0:00 Ladies, I hate to be the one to tell you
0:02 this, but you might smell bad and not
0:05 even know it. No one wants to be the
0:07 smelly grandma, but sometimes it's not
0:11 about neglect or poor hygiene. It's
0:14 about silent little mistakes we make
0:16 without even realizing it. Mistakes I
0:20 made, too, until a kind doctor clued me
0:22 in. So stay with me because these six
0:25 silent hygiene mistakes could be making
0:27 you smell unpleasant and fixing them is
0:30 simpler than you think. And before we
0:32 dive in, don't forget to like this
0:34 video, subscribe to Savvy Senior, and
0:37 tell me in the comments, what's one
0:40 self-care tip you swear by in your older
0:42 age? I read them all, and I love
0:45 learning from you. One, wearing the same
0:48 bra for too long. Ladies, let's get
0:51 honest for a moment. How many times have
0:54 you worn your favorite bra without
0:56 washing it? Two times? Four times? A
1:00 full week? Don't be shy. I used to do
1:02 it, too. And before you say, "Well, I
1:06 didn't even sweat." Let me tell you what
1:08 my doctor told me. It doesn't matter.
1:11 Your skin still sheds. Your body still
1:14 produces oils. And yes, even if you
1:17 barely moved, a layer of bacteria and
1:20 odor builds up real fast in your
1:22 undergarments. Now, here's what no one
1:24 told me for years. As we age, our skin
1:28 becomes thinner and more delicate. That
1:31 means it absorbs odors and bacteria more
1:34 easily. And unfortunately, it also holds
1:38 on to them. I had a cotton blend bra I
1:40 love to death. Wore it three days a
1:43 week. It fit like a dream. But then one
1:46 day I hugged my niece and she gave me
1:49 that little wrinkled nose. She didn't
1:52 say anything, bless her, but that look
1:55 said it all. Something smelled off. It
1:59 wasn't until I started rotating bras
2:01 more frequently and actually washing
2:03 them every two to three where that
2:06 things turned around. And yes, I said
2:09 rotating. You should never wear the same
2:11 bra two days in a row. The elastic needs
2:14 time to recover and your skin needs a
2:17 fresh start. I also learned that
2:20 materials matter. Some synthetic fabrics
2:23 hold odors longer even after washing.
2:26 That's why I switched to breathable
2:28 cotton bras with removable pads. Easier
2:31 to wash, easier to dry, and far more
2:34 forgiving. Now, I know doing more
2:36 laundry can feel like a chore at our
2:38 age, but think of it like this. A clean
2:41 bra isn't just about hygiene. It's about
2:44 dignity. It's about confidence. No one
2:47 wants to be remembered as the sweet old
2:50 woman with the not so sweet scent. Trust
2:53 me, this tiny habit makes a big
2:56 difference. Two, not exfoliating
2:59 underarms. This one shocked me when I
3:01 first heard it. Exfoliating your
3:04 underarms. I had no idea that was even a
3:07 thing. I mean, we exfoliate our faces,
3:10 maybe our legs, sometimes our elbows,
3:13 but our armpits never cross my mind.
3:16 Then I went to my dermatologist for what
3:19 I thought was just age- related odor.
3:22 You know what she said? You have a
3:23 buildup of old deodorant, dead skin, and
3:27 bacteria. I was mortified. She explained
3:30 that most deodorants, especially the
3:33 long lasting ones we tend to favor,
3:35 aren't fully washed away in the shower.
3:38 Over time, they create a sticky film
3:41 that traps odor even if you bathe
3:43 regularly. And that's what people start
3:45 to notice. Not just sweat, but this
3:48 lingering sour scent that clings no
3:50 matter what perfume you wear. I was
3:53 using antibacterial soap. I was
3:55 showering daily, but I wasn't getting
3:58 under the problem. Literally, that
4:00 doctor suggested I start using a soft
4:03 exfoliating cloth or a gentle scrub just
4:06 two or three times a week. Not a harsh
4:09 scrub, nothing that tears the skin, just
4:12 enough to remove buildup. And wouldn't
4:14 you know it, within a week, my underarms
4:17 felt fresher, cleaner, and even
4:20 smoother. Let me tell you, the first
4:23 time I exfoliated properly, I was
4:25 stunned. The washcloth turned a little
4:28 gray. That was weeks of buildup I didn't
4:31 even know was there. From then on, I
4:34 made it part of my routine, especially
4:37 in summer. You don't need fancy
4:39 products. A washcloth and warm water can
4:43 do the trick if you're consistent. And
4:46 always rinse thoroughly afterward.
4:48 residue is what causes that tacky
4:50 feeling that turns into odor later in
4:53 the day. So, yes, deodorant is
4:56 important, but if you're not exfoliating
4:58 under your arms once in a while, you're
5:01 just layering new product on top of old
5:03 grime. It's like putting perfume on top
5:05 of old fish. Not a good mix. Three,
5:09 ignoring your shoes. Ah, shoes. They
5:12 support us, carry us through life, and
5:15 if we're being honest, they're often
5:16 neglected. You probably clean your
5:19 floors. You vacuum your rugs. But when
5:22 was the last time you cleaned the inside
5:23 of your shoes? I'll confess something
5:26 that's a little embarrassing. There was
5:28 a stretch in my 70s where I had this one
5:31 pair of orthopedic sandals I wore
5:34 everywhere. Around the house, to the
5:36 garden, quick trips to the store. They
5:39 were so comfortable, perfect arch
5:41 support, easy to slide on. But one day,
5:45 I caught a whiff of something unpleasant
5:47 near the entryway. I blamed the dog. I
5:50 blamed the grandkids. Turns out it was
5:54 my shoes. And not the Sauls, the insides
5:58 over time. Our feet change. We sweat
6:01 differently. Some of us develop more
6:03 foot odor as we age, especially if we're
6:06 on certain medications or have
6:09 circulation issues. And because our
6:11 sense of smell can also decline a bit
6:13 with age, we might not even notice that
6:16 our footwear has turned into a mobile
6:18 odor trap. Here's what I learned. Most
6:21 shoes, yes, even those expensive
6:24 orthopedic ones are washable. At the
6:27 very least, the insoles can be removed
6:29 and cleaned. I now air out my shoes in
6:32 the sun at least once a week, sprinkle a
6:35 little baking soda in them overnight,
6:37 and alternate pairs. And I always wear
6:40 socks or footies, even with slip-ons.
6:43 That tiny barrier keeps sweat from
6:46 soaking into the lining and cuts down on
6:48 odor by a lot. One of the best tips I
6:51 got, use tea bags. Dry unused black tea
6:55 bags placed in your shoes overnight can
6:57 absorb moisture and reduce odor
7:00 naturally. And it's a whole lot cheaper
7:03 than fancy sprays. Now, don't get me
7:05 wrong, I still love my comfy old shoes,
7:08 but I treat them with the same care I
7:11 treat my skin because, believe it or
7:13 not, a lot of the odors people associate
7:16 with aging, they're not coming from you.
7:19 They're coming from what's on your feet.
7:22 Four, using too much fragrance to mask
7:24 odors. Oh, this one hits close to home
7:27 because I used to be the queen of
7:28 perfume. Ever since I was in my 20s, I
7:32 had my scent. You know, the one the
7:35 bottle that sits on your vanity, maybe
7:37 with a tiny satin bow, maybe in a glass
7:40 bottle that makes you feel a little more
7:42 elegant with each spray. Mine was Chanel
7:45 number five for decades. A classic. I
7:49 felt more me when I wore it. But let me
7:52 tell you something I didn't understand
7:54 until well into my 60s. There's a fine
7:57 line between a signature scent and a
8:00 cloud of cover up. And that line gets
8:03 thinner as we get older. As our skin
8:06 changes with age, so does the way it
8:08 holds onto fragrance. What once smelled
8:11 light and floral in our 40s can turn
8:13 heavy, even sour in our 70s. Our body
8:18 chemistry evolves due to menopause,
8:20 medications, even what we eat. I didn't
8:23 know this at first. All I knew was that
8:26 one day I caught a whiff of my own
8:28 perfume and it didn't smell quite right.
8:32 Not bad exactly, but not like me either.
8:35 So, what did I do? I sprayed more. That
8:39 was my mistake. I assumed that if I
8:41 couldn't smell it, no one else could.
8:44 But, as I later learned, your nose
8:47 adapts. The more you wear a scent, the
8:50 less you notice it, but others don't
8:52 lose sensitivity. I had one poor
8:55 neighbor who always gave me hugs with
8:57 that polite half smile and watery eyes.
9:01 It wasn't until she gently said, "Your
9:04 perfume is strong today that I realized
9:06 I had been walking around like a
9:08 onewoman fragrance department." And
9:11 here's the kicker. When you use perfume
9:13 to cover body odor, whether it's from
9:15 underarms, clothing, shoes, or even
9:18 scalp, it doesn't neutralize the smell.
9:21 It mixes with it. The result, a complex,
9:25 often unpleasant blend that sticks in
9:27 the air like bad soup. These days, I've
9:30 made the switch. I keep a light,
9:33 alcohol-free body mist for special
9:35 occasions and rely more on staying clean
9:38 than masking anything. I also started
9:41 keeping a small bag of unscented baby
9:43 wipes in my purse. Not for babies, just
9:46 for me. If I'm out and about and feel
9:49 like I've gotten a little ripe, I excuse
9:51 myself, wipe down my neck, underarms,
9:53 and hands, and I feel fresh again. No
9:56 clouds, no sneezing grandkids, just
9:59 clean confidence. So, yes, you can still
10:02 wear fragrance. But use it as a
10:05 flourish, not a disguise. And always
10:08 remember, clean smells better than
10:11 anything in a bottle. Five, not washing
10:14 your hair accessories. Let me ask you a
10:16 question and be honest. When was the
10:19 last time you washed your hairbrush or
10:21 your comb or your favorite little
10:24 scrunchie you keep in your purse? If you
10:26 had to pause, you're not alone. For
10:29 years, I thought washing my hair was
10:31 enough. But what I didn't realize was
10:34 that every time I used that old brush or
10:36 tied my hair up with the same elastic, I
10:39 was reintroducing old oils, bacteria,
10:42 and product buildup back into my clean
10:44 scalp. I had this velvet scrunchie I
10:47 adored. Got it at a market in Italy back
10:50 in the day. It was soft, a deep
10:53 burgundy, and I wore it constantly. But
10:56 after a few months, I noticed something
10:58 strange. My scalp started itching a bit.
11:01 My pillowcase smelled a little off. I
11:05 chocked it up to age, but then I did a
11:07 little test. I sniffed that scrunchie up
11:10 close. I nearly dropped it. It smelled
11:14 like old perfume, hairspray, and let's
11:17 be honest, sweat. And that smell was
11:20 rubbing against my scalp day in and day
11:22 out. Most of us wouldn't think twice
11:25 about changing a towel or washing
11:27 pillowcases weekly. But our brushes and
11:31 accessories, we forget them. Meanwhile,
11:34 they're collecting sebum, dead skin
11:36 cells, dandruff, and every bit of
11:38 product we use. Gel sprays, dry shampoo,
11:41 you name it. Here's what I learned. Hair
11:44 brushes should be cleaned weekly. Take a
11:47 comb or a pen to pull out the trapped
11:49 hair. Then soak the brush in warm water
11:52 with a little shampoo and baking soda.
11:55 Let it sit for 30 minutes. Scrub with an
11:57 old toothbrush and rinse. Dry
12:01 thoroughly. As for scrunchies,
12:03 headbands, and fabric clips, they belong
12:06 in your laundry just like socks. I now
12:09 keep a little mesh laundry bag just for
12:12 accessories. Every week I toss in
12:14 whatever I've used and give them a
12:17 gentle cycle wash. No more weird scalp
12:20 smells. No more itchy forehead. Just
12:23 clean, fresh hair that stays clean
12:26 longer. The lesson, don't let the tools
12:28 that help you look good become the very
12:31 thing that makes you smell bad. They
12:34 deserve care, too. Six. sleeping in worn
12:37 pajamas and sheets too long. Oh my
12:40 goodness, I used to be terrible about
12:42 this. I had this old flannel night gown
12:46 that I wore every winter night for
12:48 almost a decade. It was warm,
12:51 comforting, and had that broken in
12:53 softness I couldn't find anywhere else.
12:56 But you know what else? It had years of
12:59 skin cells, body oils, and traces of
13:02 night sweats because I wasn't washing it
13:04 nearly enough. It's easy to overlook,
13:08 especially when you live alone or your
13:10 partner's just as relaxed as you are.
13:12 But your body doesn't stop functioning
13:15 at night. In fact, some of us sweat more
13:18 while we sleep than during the day.
13:20 Tossing and turning, especially under
13:22 thick blankets, creates a damp, warm
13:25 environment, a breeding ground for
13:27 bacteria and odor. Doctors say that your
13:30 sheets should be washed at least once a
13:33 week. pajamas every two to three wears,
13:37 especially in summer. But I know how
13:39 tempting it is to stretch it out. I used
13:43 to say, "Well, I'm not dirty when I go
13:45 to bed, so it's fine." But here's the
13:48 thing. Even clean skin still sheds.
13:51 You're lying in your own skin flakes.
13:53 Breath, drool. Yes, we all do it. And
13:56 perspiration every single night. I had a
13:59 friend over once, my oldest friend from
14:02 college. and she stayed the night. The
14:05 next morning, she was kind, but she
14:07 asked me gently, "Do you ever wash your
14:10 pillowcases more than once a month?"
14:12 That was a wakeup call. I realized I had
14:15 just gotten too comfortable, literally.
14:18 Now, I have a little system. I keep two
14:21 full sets of sheets in rotation, one in
14:24 the wash and one on the bed. I also keep
14:27 a few pairs of fresh night gowns or PJ
14:30 sets folded in my dresser. I change them
14:33 every other day without fail. And guess
14:36 what? I sleep better. My skin looks
14:39 better. And I wake up without that
14:42 musty, sour smell clinging to my
14:44 neckline or pillow. One last thing,
14:47 don't forget your actual pillows and
14:50 mattress. I sprinkle baking soda on the
14:53 mattress once a month, let it sit, and
14:55 vacuum it up. Keeps everything fresher.
14:58 And I wash the pillows themselves twice
15:01 a year. Clean bed, clean sleep, clean
15:04 scent. It makes a world of difference.
15:07 Listen, ladies, aging is beautiful, but
15:10 there's no shame in keeping fresh while
15:12 we do it. These silent little mistakes,
15:15 I made most of them myself. And once I
15:18 fixed them, I felt more confident, more
15:20 comfortable, and yes, better smelling.
15:23 So, let's age with grace, but also with
15:26 good hygiene. If this video helped you,
15:29 please like, subscribe, and leave a
15:31 comment below. What's one scent that
15:33 reminds you of your youth? And don't
15:36 forget to join my free Savvy Senior
15:38 newsletter filled with weekly tips for
15:40 confident, radiant aging. The links
15:43 right in the description. Take care of
15:45 yourself and each other. See you in the
15:49 next
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