Hygiene banner
illustration of young girl taking a bath, washing hands and brushing teeth

Wash your hands, body, and hair

Hygiene matter for your health and for being close with others. It is good to keep your body clean to keep away infections and other skin trouble. When you keep clean, you smell better and other will not mind being near you. It matters when you are at school, at work and when you are with others. 

Keep clean and look your best! 

Video

Watch this video on hygiene.

It sings about all the parts of hygiene.

Find the right routine for you to keep healthy.

Can you think of other reasons to was your hands?

The song is from Flocabulary Rigor and Rhythm in Action.

a person dries their hands on a towel with assistance from a caregiver

Steps for washing your hands

  1. Wet your hands under running water.
  2. Put soap on your wet hands.
  3. Wash your hands for 20 seconds. Don't forget to scrub between your fingers, under your nails, and the tops of your hands. 
  4. Rinse your hands well under the water so all the soap and dirt comes off. 
  5. Dry your hands with a dryer or paper towel. 
  6. Turn the water off with your paper towel. 

Click on the blue button and check out this video.

Nyasha Derera a Special Olympics Global Health Messenger shows you the six steps.

Proper Hand Washing Techniques

Video

Watch this video from the New York Office for People with Developmental Disabilities

It shows you how to wash each part of your hands.

Bathing or showering

Most people need to do a clean-up daily.

You may pick that you prefer to bath or to shower.

You may just wash up at the sink.

Some people take a combo shower and bath.


Check out the links below by clicking the blue buttons.

The first on baths is an 8-minute video.

The second is a 7 1/2-minute video on showers.

They were made by the Autism Connection of Pennsylvania.

How to take a bath

How to take a shower

  • Check if anything needs to be moved out of the tub or shower or sink. 

  • Check the drain and floor to see if it is clean. You may want stand on a non-slip bathmat.

  • Get everything ready that you will need – towel, soap, washcloth, shampoo, conditioner and maybe a razor. 

  • Turn on the water to the temperature you like. Wait long enough to know the temperature is steady. 

  • Be careful getting in and out of the tub or shower. Wet floors and tubs are slippery.

  • Wet yourself.

    • Clean your body with soap from the top down. 

    • 1. Face and ears   6. Back

    • 2. Neck 7. Legs

    • 3. Chest 8. Feet

    • 4. Arms 9. Privates

    • 5. Armpits 10. Bottom 

  • Rinse off. Move around to rinse all your body.

  • You may plan to also shampoo and condition your hair and then rinse again.

  • Step onto a dry bathmat to prevent falling. Turn off the water. 

  • Dry off from your head down to your feet.

Trim your hair and nails

In general, fingernails and toenails should be cut about every 2 weeks. Shaving legs, armpits or face is up to you. Talk about the reasons why you might want to shave or why you might not want to shave with a trusted person. If you shave, set up a way to remind yourself to do so. You may choose to shave your face every day or a few times a week. 

  • Electric razors are easier to use with less risk of cutting. They do make a buzzing feeling. 
  • Don’t share razors. Just one person should use each razor.
  • Check razors for chips or rust on the blades before using them.
  • Wash the area to be shaved first.
  • Be careful to keep electric razors away from the water.
  • Check the skin on the area you plan to shave. Make sure there is no skin irritation before you shave. 
  • Apply cream or soap if desired.
  • Rinse the razor after every few strokes to clean off hair or shaving cream.
  • In general, shave in the direction that the hair grows.
  • Check to see if you took off all the hair you wanted to shave. 
    •  Look in the mirror.  Feel with your hand. 
  • Sometimes you may get a little cut or nick. If you get a nick, apply slight pressure with a tissue to stop the bleeding. 
  • Apply aftershave or lotion when you are done if you wish. 
  • Razors should be cleaned after each use.
  • Be safe when throwing away used razor blades. Don’t drop them unwrapped in a trash bin.

  • Plan to clip your nails after bathing or after soaking your hands and feet for 5-10 minutes in warm water.
  • Place a towel or paper under fingers or toes.
  • Do not share nail tools with others.
  • Use a clipper, file or rotary file to trim your nails.  
  • Clean under the nails with an orange stick or nail file.
  • You can use a file to shape and smooth the nails after clipping if you wish.
  • Get instructions from your doctor about nail care if you have diabetes. 

Clean your teeth

Why do you need to brush your teeth?

If you like to eat with your teeth, then you need to take care of them. People with disabilities have a much higher rate of tooth problems. We need to practice taking better care of our teeth. Brush your teeth to prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. 

Why do you need to brush your teeth?

If you like to eat with your teeth, then you need to take care of them. People with disabilities have a much higher rate of tooth problems. We need to practice taking better care of our teeth. Brush your teeth to prevent cavities, gum disease, and bad breath. Brush your teeth twice a day for 2 minutes each time. 

Oral health for people with IDD

Mouth care for people with learning disabilities

  • Brush your teeth on all sides with a soft tooth-brush and fluoride toothpaste. 
  • Use small circles and short back-and-forth strokes. 
  • Brush gently along your gums. 
  • Lightly brush your tongue. 
  • Clean between your teeth with a floss or water pick. 

Protect your skin

How do you decide if you need sunscreen, lip balm, skin lotion or powder? You may need some or all of these skin care items. You may need different ones in different weather. 

  • Sunscreen protects your skin from sun damage and sunburns. 
  • Lip balm protects your lips from sun and cold. 
  • Skin lotion keeps skin soft and from getting dry or cracked. 
  • Powder keeps skin from getting wet from sweat or roughed up by the rubbing of clothes. 

 

Click the link below to watch a helpful video from Special Olympics on sun safety tips.

Sun Safety Tips

  • Use a sunscreen SPF 30 or higher.
    • SPF means Sun Protection Factor.
  • Remember spots like your lips, neck, around the eyes and under the chin.
  • If you are in the sun for long, reapply every 2 hours. 

Clothes

Keep them clean and fitting. Match them with your activities and the weather. Choose clothes that express your style. 


  • Check the weather to help you pick the right clothes each day. 
  • Make a system to know which clothes are for cold, mild, warm and hot. 
  • Cold is 0-40 degrees.
  • Mild is 40 to 65 degrees.
  • Warm is 65 to 80 degrees.
  • Hot is 80 to 100 or more degrees.
  • Think about your plans for the day. Pick clothes that are comfortable and fit you.
    • Wear stretchy clothes for exercise. 
    • Wear layers you can put on and off if you will be inside and outside. 
    • Wear tough clothes if you will working hard. 
    • Wear fancy clothes if you are going somewhere special.
  • Check the clothes you pick out. 
    • Look for rips or dirt. 
    • Check that buttons, snaps or zippers work.
  • Be careful when you dress.
    • Sit to put on pants, socks, and shoes. Don't fall. 
  • Check yourself in the mirror. 
    • Does everything look right?
    • Do your clothes fit you? Are they the style you want for the day? 
    • Make sure your clothes cover the part of your body that are private. 
  • Make a system to know when clothes need to be washed. 
    • Wear underwear and socks once and then wash them. 
    • Most undershirts like T-shirts need washed after one wear.
    • Some pants, sweaters, jackets can be worn more than once. 
    • If you have done dirty work like gardening or care repairs, you may need to wash all your clothes. 

extra help icon

Extra Help For Caregivers - Working on Hygiene

Extra Help for Hygiene

Toolkits:

Autism guide for showring and bathing

Learn how to help someone with autism with bathing and showering 

Taking a bath

Printable picture schedule on taking a bath

              

Stay clean and healthy plan

Printable checklist for staying clean and healthy by Alberta Health 

Taking a shower

Printable picture schedule on taking a shower