Do You Need To Clean Up Your Act?

Coronavirus made us all, shall we say, *super* aware of germs. Covering our sneezes and washing our hands is now De Rigueur... but what about the rest of your (sometimes-could be-cleaner) habits?

- Por Sarah Wassner Flynn

Ahh, sweet summertime, when you sleep in ’til whenever, spend sunny afternoons lounging at the beach (slathered in SPF, of course) and consider your occasional dip in the ocean a “bath” more often than you’d like to admit.

And, yeah, you’ve been known to fall into bed without brushing your teeth or washing your face and just maybe you’ve been wearing the same super cute one-piece suit without putting it in the laundry since, uh, whenever.

The truth is, the lazy days of summer can make *you* a bit lazy, too. And while it’s OK to skip that nightly shower here and there (after all, you’re just going to swim practice in the morning!), could other less-than-squeaky-clean habits actually make you ill? We turned to the experts to give us the deets on some of the grossest moves.

HOW BAD IS IT TO…

WEAR SOMETHING DIRTY?

MOSTLY BAD: Well, it depends. Pulling on worn-before sundresses, loose tanks and tees isn’t such a bad habit, but you definitely want to keep anything you’ve sweat in (sports bra, running shorts, yoga pants) stashed in your hamper. Why? Bacteria from your body can fester in your clothes and multiply when the material’s damp. And while the bacteria is mostly harmless, re-wearing something you sweat in puts you at risk for picking up icky infections or acne. No thanks. Just in case you find yourself in a bind and can’t wash your gear between workouts, be sure to do a quick rinse-out in the sink and hang it up to dry, which can reduce the growth of bacteria.