The short answer: warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap on the outside, and nothing on the inside. The genital area is more sensitive than the rest of your body, and most hygiene problems come from doing too much rather than too little. Here’s what actually works, whether you have a vulva or a penis.
The Inside Cleans Itself
If you have a vagina, the most important thing to understand is that the vagina (the internal canal) is self-cleaning. Specialized cells maintain a slightly acidic environment, with a pH between 3.8 and 4.2. About 95% of the bacteria living there are lactobacilli, which produce lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide. That acidity makes it very difficult for harmful bacteria and yeast to take hold.
The vulva, on the other hand, is the external area: the outer and inner lips, the clitoral hood, and the skin surrounding the vaginal opening. This is the part you clean. The vagina handles itself.
How To Wash the Vulva
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends washing your vulva with plain, fragrance-free soap and cool or lukewarm water. After rinsing, gently pat dry rather than rubbing. That’s genuinely all it takes.
When you use the bathroom, always wipe from front to back. The goal is to avoid dragging fecal bacteria toward the vaginal and urethral openings. Those bacteria, particularly E. coli, are a leading cause of urinary tract infections. Use unscented, uncolored toilet paper.
How To Wash the Penis
If you’re circumcised, washing your penis with mild soap and water during a regular shower is sufficient. If you’re uncircumcised, gently pull the foreskin back and wash underneath with a mild, fragrance-free soap. Rinse thoroughly, then dry the area before sliding the foreskin back into place.
Skipping this step allows smegma to build up under the foreskin. Smegma is a natural mixture of oils and dead skin cells, but when it accumulates, it can cause odor, irritation, and even infection. Cleaning under the foreskin once or twice a week is enough for most people, though daily washing is fine if you use a gentle soap. Never insert cotton swabs or other objects into the urethral opening.
If you can’t retract your foreskin at all, a condition called phimosis, you won’t be able to clean under it properly. A doctor can recommend treatment options, which may include a topical steroid cream.
Products To Avoid
The genital skin is thinner and more absorbent than skin elsewhere on your body, which makes it more reactive to chemicals. ACOG explicitly advises against douching, feminine sprays, “full body deodorants,” baby wipes, and talcum powders. Douching is especially harmful because it washes away the protective bacteria that keep the vaginal pH balanced, increasing your risk of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
Scented tampons, pads, and feminine wipes can irritate sensitive tissue and disrupt the vaginal microbiome. Even products labeled “natural” aren’t automatically safe. Ingredients like baking soda and essential oils can still cause irritation. If a product touches your genitals, fragrance-free and dye-free are the two labels that matter most.
What To Wear
Cotton underwear is the single best fabric choice for genital health. Cotton breathes well and wicks moisture away from the skin, which limits the warm, damp conditions that bacteria and yeast thrive in. Synthetic fabrics trap heat and moisture, even when they feel lightweight.
Some underwear looks and feels like cotton but contains synthetic fibers, so check the label. A small cotton crotch panel sewn into synthetic underwear doesn’t offer the same protection as a fully cotton pair. If you deal with recurring infections or irritation, switch to 100% cotton and consider a looser fit. Plain white cotton is the least likely to cause a skin reaction.
After Exercise or Swimming
Sitting in sweaty workout clothes or a wet swimsuit creates a perfect environment for yeast overgrowth and bacterial irritation. Change out of damp clothing as soon as you can. Keeping a spare pair of cotton underwear in your gym bag is a simple habit that makes a real difference, especially if you’re prone to yeast infections or folliculitis.
During Your Period
Menstruation doesn’t require a dramatically different routine, but the timing of product changes matters. The CDC recommends changing pads every few hours regardless of flow, and more often on heavy days. Tampons should be changed every 4 to 8 hours, and you should never wear a single tampon longer than 8 hours. Use the lowest absorbency tampon that handles your flow. If one tampon lasts a full 8 hours without leaking, you can likely size down in absorbency.
If you use a menstrual cup, rinse and clean it daily during your period. Once your period ends, sanitize it by rinsing thoroughly and placing it in boiling water for one to two minutes. Wash your hands both before and after handling any menstrual product. Stick to unscented pads and tampons, and choose products without a plastic coating when possible.
During your period, the CDC suggests rinsing the vulva with water alone. If you normally use a mild soap, that’s still fine, but water is sufficient for the additional washes you might take throughout the day.
After Sex
Sexual activity can push bacteria toward the urethra, which is why UTIs after sex are so common. The simplest prevention step is urinating shortly after sex. This flushes bacteria out of the urethra before it can travel to the bladder. Staying well hydrated makes this easier and more effective. Rinsing the vulva or penis with warm water afterward is also a good habit, though soap isn’t necessary every time.
Signs Something Is Off
Normal vaginal discharge is clear to white, varies in amount throughout your cycle, and has a mild or no odor. Changes in color, texture, or smell can signal an infection:
- Bacterial vaginosis: thin white or gray discharge with a strong fishy odor, especially after sex.
- Yeast infection: thick, white, cottage cheese-like discharge that typically has no smell, often accompanied by itching.
- Trichomoniasis: gray-green discharge that may smell bad, sometimes with irritation or burning.
For penises, signs of a problem include persistent redness, swelling, unusual discharge from the urethra, or a smell that doesn’t resolve with regular washing. Smegma that becomes hard, discolored, or painful to clean away can also indicate an infection or skin condition that needs treatment.