Haphazardly dragging a soapy washrag or loufah sponge over your venter might be full enough to scavenge the surface of your skin — but properly cleaning yourbelly buttoncalls for a small extra care and attention .

The details bet on what kind of stomach button you have . People with outies , triumph : The cleaning process is easy for you . Experts generally check that all you need to do is soap up a face cloth and gently scrub your navel .

Soap and a washcloth can cultivate for innies , too , but you may need slightly more specialized tools — namely , asHealthline excuse , a cotton swab and some rub alcohol . Before you hop in the shower , coat the cotton swab in rubbing intoxicant and delicately scrub all the folds of your stomach button . If theQ - tipgets dirty quickly , it ’s a good idea to switch to a smart one . After you ’re done , repeat the physical process with water in Holy Order to get disembarrass of any redundant inebriant ; that will help oneself prevent your cutis from becoming juiceless . Since alcohol can be voiceless on sensitive skin , some doctor recommend just sticking to soap and water .

“Clean me!"

There ’s no aesculapian mandate demand you to strip your stomach button with any specific frequency . “ I recommend patient pick their navel daily in the rain shower with gentle Georgia home boy and water , ” skin doctor Dr. Susan BardtoldTeen Vogue . Other source say one to two times a week will suffice . It go without saying that if it ’s starting to smell unearthly , you ’re definitely due for a cleaning .

What Happens If You Don’t Clean Your Belly Button?

An unpleasant olfactory perception is n’t the only issue a dirty belly button can cause . Those small wrinkle are a vacation spot for bacteria . “ Moisture tends to pool there and the expanse becomes like a petri looker , ” Dr. Gary GoldenbergtoldShape . “ That alone is enough to stimulate an infection . ”

Oil , dirt , ceratin , and othergunkcan also progress up over time and solidify into a hard browned or dark Oliver Stone known as anomphalolith , or a navel stone . If that ’s not enough to convince you to houseclean your abdomen button regularly , we do n’t get it on what will .