You wonder if you're washing "properly" down there. You're afraid of smelling bad. You're hesitating between intimate gel, regular soap, or just water. You wash twice a day "just in case." Or, on the contrary, you feel self-conscious about not using a specific product. Stop. Intimate hygiene isn't that complicated, but 9 out of 10 people make at least one mistake that unbalances their vaginal flora.
There's no need to clean the inside of your vagina; it's self-cleaning. Your vulva just needs a gentle wash once a day (twice at most during your period). The problem is that the "intimate" product industry makes you believe you need to strip, perfume, and disinfect. In the end, you destroy your protective flora, increase the risk of infection, and feel guilty. This article gives you THE intimate hygiene routine that really works, the mistakes to avoid immediately, and the real products to use.
⚡ What you need to remember in 30 seconds
The 10 Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Intimate Area
Before we talk about what to do, let's start with what to STOP. Because these mistakes you're probably making without even realizing it, and they're destroying your vaginal balance.
Mistake #1: Using Regular Soap or Shower Gel
Your shower gel smells good, but it's WAY too alkaline for your vagina (pH 8-9 vs. normal vaginal pH of 3,8-4,5). As a result, you're destroying the lactobacilli (good bacteria) that protect your flora. Bad bacteria proliferate. Boom: yeast infections, vaginosis, irritation.
✅ The good alternative : specific intimate soap/gel with physiological pH (between 4 and 5,5) OR just lukewarm water (yes, that's enough for 90% of women).
Mistake #2: Douching
Putting water (with or without a product) directly into your vagina is THE worst thing you can do. You're literally flushing out your protective flora. Scientific studies are categorical: douching drastically increases the risk of bacterial vaginosis, infections, and even ectopic pregnancies.
❌ To be banned : all douching kits, even those sold in pharmacies. Your vagina cleans itself; it does NOT need to be "rinsed from the inside."
Mistake #3: Using a Washcloth
Washcloths (and sponges) are veritable breeding grounds for bacteria. Damp, stored in the bathroom, rarely changed... You're picking up yesterday's germs and applying them to your vulva. Bravo.
✅ The solution : Wash your clean hands with soap, then use YOUR HANDS to wash your vulva. It's hygienic, gentle, and you don't carry bacteria around.
Mistake #4: Washing Several Times a Day
Think you're doing the right thing? You're doing the opposite. Excessive hygiene disrupts the flora, dries out the mucous membranes, and paradoxically increases the risk of infections and odors. The more you wash, the more you destroy the natural protective barrier.
✅ Ideal frequency : 1 intimate hygiene per day during the shower. 2 maximum during menstruation or in case of excessive perspiration (sport, heatwave). That's ALL.
Mistake #5: Wiping from back to front
After urinating or having a bowel movement, do you wipe from your anus to your vulva? You're directly bringing fecal bacteria (E. coli) back to your vagina and urethra. This is THE main cause of recurring cystitis.
✅ Good gesture : ALWAYS wipe from front to back (vulva → anus). Even after urinating. This is a reflex to acquire from childhood.
Mistake #6: Wearing Panty Liners Every Day
Panty liners create a warm, moist environment, promoting maceration and the proliferation of bacteria. They also mechanically irritate the vulva. The result: itching, odor, and infections.
✅ Alternative : If you have normal vaginal discharge, just change your panties during the day. If you really need protection, opt for period panties lightweight, breathable and washable.
Mistake #7: Using Scented Products
Scented intimate gels, "freshness" wipes, intimate deodorants, sprays... All of these irritate the vulva, unbalance the pH, and temporarily mask an odor that could be a sign of an infection. You're not fixing anything, you're making it worse.
❌ Zero perfume : your vulva doesn't need to smell like roses. Intimate products should be perfume-free, alcohol-free, and dye-free.
Mistake #8: Wearing a tampon for more than 6 hours or all night
A tampon worn for too long promotes the proliferation of toxin-producing staph. This can result in toxic shock syndrome (TSS), a rare but potentially fatal infection.
❌ Absolute rule : change your tampon every 4 to 6 hours MAX. For the night, use a sanitary towel, a Period Panties, or a cup (but empty it before sleeping).
Mistake #9: Wearing Synthetic or Tight Underwear
Synthetic materials (polyester, nylon) don't allow the skin to breathe. Moisture and heat build up, creating a perfect environment for fungal infections. Tight clothing (skinny jeans, leggings) compresses the area and increases maceration.
✅ Good choice : cotton panties (breathable), changed daily. Avoid daily thongs (friction). Loose clothing. And at night? Sleep without panties (or in loose cotton).
Mistake #10: Not Urinating After Sex
During intercourse, the back-and-forth movements can cause bacteria to rise up into the urethra (which is very short in women). Urinating afterward helps "flush" these bacteria before they proliferate.
✅ Anti-cystitis reflex : urinate within 15-30 minutes after intercourse. You do not need to wash immediately (your daily routine is sufficient).
The Perfect Intimate Hygiene Routine (In 6 Steps)
Now that we've eliminated what NOT to do, here's exactly what you should do. A simple, effective routine, validated by gynecologists and scientific studies.
Step 1: Wash Your Hands
Before touching your vulva, wash your hands with soap. This is the basics. Your hands are full of bacteria (even if they look clean). Don't skip this step.
Step 2: Wet the Area with Warm Water
In the shower, let warm water run over your vulva. The water should NOT enter the vagina; it should only flow over the outside (labia majora, labia minora, clitoris, vaginal entrance). Do not use cold water (uncomfortable) or water that is too hot (irritates).
Step 3: Apply (or Not) Intimate Soap
Two options depending on your skin and preferences:
- Option 1 (minimalist) : just lukewarm water. This is enough for 90% of women if you haven't sweated excessively.
- Option 2 (with product) : specific intimate gel with physiological pH (4-5,5), fragrance-free. Put a small amount in your hand, lather lightly, apply to the vulva (external only)
Step 4: Wash from front to back, gently
With your hands (no gloves), gently wash:
- The mons pubis (part with pubic hair)
- The outer labia majora
- Between the labia majora and minora (skin folds)
- The entrance to the vagina (just the outside, do not rub inside)
- Then towards the anus (always from front to back so as not to bring fecal bacteria back towards the vagina)
Important : Don't rub hard, dab gently. The vulva is a sensitive area, not a tile to be scrubbed.
Step 5: Rinse thoroughly with clean water
Rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of product. Soap residue, even mild soap, can irritate if not rinsed properly. Run the water over the entire area for several seconds.
Step 6: Dry by gently patting
Take a clean, PERSONAL towel (do not share it). Gently pat the vulva to absorb the water. Do not rub (irritation). Make sure the area is dry, as moisture promotes yeast infections.
Trick : change your bath towel every 2-3 days max. A damp towel stored in the bathroom = bacterial proliferation.
Ultra-simple summary of the routine
1. Clean hands → 2. Warm water → 3. Mild intimate soap (or just water) → 4. Wash from front to back with hands → 5. Rinse → 6. Pat dry. Once a day. That's ALL.
What Products to Use (And Which to Avoid)
The personal care aisle is full of products you don't need. Here's how to sort the useful from the superfluous (or even dangerous).
Economical and eco-friendly option: just water
If you don't have any particular problems (recurring yeast infections, abnormal odors), warm water alone is SUFFICIENT for your daily intimate hygiene. Scientific studies show that women who wash only with water have as many (or even fewer) problems as those who use products. Free, eco-friendly, effective.
Intimate Odors: Normal or Not Normal?
It's THE main concern when it comes to personal hygiene. You're afraid of smelling bad. You wash too much to "cover up." Here's what you need to know.
Normal Odors (No Concerns)
- Slightly tangy/musky : this is the natural odor of the vagina, linked to the acidic pH and lactobacilli. It varies according to the menstrual cycle
- Stronger during menstruation : slightly metallic/ferruginous odor due to blood. Normal
- More marked during ovulation : secretions are more abundant, the odor is more present. Normal
- After a sexual rapport : mixture of semen and vaginal secretions, temporarily different odor. Normal
- After sport : perspiration = more odor. Normal (wash after)
Abnormal Odors (Consult)
- Smell of rotten fish : classic sign of bacterial vaginosis (imbalance of flora). Often with grayish discharge. Need for antibiotics
- Strong ammonia odor : possible infection (trichomoniasis). With yellowish or greenish discharge. Consult
- Yeast/bread smell : possible vaginal yeast infection. With thick white discharge like "curdled milk" and intense itching
- Odor that persists despite proper hygiene : If the odor doesn't go away after correcting your hygiene routine, consult a doctor. It's probably infectious.
What to do if you have an unusual odor
- Check your hygiene : apply the routine described above (1x/day, gentle product or water)
- Change your underwear : switch to cotton, change every day
- Stop using panty liners if you wear them daily
- If it persists after 3-5 days : consult your gynecologist, midwife or general practitioner. You probably have an infection that requires treatment
- Never mask the smell with scented products. You're not solving the problem, you're hiding it (and making it worse)
Special Cases: Periods, Sport, Sexual Intercourse
Some situations require adjustments to your intimate hygiene routine. But there's no need to overhaul everything.
During Menstruation
- You can switch to 2 intimate toilets per day (morning and evening) if you wish, but 1 is generally sufficient.
- Change your protection regularly (pad every 4-6 hours, tampon every 4-6 hours MAX, Period Panties morning and evening)
- After changing your protection, you can freshen up with a soft intimate wipe (alcohol-free) if you are not at home
- Wash your vulva normally while showering. The blood that flows does not dirty your vagina from the inside, it comes out naturally.
After Sport
- Remove wet sportswear immediately (sweat + heat = fungal cocktail)
- Take a shower and wash your vulva normally (usual routine)
- If you can't shower right away, at least change your underwear.
- As a last resort: soft intimate wipe to refresh you
Before and After Sex
Before : You do NOT need to wash. If you have done your daily hygiene in the morning, that is sufficient. Washing just before "for fear of smelling bad" is useless and can even dry out your mucous membranes.
After : you do not have to wash immediately. Your usual daily routine is sufficient. However:
- Urinate within 15-30 minutes after intercourse (even if you don't feel like it). This prevents post-coital cystitis
- If you want to freshen up: rinse your vulva with warm water, that's all
- NEVER douche to "clean up semen." Your vagina takes care of that on its own.
What About Men? (Men's Intimate Hygiene in Brief)
Men's intimate hygiene is simpler, but follows the same basic principles. A small section to keep everyone up to date.
The basics for men
- 1 intimate wash per day in the shower, with lukewarm water
- Pull back the foreskin completely to clean under the foreskin (where smegma accumulates)
- Gentle soap with neutral pH or just water. No scented shower gel
- Rinse thoroughly and dry properly
- Cotton underwear, changed every day
- No intimate deodorant, no scented products
Please note : if strong odor, redness, itching or difficulty in retracting the foreskin, consult a doctor.
Less is More: The Golden Rule of Intimate Hygiene
Your vagina is self-cleaning. Your vulva only needs a gentle wash once a day (twice at most during your period). Over-hygiene destroys your protective flora and increases the risk of infection. Perfumed products, douching, washcloths, and daily panty liners all harm your intimate balance.
The ideal routine: clean hands, warm water, mild intimate soap (or just water), wash from front to back with your hands, rinse, pat dry. Once a day. Cotton underwear changed daily. Urinate after sex. Change your protection regularly during your period. That's ALL.
A slightly sour odor is normal. A fishy or ammonia-like odor, or one that persists despite proper hygiene, requires medical attention; it's likely infectious. Never mask an abnormal odor with scented products; you'll only make the problem worse.
Stop feeling guilty. Stop over-washing. Trust your body; it knows what it's doing. The less you do, the better your vaginal flora will be.
Sources & Scientific References
This article is based on validated scientific studies and public health recommendations to provide you with reliable information.
Vaginal pH and flora balance
- Caillouette JC, Sharp CF Jr, Zimmerman GJ, Roy S. (1997). Vaginal pH as a marker for bacterial pathogens and menopausal status. Am J Obstet Gynecol. DOI: 10.1016/S0002-9378(97)70345-4
- Amabebe E, Anumba DOC. (2018). The Vaginal Microenvironment: The Physiologic Role of Lactobacilli. Front Med (Lausanne). DOI: 10.3389 / fmed.2018.00181
Impact of intimate hygiene practices
- Chen Y, Bruning E, Rubino J, Eder SE. (2017). Role of female intimate hygiene in vulvovaginal health: Global hygiene practices and product usage. Women's Health (London). DOI: 10.1177 / 1745505717731011
- Fashemi B, Delaney ML, Onderdonk AB, Fichorova RN. (2013). Effects of feminine hygiene products on the vaginal mucosal biome. Microb Ecol Health Dis. DOI: 10.3402/mehd.v24i0.19703
Douching and associated risks
- Zhang J, Thomas AG, Leybovich E. (1997). Vaginal douching and adverse health effects: a meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. DOI: 10.2105/ajph.87.7.1207
Official French recommendations
- Ameli.fr. Some tips for personal hygiene. Ameli Link
Vaginal microbiome and health
- MacPhee RA, Hummelen R, Bisanz JE, et al. (2010). Probiotic strategies for the treatment and prevention of bacterial vaginosis. Expert Opinion Pharmacother. DOI: 10.1517 / 14656566.2010.512004
- Delgado-Diaz DJ, Tyssen D, Hayward JA, et al. (2023). The Vaginal Microbiome in Health and Disease—What Role Do Common Intimate Hygiene Practices Play? microorganisms. DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020298
Footnotes : DOIs provide direct access to original scientific publications. This article will be updated regularly as medical knowledge evolves.
Medical warning : This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you experience persistent symptoms, abnormal odor, itching, or pain, consult a gynecologist, midwife, or general practitioner.
