10 Suprising Hygiene Myths You Need to Know
The world is full of ‘old wives’ tales’—urban legends and stories passed down from generation to generation, often with little to no evidence to support their claims. Hygiene is no exception. In today’s hyper-connected world, opinions abound on everything from soap types to shower frequency. In this article, we separate hygiene myths from hygiene facts.
Hygiene Myths vs Facts
1
MYTH – The toilet seat/bowl is the dirtiest place in your home
FACT – This may be upsetting but the toilet bowl isn’t even on the top 10 list of dirtiest places or things in your house. This list includes:
- Kitchen sponges/ wash clothes and the sink where they are kept
- Cutting boards
- Refrigerators
- Countertops
- Faucet screen
- Bed linens
- Electronics – remote controls, computer accessories, earbuds, etc.
- Upholstered Furniture
- Walls
- Baseboards
The toilet bowl may seem like the dirtiest spot, but it’s often cleaned more regularly than these items, keeping its bacteria count relatively low.
2
MYTH – Washing hands with soap and water kills germs
FACT – Another upsetting truth, soap doesn’t kill germs. Instead, soap reduces the surface tension between the skin and the germs allowing them to be washed off easier in water.
3
MYTH – Hot water cleans your hands better than warm water
FACT – Scientists have found that cold water works as well as hot or warm in pathogen reduction. In fact, due to the energy required to heat water1, washing hands in cold water not only cleans your hands but is also environmentally friendly.
4
MYTH – Washing hands with soap and water kills germs
FACT – Another upsetting truth, soap doesn’t kill germs. Instead, soap reduces the surface tension between the skin and the germs allowing them to be washed off easier in water.
5
MYTH – It’s best to shower every day
FACT – While daily showers are a common routine staple they are not necessary to maintain hygiene or health. In fact, daily showers could damage skin and hair follicles2 as they wash away the natural oils and good bacteria that protect from dryness and germs.
6
MYTH – Charcoal toothpaste is superior
FACT – Charcoal toothpaste can be harmful to both your teeth and gums. Its abrasive texture can wear away the protective enamel3 and irritate the gums. As the enamel erodes, the underlying dentin, a hard yellowish layer, becomes exposed. So, even though charcoal toothpaste is advertised as a whitening product, frequent use may actually cause your teeth to look more yellow over time.
7
MYTH – Sleeping with wet hair will cause a cold
FACT – Sleeping with wet hair will only cause a wet pillow, potentially messy hair in the morning, and a pillowcase that smells like your shampoo. Colds are caused by coming in contact with a virus. Wet hair does not attract viruses. So if you prefer showering before bed and sleeping with wet hair, then by all means. On a similar note, being outside in the cold with wet hair also does not cause a cold – for the same reason.
8
MYTH – Cracking your knuckles will cause arthritis
FACT – Studies have found that habitually cracking your knuckles does not put you at a greater risk for arthritis4. The popping sound you hear is caused by nitrogen bubbles bursting in the synovial fluid5 – fluid in your joints that lubricates and protects them. The pop is not caused by the joints moving in a way that is causing damage.
9
MYTH – Gum stays in your stomach for 7 years
FACT – We all heard this one as a kid, and it is indeed false. Gum is not digestible and it does not stick to the wall of your stomach or intestinal tract. Gum, like every insoluble food such as fiber or corn, will pass through the digestive tract and be eliminated as waste within a few days.
10
MYTH – Shaved hair grows back thicker and darker
FACT – Shaved hair grows back the same color and thickness as the original hair. It may appear darker because it has not been exposed to sun or beauty and hygiene products but it is not actually darker or thicker. The act of shaving does not alter the genetic makeup of the hair.
Bonus- The Most Controversial Hygiene Question
Should you wash your legs?
The world may never see eye to eye on this controversial question.
The truth is, there is no scientific evidence proving that washing your legs is either beneficial or harmful. So, whether or not you should wash them comes down to personal preference. If you feel the need to wash your legs, go ahead. If not, it’s fine to skip it. However, if there is visible dirt on your legs, it’s generally a good idea to wash it off with soap and water.
Fact vs Folklore
Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. Always do your own independent research. Make a habit of questioning everything and become an expert fact-checker. Many times the things we “know” are just things we’ve heard from others. “Facts” passed down from one generation to the next that are believed to be true but in reality, many times are entirely false.
How to Find the Facts
When conducting independent research, one of the best ways to uncover accurate information is by typing your question into a search engine, followed by the term “scientific article.” This will help you find relevant studies on the topic. As you review the articles, be sure to thoroughly evaluate their credibility. A quality study will disclose its funding sources and any potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, check who is acknowledged for contributing to the study. This information is typically found near the bottom of the article, just before the references section.
These notes are important because they help rule out potential bias in a study. For example, if you’re researching whether certain ingredients in X brand shampoo are harmful and come across a study claiming those ingredients haven’t been proven to cause significant damage—but the study is funded by the company that owns X brand shampoo—that’s a red flag. The study is likely biased and may have been designed to produce favorable results for the shampoo brand. Make a habit of questioning everything, question the “facts”, question the studies, question it all. An inquisitive mind is one that cannot be fooled.
Supporting Research
- Carrico AR, Spoden M, Wallston KA, Vandenbergh MP. The Environmental Cost of Misinformation: Why the Recommendation to Use Elevated Temperatures for Handwashing is Problematic. Int J Consum Stud. 2013 Jul 1;37(4):433-441. doi: 10.1111/ijcs.12012. PMID: 23814480; PMCID: PMC3692566. ↩︎
- The Shower Debacle: How to Maintain Hygiene Without Overwashing. Human Health Co. (2024, September 14). https://humanhealthco.com/the-shower-debacle-how-to-maintain-hygiene-without-overwashing/ ↩︎
- Palandi SDS, Kury M, Picolo MZD, Coelho CSS, Cavalli V. Effects of activated charcoal powder combined with toothpastes on enamel color change and surface properties. J Esthet Restor Dent. 2020 Dec;32(8):783-790. doi: 10.1111/jerd.12646. Epub 2020 Aug 22. PMID: 32827227. ↩︎
- Castellanos J, Axelrod D. Effect of habitual knuckle cracking on hand function. Ann Rheum Dis. 1990 May;49(5):308-9. doi: 10.1136/ard.49.5.308. PMID: 2344210; PMCID: PMC1004074. ↩︎
- Beswick, K. (2018, August 13). Ask a doc: Is knuckle cracking bad?. Cedars Sinai. https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/ask-a-doc-is-knuckle-cracking-bad.html ↩︎
