Modern Hygiene Standards (v1.0)

Editor’s Note

The Modern Hygiene Standards (v1.0) are published below in full.

Modern Hygiene Standards
Standards for Excellence in Personal Hygiene

The Modern Hygiene Standards define the baseline requirements for personal hygiene systems, environments, and routines in contemporary residential, institutional, and care settings. They establish the minimum acceptable conditions for effective, dignified personal hygiene.

Any system, environment, or routine that does not meet these requirements is not compliant with Modern Hygiene Standards.

Implementation Guidance is provided for clarity and illustration and does not define compliance requirements.

1. Water-Based Cleansing
Personal hygiene must be primarily water-based.

Water is the established method for effective cleansing across the body. Modern hygiene applies this same principle to personal hygiene to achieve a more complete, consistent standard of cleanliness with reduced friction and irritation.

• Implementation Guidance: Water-cleansing systems should deliver controlled, non-abrasive cleaning designed to support skin health and comfort.

2. Hands-Free Routine
Modern hygiene routines must minimize unnecessary hand contact.

Hands interact with shared surfaces throughout daily life. Reducing hand involvement during hygiene routines lowers exposure risk and supports a cleaner, more reliable experience.

• Implementation Guidance: Automated or intuitive controls may be used to reduce manual interaction during washing and flushing.

3. Bathroom Environment
The bathroom must function as a personal care environment that supports physical comfort and mental well-being.

Hygiene outcomes are influenced by environmental conditions. Lighting, air quality, ergonomics, and sensory comfort contribute directly to usability, consistency, and adoption.

• Implementation Guidance: Environmental controls should support calm, safe, and accessible use across life stages.

4. Personal Dignity
Modern hygiene must preserve personal privacy and independence across life stages.

As needs change, hygiene systems should continue to support autonomy and discretion whenever safe and appropriate.

• Implementation Guidance: Solutions should minimize hands-on assistance while maintaining safety and effectiveness.

5. Early Independence
Modern hygiene systems must support early independent use.

Personal hygiene is a foundational life skill. Systems designed for intuitive, independent operation allow children to develop confidence and long-term self-reliance.

• Implementation Guidance: Water-based and low-contact systems may reduce learning barriers and caregiver dependence.

6. Resource Stewardship
Modern hygiene systems must prioritize efficient use of resources.

Advances in technology allow improved hygiene outcomes with reduced reliance on consumable products and lower total environmental impact.

• Implementation Guidance: Energy- and resource-efficient systems should minimize waste while maintaining performance.

7. Seamless Integration
Modern hygiene systems must integrate into existing environments with minimal disruption to behavior, infrastructure, or daily routines.

Widespread adoption depends on ease of installation, intuitive use, and compatibility with existing homes and facilities.

These standards apply across residential, commercial, institutional, and care environments and are intended to remain compatible with future technological and design developments.

The Modern Hygiene Standards are stewarded and published by Bare Instinct, a Benefit LLC.