face.

And for the rest of my body, I use the pumice stone I hand-picked at the local dam. And a loofah.

These are just 3 of my most trusted 7 simple shower essentials.

You can get a pumice stone for $3.( I hand-picked mine from the river free of charge). And a loofah. (I make mine from fruit bags).

Tip #6: Put on clean underwear after every shower

Putting on dirty underwear after a bath is like rolling in mud right after getting cleaned up: it derails your good efforts.

So, put on fresh underwear after every shower.

And to ensure that you always have a fresh supply of underwear, wash your underwear after every shower.

For less than $10, you can get a set of 3 pairs of underwear.

Tip #7: Shave

Deodorant works more effectively on shaved armpits than on unshaved ones. (I know. Still difficult for some people to believe.)

I shave my armpits once a week.

But there’s no hard-fast-rule on how often you should shave your armpits.

But shaving doesn’t only go for your armpits. It also goes for any hairy areas that are just too problematic for you to keep up with the hair.

Only you can decide what you shave and what you don’t.

You can get a pack of razors for $4.

Tip #8: Put on some deodorant

Just a few hours of no deodorant can make my armpits smell, even a my great personal hygiene routine.

But your body odor can also depend on how sweaty you are, the foods you eat, and some underlying health factors, among many other things.

So, a deodorant might not always be the cure for body odor.

It’s always best to check in with your doctor if you experience some BO, despite an effective personal hygiene routine.

Cleveland Clinic has an extensive post on body odor. So, check it out.

How much will a stick or bottle of deodorant cost you? Less than $2.

Tip #9: Maintain clean feet

If the stench of smelly shoes grosses you out, then that’s enough motivation to keep your feet clean.

When you shower, wash thoroughly between your toes.

And then dry your feet completely before wearing shoes.

Additionally, if you struggle with sweaty feet, then wearing a pair of clean socks will help.

And if you can, slip your feet out of your shoes when you’re sitting, just to allow both your shoes and your feet to breathe.

For $6, you can get a good foot cream. Or spend $0 by using natural rememdies for your feet.

Tip #10: Maintain clean hair

Have a schedule for hair washes, especially if you wear long hair.

And then follow that schedule to the dot so that you hair smells and looks clean at all times.

Take charge by learning to wash your hair at home.

Washing my 4c natural hair used to be tricky. But now I’ve quite mastered that art.

A wash at the hair salon can cost you $3. Or you can wash yur hair at home (like I do) and save that $3.

Tip #11: Remove wax from your ears

If you stand close enough to someone from their side, you can actually spot wax in their ear.

Yes, that’s how obvious (and unsightly) ear wax can be.

So, clean the wax out of your ears regularly.

Invest in some oil to do so. (Not pen stoppers and/or bobby pins!)

You can spend $0 if you just use your olive oil from the kitchen.

Tip #12: Clip your nails

Toe nails are easy to neglect, especially if your wear closed shoes most of the time. (I know because I’ve neglected mine for a long time now).

But make sure to regularly check on them so you can clip when necessary.

Likewise, maintain your fingernails by:

• trimming them when necessary,

• fixing your manicure if you have any,

• not biting them.

A good quality nail cutter fit with a nail filer, will cost you less than $1.

Tip #13: Moisturize your skin

Avoid ashy-looking skin by putting on a good moisturizer.

I make my own body moisturizer using the aloe vera that grows in my backyard.

In warm weather, I prefer using light moisturizer.

And go heavy during the colder months.

Be especially generous with your moisturizer after exfoliating.

Here in my rural village, we make our body moisturizer from body lotion/cream and glycerin to a glow. A good body cream/lotion will cost you about $1.50. Glygcerin goes for less than a $1.

I make my own body moisturizer using the above the aloe vera that grows in my backyard.

Tip #14: Have clean clothes on all the time

Take laundry days seriously.

You don’t even need a washing machine.

You can do hand-wash your laundry like we do here in my rural village.

Additionally, press your clothes to remove all wrinkles.

Clean and pressed clothes, no matter how ordinary, will make you look put together at all times.

To ensure you always have clean clothes to wear, a 2kg bag of detergent will cost you almost $5. That’s enough. Any extra product is just that: an extra cost you don’t need.

You can further reduce your costs by hand-washing your own laundry.

Tip #15: Wash your bedding

Maintaining clean bedding will help keep germs at bay. And give you the restful sleep you need.

So, have a schedule for cleaning your bedding.

Remember to change your pillow cases often.

Here’s a simple hack I use to keep my bedding clean for longer:

I sleep in between sheets, not blankets. Because sheets are easier and less costly to change and wash than blankets.

To wash one blanket will cost you $10 at the laundromat. But you can wash your own bedding to save money.

Tip #16: Clean your house

At least once a week, target hard-to reach areas because this is where dirt tends to accumulate, giving off a stench.

Also, maintain a clutter-free home. So that you’re left with only a few stuff to keep clean.

Your house also include your pets and your kids, if you have any.

Cuddling with smelly loved ones will just derail your own personal hygiene.

When dealing with kids, teach them these personal hygiene tips.

Check out my post on how to clean your house, for how much your product and tools will cost you.

Tip #17: Wash your hands regularly

Definitely before touching any food. And after using the bathroom.

You don’t need anything fancy for this tip.

Just plain water and soap.

I bought a bottle of dishwashing liquid for a little over $1.5 for my house cleaning. And I use that for washing my hands because it’s gentler on the hands.

Tip #18: Flush the toilet

I know. This one seems like a no-brainer, but many people overlook it.

And some plainly forget to do it.

But do cultivate the habit of flushing your toilet after every number 2.

As for number 1, the trick we use to save water here in the village, is to flush after going a few times.

If you’re wise about when to flush your toilet, you can keep a clean toilet without having to spend all that much on your water bill.

Tip #19: Get enough restful sleep

Your body repairs itself when you sleep.

So, just by getting enough restful sleep, you can ward off ailments that threaten your personal hygiene.

Additionally, when you’re well-rested, you have enough energy to do everything else on this list.

Winner, let your body decide how much rest it needs.

But a habit worth cultivating if you want to get some restful sleep is going to bed at the same time every night.

That’s it. You don’t have to spend any money to do that.

Tip #20: Maintain a healthy body weight

A heavy body can be difficult to move around, let alone clean.

So, keep a healthy body weight.

That doesn’t mean being skinny.

Instead, it means embracing your body shape and weight, and then keeping it fit.

How? One sure way is by exercising. And you can definitely exercise on a tight budget. And spend $0.

Tip #21: Watch what you eat

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables because they are healthy for your overall health.

On the other hand, be wary of foods that emit a strong smell from your body like onions and garlic. (Although eating them in moderation will greatly benefit your health).

Winner, you can eat healthy on a tight budget by being clever on your grocery shopping. And growing your own food.

For example: by growing your own tomatoes, you can save the $1.50 it would take you to buy a 1kg bag of tomatoes at the grocery store. Not to mention, from those tomatoes alone, you’ll never have to buy any tomato seeds, ever again.

Tip #22: Drink healthy fluids

Healthy fluids help hydrate your body. And flush out toxins.

The internet tells of people who drink bottled water. And distilled water. I find that very privileged!

Here in my rural village, we drink plain tap water. And you know what? That’s still privileged!

Because in many other parts of Africa, my brothers and sisters actually kneel down at the river to drink water that has been thoroughly cleaned by running over stones.

In addition to water, I also drink aloe vera juice. And lemon water. (Because we have both aloe vera and lemon plants at home.)

If you have neither aloe vera nor lemon plants growing at home (I do,) you can opt to buy either one (not both) at the grocery store.

And 1 lemon fruit can cost about $0.25.

Tip #23: Invest in nice scents

Whether it’s a natural scent like herbs. Or an artificial scent like store-bought perfume, a nice scent adds flavor to your personal hygiene.

If it’s a store bought perfume, it doesn’t have to be expensive.

And remember to use only a small amount.

Too much of it will be suffocating for other people, not you. (Fortunately for you. Or unfortunately. Depending on how you look at it.)

Also, using it sparingly helps you stretch its usage, thereby saving you money in the long run.

In addition to my deodorant, I use a body spray that cost me about $1.50. And I’m planning to invest about $15 for a bottle of perfume to last me more than a year (if I manage to hide it from my mom).

Tip #24: Manage stress

Healthline says, yes, mental illness can impact your hygiene.

Essentially, too much stress puts your body at the risk of ailments.

Which make practicing personal hygiene difficult because your body is weak.

Or at the very least, you’re never in the mood for it.

So, do devise ways of dealing with stress.

My number one tip for managing stress is reaching out to others.

Simply because no matter the problem you’re facing right now, someone in your circle:

• has faced it in the past,

• is facing it now,

• knows someone in their circle who has faced it before.

Thankfully, Healthline also offers these 15 simple ways to relieve stress.

You know how best to relieve stress if you’re working with a tight budget (like I am)? Talk to your fellow human beings.

That’s right! The world has billions of other people surrounding you. You’ll find more than a handful of people in that group that you’ll feel safe confiding in.

And praying works wonders too.

Both for how much? $0 of course.

Tip #25: Treat ailments quickly

I know several gentlemen whose broken body parts rotted on their bodies because they wouldn’t go to the doctor on time.

That was not a winning move.

Winner, while you don’t need to be rushing to the doctor for even the slightest cold, you know when an ailment is getting serious. Trust me, you always know.

And that’s when you should go to the doctor.

If you go to a public clinic/hospital (like most of us do here), you can get medical attention for $0.

Even better, you can learn natural remedies to common ailments.

How to make these personal hygiene tips work

Carve a personal hygiene routine and stick to it.

The best way to turn these tips into habits for a successful lifestyle, is by doing them frequently in a consistent manner.

So that sooner or later, you do them with less conscious effort.

Know this: there’s no shame in admitting that practicing good personal hygiene doesn’t come easily to you.

After all, life happens. And there’ll be days when you still won’t feel like taking a bath. Or brushing your teeth.

The trick is to take things slow. And become more patient with yourself as you ease gradually into your personal hygiene routine without making any abrupt, big changes.

Because it’s the small, incremental habits that will stick. And make a big difference.

You’ll want to read these 18 tricks to make new habits stick.

Final word

Cultivating a habit of practicing a few basic personal hygiene tips around a consistent routine is instrumental to a successful lifestyle. And that’s because good personal hygiene helps you improve the quality of your life. The tips in this post will help you achieve exactly for very little money.

I hope you find these tips helpful. In that case, please share your thoughts by commenting.

Winner, your feedback can inspire another Winner out there to also elevate the quality of their lives by cultivating some personal hygiene tips.

Last but not least, remember that it’s your journey. So, there’s no rush. No right or wrong. Only progress.

Also, remember that in everything you do, you’re a Winner. And in everything that happens, you life is always a win!