Traveling hygiene tips and tricks are available everywhere but do you really follow them? When you go out there as a traveler, there’s only one thing that can keep you happy – your health. So, next time when you’re on a trip, follow these travel hygiene tips and stay clean, fresh and healthy. You don’t need to buy an expensive traveling hygiene kit to maintain your hygiene. You can enjoy cleanliness even on a budget.
Board Healthy
Your immune system works like a shield for your inner body as it fights off germs. Stay hydrated. Water plays a major role in maintaining cleanliness. It keeps your respiratory tract wet. Drink plenty of water, and before you take a flight or a road trip, make sure you have slept well. Lack of sleep causes stress. It makes your immune system less protective against germs. As a result, people who sleep less get more infections than those who get enough sleep.
If you’re not keeping well but can’t avoid travel, be more careful about what you touch and what you eat. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor before traveling. If you have a serious health condition, carry your prescribed medicines and use a surgical face mask. You might say that there are many fashionable and trendy face masks available online so why to wear an ugly-looking surgical face mask. The truth is, those so-called face masks are inefficient and useless. Your safety is more important than fashion trends, so keep the right things in your traveling hygiene kit.
Keep your hands clean
It’s a no-brainer. We all keep our hands clean and wash them before every meal but this is not enough if you’re traveling. On a plane, who knows how many people have used the same seat before you. The cleaning staff cleans the surface well. But they may not be able to clean non-removable seat cushions. Wash your hands after touching the seat cushion and other fabrics. Simple hand wash or a hand sanitizer can keep you away from germs. Your clothes can protect you by working as a barrier between the seat cushion and your body. Once after you reach your destination, change your clothes. If possible, don’t wear them again without washing.
Keep your nails short to make sure that you’re not giving shelter to bacteria and dirt. If you don’t want to cut your long nails, make sure keeping them clean. If availability of water is an issue, use alcohol-based skin sanitizer gel. Carry a pack of tissues papers and small paper towels to keep your hands dry.
Eliminate bacteria to keep your feet stink-free
Do your feet stink to high heaven? It’s natural and it usually happens when you travel for a long time. Your shoes bear a lot of moisture and heat. That’s the reason the bacteria that live on your skin produce an acid that stinks. The bacteria survive by eating your sweat. You can reduce these bacteria by reducing the moisture on your feet. To do so, you can soak your feet in salt water for 15-20 minutes every day. Do this for a week or two to get better results. You can also use a mixture of water and vinegar and use it once a week.
When choosing socks and shoes, choose the right material. Your socks should not trap moisture and sweat around your feet. Fabric like cotton can help your feet breathe. The best thing you can do to avoid smelly feet is, wash them. If you’re on a long flight, keep an extra pair of socks.
Pack a traveling hygiene kit
Precautions are never enough, particularly when you’re traveling. Carry a traveling hygiene kit and here’s what you must pack in your travel bag. Carry an antibiotic cream, a hand sanitizer, a bar soap or paper soap and tissue papers to keep your hands clean. Additionally, you can carry antiseptic powder, wound closure, and adhesive bandages.
Diarrhea, Malaria, and Hepatitis are some of the health issues that occur more when you travel. Try to avoid drinking tap water in other countries, particularly in developing countries. If packaged drinking water is not available, drink boiled water. Parasitic diseases are common among travelers which can be fatal.
Eat and drink safely
If you’re unprepared, traveling hygiene can seem tedious. When traveling, it’s important to eat and drink safely. No matter how pleasant something looks or tastes, always avoid high-risk food. For that, you don’t need to have in-depth knowledge of food items. Follow these food safety tips to avoid problems.
Don’t settle for low-quality food even if it costs you less. Eat at restaurants that are known by other tourists. Before you order, check the cleanliness of the place. Eat well-cooked, hot food items. Avoid buying food from street vendors if they do not maintain hygiene. Also, remember that paying more doesn’t guarantee best quality foods. So, check everything before you eat.
When you feel dirty, work out
As a traveler, you might also want to look clean not only from the outside but from the inside as well. Your mental and physical well-being matters a lot when you travel. If you take a few minutes and focus only on yourself every day, it will help you to keep your energy up while traveling and you will feel better
If you’re walking on greens, sitting in your hotel room, or sitting on a beach, workouts can be helpful. Take some time to enjoy light exercise. Eat fresh fruits, vegetables, and check your weight. If you’re seeing some unpleasant changes in your health, consult with a physician. You can take vitamins to help your body get the nutrients you’re lacking due to sudden changes in water and diet.
Anything that helps you feel better and more energetic, allows you to keep your body in shape. It also helps you keep your mind clear. Travel can be challenging for mental and physical well-being. If you’re not taking care of yourself or maintaining hygiene, you will lose the joy of traveling.
Use public toilets safely
You can’t avoid using toilets, but you can maintain your hygiene. Use clean and well-maintained toilets. Don’t touch anything if you don’t have to, not even the walls. In countries like India, you may not see toilet papers. In such places, you may have to rely on water. Make sure carrying toilet paper with yourself, in case the place you’re using doesn’t provide these things.
Even if you’re taking shower in your hotel, wear flip-flops in the bathroom. Try to use the ones you have carried, and avoid using the pair provided by the hotel. To protect your feet from a fungal infection, don’t go barefoot in the bathroom.
Image Credit: adventure-north
