Underwear and other items you should not share with your partner

Being in love can make personal boundaries disappear. Suddenly, their fries are your fries, their hoodie is your hoodie and somehow their side of the bed has become half the mattress.

But some things should remain strictly personal, even in the closest relationship. Certain everyday items can collect bacteria, fungi, viruses, skin cells or bodily fluids, so sharing them can make it easier for germs to move between partners.

Here are five things that deserve their own space.

Toothbrushes

You can share a bed, a shower and even a plate of chips, but your toothbrush should remain yours.

Toothbrushes come into contact with saliva and can sometimes pick up blood from the gums, particularly when someone has irritated or bleeding gums. Sharing one can therefore transfer microorganisms from one person’s mouth to another.

It also means putting something that has been inside someone else’s mouth into your own, which is perhaps where the romance should draw the line.

Keep separate toothbrushes and store them upright where they can dry properly. If one of you forgets a toothbrush during a trip, buying another is a much better solution than turning dental hygiene into a couples’ activity.

Keep your razor out of reach

That razor sitting next to your partner’s shaving cream might look like a convenient option when yours has mysteriously disappeared.

Resist the temptation.

Razors can cause tiny cuts that are not always visible. When shared, they can transfer blood and microorganisms between people. They can also carry dead skin and other residue from previous use.

The risk is more concerning when either person has an infection, rash or open wound.

Everyone should ideally have their own razor and keep it clean and dry after use. Your partner can borrow your charger, but the razor should be a different story.

Towels need boundaries too

There is always that one towel in a couple’s bathroom that somehow becomes public property.

One person uses it after a shower. The other grabs it five minutes later. Nobody knows who it belongs to anymore, but everyone keeps using it.

Towels absorb moisture, sweat, oils and dead skin cells. When they stay damp for long periods, microorganisms can multiply. Sharing a towel can also spread certain skin infections between people.

Give each person their own towel and wash it regularly. Allow it to dry completely between uses rather than leaving it crumpled on the bathroom floor.

A towel is not supposed to have a long-term relationship with the floor.

Underwear is a firm no

This probably does not need a lengthy explanation, but relationships can make people surprisingly adventurous with personal belongings.

Underwear comes into prolonged contact with intimate areas and can collect sweat, skin cells and bodily fluids. Wearing another person’s underwear, particularly if it has not been freshly washed, can expose you to microorganisms that may cause irritation or infection.

Having separate underwear is one of the easiest hygiene boundaries to maintain. Wash it properly and change it regularly.

There is plenty of room for romance without turning the underwear drawer into a clothing exchange programme.

Do not share personal grooming tools

Nail clippers, tweezers, manicure tools and some beauty tools can easily be overlooked when talking about hygiene.

However, these items can come into contact with skin and tiny cuts. Nail clippers can nick the skin, while tweezers may be used around irritated areas. Makeup brushes can also collect oil, dead skin and microorganisms if they are not cleaned properly.

Ideally, each person should have their own grooming tools. Clean them regularly and avoid using them on broken or infected skin.

More Articles

---