Time to move on
You may be a creature of
habit, but some seemingly innocuous everyday items of personal use may have
outlived their time. Experts tell you when to discard them
Wake up after a good night's sleep
only to a morning bout of sneezing? Unable to figure out why you keep itching
despite being a hygiene freak?
The answer often lies in the unlikeliest of places. If you're the kind who has developed an emotional attachment to that lucky towel you've had for a year, or believe that washing your bed linen twice a month is good enough, read up.
The answer often lies in the unlikeliest of places. If you're the kind who has developed an emotional attachment to that lucky towel you've had for a year, or believe that washing your bed linen twice a month is good enough, read up.
TOOTHBRUSH
This one is relatively easy. Damaged
bristles is a sign that you need to change your brush, and some toothbrushes
even come with built-in indicators that change colour when it is time to get a
new replacement. Dentist Dr Sameera Ali says, “If you keep using a toothbrush
beyond its life span, it won't work as effectively, causing tartar and bacteria
buildup. You think you're brushing, but in effect it isn't doing you any good.“
Dr Sitesh Roy, a US Board certified
allergist, immunologist and asthma specialist, also advises you discard your
toothbrush the moment you recover from a viral infection, regardless of how new
it may be as “the viral antigens may make your toothbrush a home, and cause
another infection.“
TOWEL
If you're not ready to replace your
expensive Turkish towel just yet, think again.“Your towel can be a major source
of irritants or allergens,“ warns Dr Roy.It all comes down to how often you
wash it, and how well it dries after.“Ideally, wash your towel every alternate
day and ensure it is completely dry, preferably sun-dried. The heat from the
dryer might damage the fabric in the long run, but is known to kill bacteria
too,“ he adds. Damp towels promote mould growth which cause allergies. Also,
body odour-causing bacteria often get stuck in the towel, so discard it the
moment the towel starts emitting a foul odour or begins to fray. or begins to
fray.
PILLOW COVER
Your pillow cover may just be giving
you a stuffy nose every morning without you realising it. “The human body
always has some bacteria on it, and if you think about it, you spend a
substantial time every night in contact with your pillow cover,“ says Dr
Jaishree Sharad, dermatologist. “Even if it is seemingly clean, your pillow
cover has dust mites, especially from your hair. This gives rise to various
problems such as allergies, rashes, and acne,“ she says. Dr Sharad suggests
that the pillow cover be washed every alternate day, and given this routine,
the cover will last you a year, after which it should be discarded. Dr Roy
concurs. “The Mumbai weather causes high mould and fungal growth, so beddings
can be potential reservoirs of allergies. Change your pillow every two years
and the mattress every five years,“ he says.
MASCARA
“Using the mascara beyond a certain
time causes a host of problems, such as rashes along the upper eyelid that may
spread to the lower lids, swelling of the eyes, fungal infections, dark circles
due to pigmentation, itchiness and may ultimately cause you to lose your
lashes,“ warns Dr Sharad. “The constant application, opening and putting back
the brush into the product can cause infections, caused by the transfer of
bacteria from the skin to the product, which then multiplies if left over a
long period of time.“
LIPSTICK
Use and discard your lipstick within
the year, else get ready to deal with blisters, rashes, pigmentation and dry,
chapped lips. “This is especially true for matte and dark coloured lipsticks,
such as reds, oranges and maroons which don't come off easily,“ says Dr Sharad.
“Refrain from using these dark colours daily. Those who have sensitive lips or
dark lips would do better by staying away from flavoured lip balms. Go for the
nonmenthol, non-flavoured, plain ones instead.
LOOFAH
“Unless you change the loofah
regularly, it can lead to rashes on your body,“ says Dr Roy. It does not matter
if you suffer from a skin infection or not, sweating and perspiration can cause
infections via the loofah, and it is best avoided altogether if you have
sensitive skin or any existing skin condition. “Friction aggravates skin
problems and can cause fungal infections and flaking, which gets trapped in the
loofah. Also, if a part of your body has an infection, using the loofah could
cause it to spread to other parts,“ says Dr Roy. Just like the towel, it is
important the loofah is completely dried out after use.
COMB
“Using a dirty comb o causes
bacterial infections like boils on the scalp and painful, pus filled bumps,“
says Dr Sharad. Maintain a healthy scalp by wash ing the combs in hot water
once a week, and changing them every year. “Use a wide-bristled, straight
combed brush as it can be easily cleaned,“ adds Dr Roy. “Flat and roller
brushes are more different to clean and can cause chronic dandruff. If you've
just completed any treatment for dermatitis or dandruff, change your combs
immediately.“
Tunali Mukherjee
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MM6JUL15
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