Steaming, Deodorant and Douching: How the Idea of a “Clean Vagina” Has Been Ingrained Into Our Lives

Photo by Linda Scheynius

For decades, the idea that vaginas are inherently dirty has become ingrained into society through products, marketing and myths. However, it is important to note that these products actually do more harm than good and have fed off the fear of a bad-smelling vagina or making women feel less attractive without thoroughly cleaning or douching. In this article, I want to debunk the myths which have become the norm in our lives about how we should smell, clean and take care of our vaginas and what are the things we should be doing.

I would say one of the main reasons I wanted to write this article was due to the influx of products I have seen appear on the shelves. Whether these be wipes, washes, creams and even deodorants all of these claim to promote and provide one thing: a clean vagina. It is also important to note that many of these claim to be pH balancing however these products actually do more harm than good to our pH and frankly, do quite the opposite of balancing. Talking with other vagina owners, I also realised that a fair few people douche their vaginas and actually put washes and soap inside. Looking at this through statistics, one in five American women aged between 15 to 44 douches themselves - an astounding statistic. I was so surprised at hearing this and it just shows how the idea of the “perfect vagina” has been aligned with one scrubbed and cleaned within an inch of its life. 

In recent years, I have also noticed a vast array of beauty trends surrounding vaginas and vaginal health. I would say one which stuck out to me the most was vaginal steaming. This method was popularised primarily by Gwyneth Paltrow who would supposedly sit above a steamy concoction of herbal remedies and mixes. The treatment which sounds quite relaxing is actually incredibly damaging. Steaming your vagina is a breeding ground for any unwanted bacteria and yeast infections such as candida. The growth of candida also thrives from warm, steamy conditions so vaginal steaming is a yeast infection’s dream. It feels as though many beauty treatments and methods are catered towards the insecurities of women and their personal hygiene rather than actually educating and endorsing the proper way to care for genitalia.

So, how are you actually supposed to clean your vagina? Vaginas are actually self-cleaning by naturally producing and making mucous. The mucous membrane it is lined with is also very protective against infections so, it is important not to completely rid the vagina of this. Douching and fragranced washes, powders, deodorants are unnecessary and honestly, not recommended at all. All the vagina needs is a simple wash of water, an incredibly gentle soap (I personally use an unscented soap - not fragrance is key!) and a pat dry with a towel the vulva (the exterior of the vagina). In fact, a soap isn’t actually needed - just warm water but, I understand that for many people it perhaps might not feel “clean” to them. Of course, do what is right for you! Even though the vagina can pop out babies and withstand a lot of pressure and is undeniably an incredibly strong part of our bodies, it can be quite delicate. Therefore when it comes to washing and cleaning: less is more. Another aspect to look at is underwear. Underwear is of course an everyday essential - unless you like to go commando (no judgement here!). It is of course also important to let your vagina breathe and breathability can also be ensured by particular underwear. Cotton underwear is the best choice when it comes to promoting breathability for our genitalia and even in some cases, wearing no underwear is also great - it just feels nice too. Perhaps when going to sleep, try going commando - it is important to let some air get down there. 

The idea that vaginas need to smell like a floristry is absurd and the fact that this has become ingrained in not only our mindsets but, the products and campaigns targeted towards us is also preposterous. Vaginas are self-cleaning and need very delicate and little maintenance and sitting above a box full of steam filled with lavender and cardamon is definitely not promoting this.