While sharing a bar of soap with your S.O. might seem okay, you better think twice. From bacteria and fungi to blood-born diseases, you can transfer a lot when sharing certain hygiene products with others. Check this list to find out if things you share may be causing unwanted germs.
Pumice Stones
You know those stones you use on your rough heels? Yeah, they're covered in dead skin and no one wants someone else's dead skin on theirs. Gross! The stones can also be covered in fungus, which is often the cause of transferred plantar warts.
Hair Trimmer
Unless you're getting your hair trimmed at a barber shop, chances are your hair trimmer isn't sanitized properly. Sharing hair trimmers can cause the transfer of bacteria from one person's face or skin to the other. No one wants unnecessary acne.
Nail Clippers
While sharing nail clippers may not seem like a big deal, you never know if a person's nails are clean. Clippers can come in contact with nail fungal infections, warts and other diseases. You can rub the clippers down with alcohol after each use, but it's probably better to just keep them to yourself.
Earrings
In typical girl fashion it's common to raid your roomie or sister's closet for a cute outfit and matching jewelry. Sharing earrings can transfer blood-born diseases, so it's in your best interest to sanitize earrings before sharing them. Or, just keep them to yourself.
Toothbrushes
Toothbrushes should never be shared even between couples or family members. Bacteria can grow on the bristles even if you rinse it off after using it. Obviously, your own germs won't make you sick because your body is used to them, but bacteria from someone else's mouth? You bet it will make you sick.
Bar Soap
Hey bar soap cleans your body so it should be pretty germ free and okay to swap between people, right? Wrong. Once you open that bar of soap and use it on your skin, it becomes susceptible to many germs and pathogens, from harmless to the more serious. And if you have it lying in a dish, the bar is bound to soak up extra moisture causing mold. Your best bet is to stick to liquid body washes.
Lip Balm
We were pretty surprised by this one, seeing as we share Chapstick all the time, but the reasoning does make a lot of sense. Any bacteria a person has on their mouth, visible or not, can be transferred through lip balm. Your lips are always ready to absorb anything that comes into contact with them, so be aware.
Towels
While you may think it's fine to share a towel with your roomie or best friend, you may want to think twice. Towels can be a breeding ground for gross germs and can cause fungal skin infections and even pink eye. Make sure to keep you towel to yourself, let them dry all the way and wash them after four uses. No one wants a stinky, gross towel.
Deodorant
We're not sure why you'd share something that touches another person's armpit anyway, but if you do, you may get infections from the transference of germs. Especially if you have nicks from shaving, sharing deodorant is a no-go.
Anything That Comes In A Jar
That Vaseline you and your roommate share to take off your makeup? Yeah not the best idea. Every time you dip your finger in the jar, you're spreading bacteria through out the whole jar. This bacteria can then transfer to your face and skin. If you have to share, use a Q-tip to get the Vaseline out of the jar.
Loofahs
Loofahs may feel good on your skin, but they can also hold a lot of bacteria and dead skin since they never really dry out between uses. It's easy for many viruses to live and multiply in the fibers of the loofahs. If the item spends most of its time damp, never share it.
Tweezers
Using a friend's tweezers when getting ready for a night out may not be the worst thing you do all night. Plucking a few hairs here and there with someone else's tweezers isn't a big deal, but when you start picking out ingrown hairs and breaking the skin, you run the risk of transfering blood-born diseases. Either soak the tweezers in alcohol or keep them to yourself.
Razors
While not sharing a razor may seem like a no brainer to you, sometimes it's just easier to grab your friend's razor for a quick shave before a GNO. Dead skin cells and bacteria are collected every time you run the razor up and down your leg. It's best to keep your razors to yourself because this bacteria and other blood transferred diseases can get into your skin.