Question for women: How do you keep your underwear clean?
 

Hello all,
How do you keep your underwear during the entire work day?
What about wearing pants? How do you make sure that it stays smell-free?
And do you use water along with toilet paper while going to the bathroom? How do you keep your privates clean during work?
Like to hear all your tips!

Um...why isn't this in the LL?

Mostly I shower on a regular basis and I don't really worry about keeping my underwear clean. That's what they're THERE for. I also make sure I always wear cotton underwear as it allows more breathability. I also shave away most of the hair down there--it hangs on to odor. No, I don't use water along with toilet paper, but if I am at home and feeling a little "unfresh" I have some unscented baby wipes I use.

Having a smell can be natural--however, any strong, odd odor should be investigated by your doctor as it can be the sign of a serious infection. Oddly colored discharge is also a sign of an infection.

The fact is, we're hung up on the idea that having a scent is unnatural--when in fact it's the most natural thing of all. In that scent we're emitting pheramones to attract a mate. Don't get hung up on pantiliners (which can make the problem worse as they DON'T allow for breathability), ESPECIALLY scented ones (which can irritate vaginal tissue). Don't use the feminine odor sprays--again, they're proven irritants. AND WHATEVER YOU DO--DON'T DOUCHE. The vagina is a self-cleaning system. Douching interferes with the normal balance of vaginal flora and can lead to other issues.

If you're that worried about your smell, make sure you wear cotton undies, shave, and use baby wipes instead of toilet paper. Ta-da. Oh, and I recommend baby wipes because they're WAY cheaper than any "feminine" wipe on the market, or even the toilet-paper replacement wipes. Just make sure they're unscented.

I prefer cotton underwear with no pantiliners, for all the reasons given by Owl above. :thumbsup: But some days I have a ton of discharge (been like that since I was a teenager, some really embarrassing moments at school); then, cotton underwear just isn't enough and I have to go with an unscented pantiliner for those days.

Otherwise, I don't do much other than shower regularly, because I do like my own smell (and so does my bf) :icare: ... I don't really think about keeping my privates clean when I'm at work, unless I'm on my period or something, since they know how to clean themselves. :D I just make sure to wipe carefully after peeing and make sure there's no tissue stuck there. As for keeping pants smell-free... well, I guess I wash them in the laundry once a week, that's about it! :lol: I don't think they get very "smelly" anyway, though.

Trimming the hair down there makes a HUGE difference in the way you smell. Martel says he loves my scent, but sometimes I think it's kinda strong- when I was getting waxed on a regular basis and had no hair down there I noticed ZERO smell.

Smell is normal tho- just sweat, a little bit of urine, mixed with normal discharge... that's just the way it is :)

Thanks all!
However, the natural smell usually goes through the pant, so wearing tight pants can be a problem. I feel like everyone can smell your privates in tight pants,lol!!!
Another question: Do you change your underwear more than once a day?

I agree with Sage that trimming does keep the smell at a minimum, simply because there's less stuff getting caught down there.

As for everyone smelling privates in tight pants (hmm, that came out funny)... well, I know what you mean because I often catch a whiff of myself when crossing/re-crossing my legs after a few hours sitting in class. But I've never smelled anyone else's "scent," tight pants or otherwise. So I don't think you have anything to worry about... we are just more conscious of our own smell, and so is the girl next to you. But no one really cares, I think.

If you are feeling very self-conscious about it, just use some unscented pantiliners and change them if you start to notice any smell. That's what I do on my really damp days down there... (not the same as being wet, since it has nothing to do with being turned on, unfortunately!).

I'm total bare down there and don't usually wear undies but when I do I gently puff on some baby powder, but only if I may be doing something more strenuous than usual (shopping). Other wise nothing since the powder tends to dry me out if used regularly.

hmm, well, i don't really have a problem, except for the one-two days a month when i'm ovulating, on those days, i wear cotton panties, and i change them in the afternoon, so i'm fresh for the evening.

also, i have to agree, being waxed or keeping the hair very trimmed really helps with hygeine.

sweetpea

I only wear cotton underwear for generally being out-and-about... I pretty much only wear thongs though (unless it's that time), and I find they can retain a smell along the string part if you flatulate, and I must admit I do. I've tried changing my diet and everything, but I think it's all the fruit I eat and I don't really want to sacrifice my figure for it. :(

:) i think a little of all the suggestions help, but also you could use bar soup down there when you shower. i use body wash everywhere else and bar soap under the arms and under the belt. try it, but be careful if the area is sensitive cause it may dry it out.

I went to a doctor at my local clinic because I had noticed a change in my chemistry down there. She asked me if I shaved and I said "No" and she said "Oh, thank goodness, that can really cause problems!" But she might have been referring just to people with sensitive skin, since I told her the reason I don't shave is because my skin is so sensitive it practically breaks out just by me thinking about it.

Women really don't need to use pantiliners. Occasional use is fine, but with all the chemicals they use to bleach them, even unscented ones just make the problem worse. As my doctor said, they just perpetuate themselves by creating a need for themselves. As for underwear, Sunlight makes a great Sensitive Skin detergent that's fragrance free. When you're on your period, use pads that have a more breathable top layer. Just from implementing these changes, I've noticed a huge difference.

Even if your skin isn't particularly sensitive, scent-free products are best for things that have to be next to your skin. Besides, it's required in like half the public buildings in Canada anyway, just nobody bothers.

I used to shave every once in a while, for my ex, but I never liked it. It was uncomfortable and I noticed that it made me more susceptible to yeast infections. From what I've read, your pubic hair serves an important purpose in keeping bacteria away from your "tender bits." So I don't think I will ever shave again. I do trim around the area to keep it neat but that's it. Monistat makes a great personal wipe called CoolWipes with aloe and Vitamin E. They're not cheap though, so I only use them when I feel I need them - when wearing tights or pantyhose and after yoga class. Otherwise, just normal daily hygiene keeps eveything in line down there.

I don't worry about my underpants during the day. If I know I'm going to be getting nooky in the evening or going to a party where there might be some play I'll often wear a fresh pair of my good stain free panties but otherwise it's not a big deal.

To keep things fresh and smelling right I do several things.
-wash twice daily
-wear cotton panties
-don't wear pads or liners unless I'm menstrating
-don't use talc powder
-don't use scented sprays, powders or pads
and for me personally I tend to get BV because my body's PH is too positive so I
-use a prescription antibacterial cream when I notice any fishy oder or much itching/burning feelings.

I just recently saw my Dr who is willing to consider alternative medicine as well as standard medical practice. We discussed the aspect of my tendancy to get BV easily and he recommended a few preventative/alternative methods of dealing with it.
-avoiding too much refined sugar
-douching with an unscented vinigar wash when I began to notice any BV symptoms or oders
-taking a daily acidophilous suppliment and/or eating yogurt daily.

As long as I do all the above I have little trouble with messes in my panties besides a whitish discharge which doesn't show up much unless I've been really horny. :p

I second the use of acidopholus.....it helped me at a time I was experiencing frequent yeast infections. It is also good for the digestive tract. Friendly flora and all.....

is this natural? i have this too, is anything wrong with me? i didn't used to except for when my egg sluffed out i guess (?), but the last week or so it seems like i'm leaking!

It is perfectly natural and healthy. A healthy, happy vagina is a wet and often messy little girl. If you are drinking lots of water you'll notice your bladder needs to be emptied more often and your tidbits are very moist.

If it is a bit of a problem, and really, what vagina isn't from time to time...try an ultralight liner and change it often.

A little bit of scent is a good thing. :cool: I wash twice a day (with the occassional spritz bath with mild hand soap at the sink if I'm feeling particularly icky) and then just don't worry about it. Hubby informed me that it's a turn on - and he can smell me even when I feel I'm completely clean. He's been known to tell me I'm pregnant by smell/taste before I even bought the first test, knows if I've masturbated while he was absent, and picks up a pack of pads or box of tampons the day before my monthly starts simply because he knew it was about to. IMHO, a large part of our interactions with our mates as primates are based on phermones (and familiarity, of course - we didn't start out being able to smell when the other was turned on!). Why muck around with it with scented douches and such? ;)

As long as you don't smell like bread, you're fine. :p The extra discharge comes about with ovulation unless you're excited, but that's a bit different-it's thinner.
I shave completely and since doing so have noticed less odor from sweating, etc. than before. I only use cotton undies or cotton lined ones. Panty liners are fine for the last days of a period, but I have found them to hold odor-and the scented ones are worse.
I will comment that if your pants are so tight that they're riding INTO your crotch and therefore picking up odor, you're wearing the wrong size or you're a glutton for punishment. Tight pants are NOT good healthwise and really, we don't need to see you split in half and your outer lips trying to escape their confines...save that for the SO. (Not to mention that even the skinniest girls in very tight pants get that flesh over the top and that's just EW)

Tidbits! I love it! :lol: :lol: :lol: I'm so using this from now on.

thanks so much, this really does help - i have began drinking alot more water, i bet thats what it is a result of, again, thanks so much :)