Washing the Day Off
No matter how fresh and clean you may feel when you start the day, this is never the case each evening, especially for those living in a city. With air pollution at an all-time high in cities all over the world, and invisible germs swarming on just about every surface, it is essential that the harmful effects of a day in the city are thoroughly cleansed each evening, not only from your skin and your hair, but also from the clothes that you have been wearing.
Create a Clean Home Environment
Before beginning to wash the day off, it is always a good idea to ensure that your home environment is clean and free from any other germs or pollutants. Germs and bacteria arise from all sorts of places, be it your carpets, your pets or just the dust that settles on surfaces. When cleaning your home, try to use products that contain the minimum amount of chemicals, ensuring that your home environment is as healthy as possible.
Skin Cleansing
If you are hoping to thoroughly cleanse your skin from all of the germs and pollutants that have barraged it throughout the day, it goes without saying that a couple of quick swipes with an everyday cleanser will not do the job. Instead, begin with damp skin, covering your fingers with the cleanser before gliding it around your skin. After doing this for a couple of minutes to clear away the dirt and oils, use warm water to rinse your face, as this will break down any residue much more effectively than cold water will. Once your skin has been cleansed, you can move on to applying other skin care products, opting for ones that contain extra antioxidants as this will help your skin to fight against the damage that the city inflicts onto it.
Hair Protection
The dirt and pollution from the day that builds up on your hair will result in locks that are dry, dull and undernourished. Shampooing it regularly will help to remove all of these impurities, while using a conditioner will protect it from subsequent wear and tear. There are many hair masks available that aim to counter the damaging effects of pollution, and you could also give your hair a steam treatment every week, as this will open up the pores and boost circulation.
Clean Clothes
Even if your clothes still feel relatively fresh after a day in the city, pollen, pollutants and germs will have all attached themselves to your outfit over the course of the day. While throwing every item that you have worn into the washing machine each and every day may not be the most efficient use of your time, not to mention the devastating effects that this can have on the environment, there are other ways to ensure that you are able to keep your clothes germ-free. Rinsing clothes in hot water can be just as effective as a washing machine cycle, and drying them out in the sunlight will ensure that they are disinfected by the sun’s UV rays, while keeping the airflow optimized.
Although the majority of impurities that we come into contact with each day are invisible, this does not mean that they should be ignored. From thoroughly cleansing your skin to naturally disinfecting your clothes, these tips will help you to wash off all of the negative effects of the day, giving your body, and clothes, time to breathe in a clean environment.