Source: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) — Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (public domain).

Key points * Hygiene refers to behaviors that can improve cleanliness and lead to good health. * A few examples of hygiene can include how you care for your body, how you care for your baby, or how you care for your home environment to stay fresh and clean. * Many diseases and conditions can be prevented through proper hygiene practices, such as covering your coughs and sneezes, washing hands after handling animals, and showering before you swim. Overview Hygiene can refer to a number of different practices that can help to keep you and others healthy. There are many ways you can keep yourself and your environment clean to promote healthy living. A few important practices include personal hygiene, proper infant diapering and feeding, and everyday cleaning. Types Personal hygiene Personal hygiene refers to regularly washing parts of the body and hair with soap and water (including washing your hands and feet), grooming nails, facial cleanliness, covering coughs and sneezes, and menstrual hygiene. Personal hygiene practices can help you to feel fresh and healthy. About Handwashing Share information about the importance of handwashing Healthy Habits: Hair and Scalp Hygiene Learn how a healthy scalp and proper hair care can prevent diseases and control conditions. Healthy Habits: Foot Hygiene Learn about hygiene habits for healthy feet. Healthy Habits: Nail Hygiene Learn about grooming your nails and the best ways to prevent nail infections. Healthy Habits: Facial Cleanliness Learn the importance of washing your face regularly and ways facial hygiene prevents disease. Healthy Habits: Coughing and Sneezing Learn about preventing the spread of disease when you cough or sneeze. Healthy Habits: Menstrual Hygiene Menstrual hygiene can prevent infections, reduce odors and keep you comfortable during your period. Hygiene Practices Around Animals Wash your hands with soap and water after handling animals and anything where they live or roam Infant feeding hygiene Infant feeding hygiene involves the careful cleaning, sanitizing, and storage of infant feeding items, such as baby bottles and breast pump parts to prevent germs from contaminating milk. How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items Learn when and how to clean and sanitize items used to feed your baby. How to Clean and Sanitize Breast Pumps Learn how to clean your breast pump properly. Diaper hygiene Safe and healthy diaper hygiene at home or childcare settings reduces the spread of germs and prevents babies and caregivers from getting sick. Healthy Habits: Diaper Changing at Home Learn how to change diapers at home. Healthy Habits: Diaper Changing Steps for Childcare Settings Information on diaper changing in childcare settings. Everyday cleaning Everyday cleaning in places you spend time, like your home, facilities, and early care and education settings, are effective ways to prevent the spread of disease and illness by removing germs from surfaces. Cleaning and Disinfecting Learn about cleaning and disinfecting in different settings. When and How to Clean and Disinfect Your Home When and how to safely clean and disinfect various surfaces in your home. Cleaning and Disinfecting with Bleach How to make a bleach solution safely for household disinfection. How To Clean and Disinfect Early Care and Education Settings When and how to clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces in early care and education settings. When and How to Clean and Disinfect a Facility When and how to clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces in your facility.