21 Things You're Doing Wrong In The Bathroom

THERE ARE GERMS EVERYWHERE. Once you can accept that fact, we can move on.

1. You're not cleaning your toothbrush.

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Why: A study found that the average toothbrush contained about 10 million germs, including E. coli.

Try this instead: Once or twice a week, microwave your toothbrush for 10 seconds.

2. You’re flushing the toilet with the lid up.

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Why: When you flush the toilet bacteria sprays out up to 10 inches — covering everything in a fine layer of filth.

Try this instead: Put the toilet seat down before you flush. Seriously.

3. You're wasting water trying to find the right temperature.

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Why: A 10-minute shower can waste up to 42 gallons of water.

Try this instead: Once you find your ideal water temperature, mark where the knob is with a bright nail polish.

4. You're drying yourself off too vigorously.

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Why: Rubbing yourself dry with a towel can make dry skin worse and exacerbate other skin issues.

Try this instead: Gently pat yourself down with your towel post-shower, and if you're going to moisturize, moisturize before your skin is completely dry to lock in added moisture.

5. You're at risk for slipping.

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Why: Bathtubs, like most other things, are slippery when wet — 81% of injuries in bathrooms are caused by falling.

Try this instead: Slip-proof your shower with a kit.

6. You're using the wrong shampoo.

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Why: Sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate is the ingredient that helps shampoo lather and may be a culprit in causing dry, frizzy hair.

Try this instead: Try a sulfate-free shampoo, available at your local drugstore or online, like L'Oréal EverPure or Living Proof Full Shampoo.

7. You're flushing money down the drain in the form of razors.

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Why: Hasn't anyone told you money doesn't grow on trees? Extend the life of your razors by sharpening them.

Try this instead: Try this tip from Instructables by grabbing a pair of old jeans and run your razor up the pant leg about 15 times and down the pant leg 15 times — you'll keep your razors for longer and save dollars. This has been microscopically been proven to work.

8. You're rubbing your body with millions of gross dead skin cells.

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Why: Over a 24-hour period, you shed close to a million skin cells.

Try this instead: Let your loofah dry between uses, and once a week, clean it with a solution of water and bleach.

9. You're destroying your horny layer.

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Why: Your horny layer is the protective outermost layer of your skin, and over-exfoliation keeps it from doing its job.

Try this instead: Exfoliate twice a week or use a body wash with alpha hydroxy acid, which will target dead skin cells specifically and break them up.

10. You're letting your skin dry out.

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Why: Once skin is dry, it doesn't absorb moisture as well.

Try this instead: Apply lotion while your skin is still damp to lock in that moisture ASAP.

11. You're not peeing in the shower.

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Why: Urea, the main component of pee, has been shown to hydrate skin and stop itchiness. So, actually, pee is magical.

Try this instead: Embrace the urge and let it flow. Plus, you conserve water! In Brazil, an environmental group ran a whole campaign encouraging people to use the shower like a toilet (number one only).

12. You're using antibacterial soap.

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Why: A study by the University of Michigan states that antibacterial soap carries the risk of creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Try this instead: Use regular soap. According to the same study, regular soap works just as well as antibacterial soap at preventing illness.

13. You're washing your hands wrong.

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Why: Research concluded that if everyone washed their hands, we could prevent one million deaths a year. It also reduces diarrhea by 47%.

Try this instead: The CDC provides a handy guide to washing your hands, but some takeaways are always after the toilet and before you touch food.

14. You're not cleaning your filthy retainer.

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Why: According to researchers, mouth retainers are crawling with potentially harmful bacteria and fungi — like Candida, which causes yeast infections.

Try this instead: Wash your hands before and after you touch your retainer. Also, clean your retainer with a toothbrush and mouthwash.

15. You're not using your shower to steam your clothes.

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Why: Quit wasting time ironing your clothes separately.

Try this instead: Leave your clothes hanging up in the bathroom while you hop in the shower. They’ll be steamed and wrinkle-free by the time you're out.

16. You're over-shampooing.

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Why: Shampooing every day can dry your hair out because it strips your hair of its natural oils, which are needed to keep your hair healthy.

Try this instead: Some derms recommend shampooing two to three times a week. Rumor has it Prince Harry didn't wash his hair for two years. Or ditch shampoo and join the No Poo Movement.

17. Your laziness is turning your contacts case into a cesspool.

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Why: Almost 90% of contact lens cases are contaminated because we're nasty humans who top off the contact solution in the case rather than completely replacing the contents.

Try this instead: Dump it all out and refill your case with fresh solution like you're supposed to.

18. You're developing deodorant-immunity.

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Why: In the same way that bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics, you can also become immune to your antiperspirant of choice.

Try this instead: Switch it up every once in a while. Try a different brand every six months.

19. You’re leaving smears on the bathroom mirror.

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Why: Wiping the fog off with your hands or a towel streaks the mirror when it dries.

Try this instead: Try this tip and use a blow dryer on the mirror for a few seconds, or spray the mirror with very hot water. It evens out the temperature and the fog disappears.

20. You're letting your shower curtain attack you.

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Why: Every time you turn around to grab the soap, your shower curtain is clinging to your body.

Try this instead: Attach wooden or metal clothespins to the bottom of your shower curtain to weigh it down to keep it in its place/the friend zone.

21. You're leaving skid marks in the toilet.

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Why: We can’t always control what we leave behind.

Try this instead: Place a few sheets of toilet paper down in the toilet bowl before you use the bathroom. That way, no one else will ever have to know (or see) your business.

You're taking your bathroom for granted. It's a magical place.

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So treat it like one.