8 Things You're Not Washing Nearly Enough

Makeup brushes

If you only have a few minutes to apply makeup before you rush out the door in the morning, you may let yourself ignore the cakey buildup of foundation on the end of your brushes. But these beauty tools aren’t just good at picking up product. “Makeup brushes pick up skin bacteria as well as oil and dead cells that help harbour those germs,” says dermatologist Dr Cynthia Bailey. And eventually, you’ll start seeing the effects of having petri dishes for makeup brushes when you look in the mirror, from skin irritations to major breakouts.

How bad is it really?:Researchers found that bacteria builds up fast in makeup brushes, doubling in number within the first two weeks. That amount of bacteria easily leads to clogged pores, blemishes and some seriously nasty acne. (Plus, if your brushes are full of leftover product, you won’t be able to apply makeup as evenly.) Cleaning your brushes more often should be a no-brainer, right? But according to that same study’s survey, 72% of makeup users don’t regularly wash their brushes, which isn’t nearly often enough to keep skin looking and feeling healthy.

“In general, makeup brushes should be washed every two to four weeks,” says Bailey. She recommends filling a large cup with water at room temperature, adding a small squirt of fragrance-free shampoo, then swishing brushes in the soapy water for about 30 seconds. Rinse them with water, then allow them to dry overnight on a clean towel.

Bedding

The last thing you probably want to think about after you’ve crawled into bed after a long day is how many germs may be hanging out under the covers with you. But if it’s been awhile since your bedding has visited the washing machine, you may want to brace yourself. Studies show that humans produce 100L of sweat in bed per year, and that kind of warm moisture turns beds into bacteria- and fungal-growing hotspots. Not only that, but bedding is also home to countless bacteria from body excretions and oils, animal dander, pollen and even food particles (if you’re the type of person who likes to snack in bed).

How bad is it really?: If you suffer from allergies or are sensitive to dust mites, unwashed bedding may only be making your symptoms worse. “Studies have shown that many people wash bedding and pillowcases only once or twice a month at most,” says Dr Dena Nader. “The reality is, though, that in order to prevent bacteria growth, bedding should be washed every week at minimum.” This may seem like a huge chore to add to your weekend to-do list, but Nader suggests a way to change your mindset. “Most people do laundry once a week already, so it might be helpful to simply add one extra load to your usual routine for bedding.”

More incentive: A germy pillowcase can also cause you to break out. What's the use of washing your face diligently every night before bed if you're going to rest it on a bacteria-ridden surface? That goes for your sheets, too, since germs can lead to acne or infections other places on your body.

Mobile phone

If you’re like most people, you probably keep your phone at your side, day and night, including on the toilet! (Hey, there’s no shame in checking Twitter during bathroom breaks.) What may not be top of mind is how often you’re touching your phone with less-than-clean hands. “Phones are an extension of your hands and you need to think about the surface of your phone as something that can spread germs,” says Bailey.

How bad is it really?: Probably the worst-case scenario of a germy mobile phone was back in 2012 when a Ugandan man contracted Ebola from a cell phone stolen from a quarantined hospital. Although your phone is very unlikely to harbour Ebola, a mobile phone can carry 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat—and some of those bacteria can be pretty nasty. “Your hands can pick up staph aureus (impetigo germ) from surfaces like handrails, handshakes, and elevator buttons," says Bailey. "Cold and flu germs travel this way, too." Plus, like pillowcases, a dirty cellphone can make your face break out. Bailey suggests cleaning your phone daily with a slightly damp microfibre cloth or screen wipe. “Keyboards are the same!” she adds.

Water bottle

Keeping a reusable water bottle at your desk is a great way to stay hydrated throughout the day. Plus, it’s way better for the planet than the disposable ones made from flimsy plastic. If you’re just filling your bottle with water, you may not think you have to clean it more than once every now and again, because water, fresh from the tap or filter, is totally clean, right? Well, every time you reach for a swig, you’re sipping moisture-loving bacteria, too. The water itself isn’t to blame here, though—it’s your mouth.

One study sampled water from over 70 unwashed water bottles and found high levels of fecal bacteria and mould microorganisms. Those germs get introduced to the lid of your water bottle from your mouth, and once there, they continue to grow and fester. While not all bacteria is harmful, the study did find that more than 60% of the water bottle bacteria could cause illnesses like E. coli and strep.

How bad is it really?: You probably won’t end up in the hospital due to a dirty water bottle, but it may prevent you from recovering from an illness (or get you sick again). Make sure you dump out leftover water instead of letting it sit, and wash your water bottle out every day with soap and hot water.

Underwear

There are some people who religiously put on a clean pair of underwear every morning, and then there are some people who don’t. If you happen to fall in the second group, you may want to reevaluate your routine. “Underpants accumulate sweat, germs and secretions, not to mention occasional fecal material," says Bailey. "It’s not a pretty subject to discuss, but underpants as well as the skin require daily hygiene." But make sure you're stopping bacteria in its track when you throw underwear into your washing machine. In one study, researchers tested cotton fabrics for bacteria before and after they were put through a washing machine, and found almost no difference in the amount. Heat is what kills the really nasty stuff, like staph aureus, so use very hot water. (The same study's researchers found water at 60 degrees Celsius is your best bet.) And if you’re wearing the same pair of undies for several days, things can get, well, itchy, and itchiness leads to scratching which leads to skin irritations or infections, such as a bacterial or yeast infection, or a UTI.

How bad is it really?: “The buttocks and genital area harbour many microbes that can include at minimum staph aureus—fecal germs that cause illness and skin infection,” says Bailey. “You can also end up with fungi that causes jock itch, whether you’re a man or woman.” Most experts suggest using hot water in your washing machine’s cycle to make sure any potentially harmful bacteria are killed. Additionally, when you wash your underwear, Bailey suggests using hypoallergenic, fragrance-free laundry soap to avoid potential allergic rashes. “If detergent residue, fragrance or fabric softener is left in the underwear fabric, it can be transferred to the skin, which can then become irritated,” she says.

Kitchen sponges

You’ve probably heard by now that the kitchen sponge sitting innocently next to your sink is harbouring some of the biggest, baddest bacteria in your entire home. In fact, a 2017 study found 362 different species of bacteria living on a kitchen sponge, with a density of 45 billion per square centimetre. That level of germiness is seriously mind-boggling, and according to one of the study’s researchers, it’s hard to find that much densely packed bacteria anywhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, even if you throw your kitchen sponge in the microwave every few weeks or so, you’ll only make a dent in the bacteria colonies.

How bad is it really?: Although you may never look at your kitchen sponge the same way again, the majority of the truly dangerous bacteria that live on it can be killed with heat. Just using hot, soapy water won’t do the trick, though. (In fact, it will only encourage more bacteria to grow!) “Kitchen sponges really are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria,” Nader says. “The best practice is replacing your sponges regularly, as often as once a week.” To make your sponges less germ-infested, Nader suggests you throw your sponge in the dishwasher or microwave them for 30 seconds. Do this every three to five days to bust bacteria, but know that you should still toss the sponge after a week. A more eco-friendly option: Use a microfibre cloth, which you can wash regularly to avoid bacteria buildup and save money in the long run.

Yoga mats

Even if you’re not sweating it out in weekly hot yoga classes, your yoga mat may still be collecting an impressive colony of germs thanks to a combination of porous material and your bare feet and hands. If you tend to rely on the community yoga mats at your local studio rather than bringing your own, you’re only increasing your risk of picking up something nasty. Some podiatrists say that they’ve noticed an uptick in yoga-loving patients who come in complaining of plantar warts, rashes and other skin problems.

How bad is it really?: “The main pathogen on yoga mats you need to worry about are staph aureus, strep (which can cause skin infections) and the types of fungus that cause athlete’s foot and ring worm,” says Bailey. While the majority of what you could potentially pick up from a yoga mat isn’t life-threatening, it’s definitely best practice to always bring your own mat to the studio or gym, and make sure you wash it with between uses with an antibacterial spray. (Relying on soap and water alone probably won’t do the trick.) Moisture is a germ’s best friend, though, so make sure your mat gets a chance to completely dry after you’ve cleaned it.

Bath towels

If you’re reusing the same bath towel over and over again to dry yourself off, you may as well not be showering at all. One of the main reasons that bacteria love bath towels is because of the moisture that tends to linger on them, thanks to the regular humidity of bathrooms. Without moisture, bacteria have difficulty growing and forming colonies. One 2013 study found traces of E. coli on approximately 25% of bathroom towels. And if you share your bath towel with another person, you’re introducing organisms to your body that it isn’t used to dealing with, which can lead to skin irritations. (Is there scary bacteria in your showerhead making you sick?)

How bad is it really?: Although bath towels do harbor bacteria that can grow over time, you don’t necessarily need to wash your bath towel after every use, depending on what your day-to-day is like. Says Nader: “Bath towels can typically be used up to three or four times before they need to be washed.” Bailey suggests washing at least weekly, but "more if the towel is not allowed to dry between each use." For instance, if you workout regularly and shower multiple times per day.