11 Hygiene Habits From Around the World That Americans Need to Adopt
Americans value cleanliness, but we might not be as hygienic as we think. These hygiene practices from around the world could inspire us to improve our routines. Plus, it might be time to ease up on the soap, which we explore at the end of this article.
1: Toilet in the Bathroom
In America, the toilet is in the bathroom without fail, but that’s not the case in some other parts of the world. In France, for example, the toilet often gets its own room, separate from the rest of the bathroom in which you get ready. Flushing a toilet releases aerosols that can spread infectious diseases and fecal-produced pathogens.
2: Hand Washing
A recent YouGov survey showed 38% of Americans don’t wash their hands every time they use the bathroom. Interestingly, a survey by the global hygiene company SCA showed that 80% of Americans think they wash their hands enough.
3: A Not-So-Clean Shower
A surprising number of Americans urinate in the shower (62%). Interestingly, the percentage increases with income level, and those who make more than $80,000 are more likely to partake in this habit than those who make less.
4: In the Pool
Most Americans are taught not to urinate in the pool from their very first swimming lesson. However, despite this instruction, a surprising 36% of swimmers admit to engaging in this behavior. While chlorine effectively neutralizes harmful substances, this habit remains a concerning hygiene issue that many Americans are unaware is prevalent.
5: Bathe Daily or Not
Good hygiene usually means bathing daily, but according to a YouGov study, about a third of Americans don’t. Those who do shower every day are more likely to live in hot and humid southern states.
6: Nose Picking
You might think only kids pick their noses, but almost half of American men and a third of American women admit they sometimes indulge in this bad habit. Picking your nose can spread bacteria and even cause a nasal tract infection.
7: No Bidets
Bidets are common in much of the world, and the idea of toilet paper is unsanitary. But American plumbing often features lower water pressure and cooler water temperatures, which makes it hard for bidets to work effectively. And, let’s face it: Americans are accustomed to using toilet paper.
8: Spitting
Over a third of Americans (35%) admitted to spitting in the street, according to a YouGov study. In other countries, like Singapore, such behavior could land you a $1,000 fine.
9: Wearing Shoes Indoors
In many Asian cultures, wearing your outside shoes inside is frowned upon. But, in the U.S. many people wear their shoes inside, tracking in all sorts of dirt and bacteria from the sidewalk to their living room.
10: Bathing Before Bed
Many Americans choose to shower in the morning before work, and fewer partake in evening bath rituals. But in other countries, like Japan, bathing before bed is seen as more hygienic. It may even lead to better sleep.
11: Sleeping With Pets
An American Academy of Sleep Medicine study found almost half of Americans sleep with their family pet in their bed. Animals can carry bacteria, viruses, and dirt. They also make for worse sleep in many cases, but that doesn’t deter pet-loving Americans.
Hygiene Is Cultural
Although we often think of hygiene standards as set in stone, they vary greatly from culture to culture. What passes for good hygiene in America wouldn’t pass in many other countries, and vice versa.
While most countries value personal hygiene and cleanliness, what they mean by those terms differs. This can create problems when it comes to travel and preventing the spread of disease.
Dirty Tourists
Tourists often face hygiene dilemmas when visiting foreign soil since what passes for good hygiene in their country may not be acceptable. For example, Americans visiting Japan might be surprised when they’re asked to remove their shoes before entering a residence.
China’s Instruction Guide
In the interest of preventing tourist mishaps, China issued an instruction manual to citizens traveling abroad. In it, it noted that picking one’s nose is frowned upon.
Disease Spread
In some cases, cultural hygiene habits have made it difficult to stop the spreading of disease. For example, traditional funeral practices in Guinea involve touching the corpse. That’s viewed as unhygienic in many cultures, and this practice has even led to the transmission of Ebola.
Perception vs Reality
Of course, in many cases, what one culture perceives as unclean or unhygienic really isn’t. Often, our perception doesn’t match up with reality.
For example, in Hindu culture, washing hands with soap isn’t encouraged as soap can contain animal fat. Instead, Hindus scrub their hands with ash, then rinse. Scientific studies show the practice is just as effective as using soap, though many Americans might not see it that way.
Origins of Hygiene
Given that each culture has unique hygiene practices, it’s reasonable to ask where hygiene stems from. One study that looked at 56 different nations found hygiene standards were more strict in countries that valued self-control. They were also more strict in cultures that had stringent norms against violence. This may mean that as countries develop and become more civilized, strict hygiene standards are prone to follow.
High Disease Rates
The study also found that certain hygiene standards were more likely to be present when disease rates were high. This means that hygiene standards also emerge in the face of illness.
Hygiene in the US
In America, some hygiene standards, like our love of soap and water, came to be during the Civil War. When the Army’s Sanitary Commission found soap and water could decrease military mortality, using both became an act of patriotism.
Marketing Cleanliness
In the 19th century, Americans’ love for being clean skyrocketed, thanks to the birth of body wash and the many advertisements that promoted it. Marketers played on Americans’ fear of offending their neighbors through body odors, and mouthwash and deodorant took off too.
The Over Clean Culture
Unfortunately, Americans’ passion for cleanliness may have gone too far. The use of soaps, antibacterials, and sanitizing agents may be the cause of increasing allergies in American children.
14 Things Americans Realize as They Get Older
Some people fear aging, but at least one good thing often comes with it: The wisdom not to do things that sound like a good idea but aren’t. These are some of the valuable lessons many Americans have learned once they have several decades under their belts.
14 Things Americans Realize as They Get Older
50 Weirdest Laws in Each State
American hygiene standards seem standard to most citizens, but these laws don’t. Did you know you could be breaking the law by making a face at your dog? These are the weirdest laws in each state, most of which courts don’t enforce.
