We all like to pretend we’re perfectly polished, but the truth is everyone has a few gross little habits tucked away.
They might not make it into polite conversation, yet they’re surprisingly universal. There’s no real shame in these because they’re disgustingly human, but maybe save them for when you’re on your own and not in mixed company (or any company, for that matter).
1. Picking your nose
No one likes to admit it, yet most people sneak a quick pick when they think no one is looking. It might happen in the car, behind a laptop, or even under the pretence of scratching, but the habit is hard to resist because it feels oddly necessary. It’s not very attractive, but the urge to clear things out is undeniably human.
You can laugh about it because it’s so common that denying it is pointless. Everyone has done it at least once, and pretending otherwise is just another way of hiding what is basically a built-in cleaning instinct that nobody talks about openly.
2. Biting your nails
Plenty of people chew away at their nails when bored, anxious, or lost in thought. The habit often starts in childhood and clings on well into adulthood, leaving nails ragged and fingers sore. People might even feel embarrassed about it, yet still find themselves doing it automatically. Look at it as one of those small quirks nearly everyone has. At least nail clippers and polish exist to tidy things up afterwards, even if the habit sneaks back in whenever stress hits or boredom strikes.
3. Sniffing clothes before wearing them
Opening the wardrobe and giving a shirt a quick sniff test is far more common than people confess. Laundry piles up, and sometimes you’re just not sure if that jumper is fresh enough to get another outing. It saves a load of washing, but always feels slightly questionable. We’ve all done it, even if we wouldn’t admit it in public. The sniff test might not be scientific, but it’s the deciding factor for many outfits when laundry day is pushed back yet again.
4. Popping spots
Spots should technically be left alone, but the temptation to squeeze them is almost irresistible. It’s gross in the moment, yet strangely satisfying when the urge wins out, even if the mirror ends up looking like a crime scene. Most people know it’s not recommended, yet the impulse still takes over.
You can admit it without shame because nearly everyone gives in at some point. Dermatologists may disapprove, but the shared thrill of a successful squeeze makes it one of the most relatable and oddly bonding habits around.
5. Peeing in the shower
It’s not polite conversation material, but surveys show plenty of people do it. The logic is convenience, and some even claim it’s more hygienic than you would think. While most would never admit it out loud, the habit is more common than many realise.
This is incredibly widespread, despite the silence around it. It’s one of those things nobody owns up to, yet plenty quietly do, and it proves that practicality often wins over social rules when no one is watching.
6. Reusing the same water glass
Many people keep a glass by the bed or desk and refill it over and over. After a while, it starts to look a little cloudy, yet washing it feels like unnecessary effort. It becomes a personal item that only you will touch, no matter how questionable it begins to look.
It’s a lazy habit, sure, but it’s harmless. Everyone has one trusty glass that somehow becomes theirs alone, even if it hasn’t seen soap in far too long. It’s the small household confession few people ever make.
7. Letting dishes pile up
Even the neatest people let plates and mugs sit longer than they should sometimes. The pile begins as one pan or plate, and before long it becomes a leaning tower in the sink that you dread tackling. It’s not glamorous, yet it’s incredibly common. Everyone has faced the guilty moment of looking at the overflowing sink and sighing. The eventual washing session feels like penance, but it’s one of those universal signs that life just got in the way.
8. Picking at scabs
Source: Unsplash It’s a habit everyone knows is bad, yet the pull is too strong. Peeling away a scab feels satisfying, even though it leaves things sore and delays healing. It’s an oddly instinctive behaviour that few people avoid completely. Doing this is almost wired into us. Everyone has done it, and even if it earns disapproval, it’s simply one of those natural compulsions that feels impossible to resist sometimes.
9. Smelling your own armpits
Most people sneak a quick sniff now and then to check if deodorant is still holding up. It’s not attractive, but it’s practical and saves the embarrassment of discovering later that things aren’t as fresh as hoped. The habit might be done in secret, but it’s far from rare. This is one of those human checks we all rely on. Everyone does a subtle self-test once in a while, and the awkwardness of it only makes it more relatable.
10. Eating food off the floor
The five-second rule is a comforting myth that plenty of people use to justify picking something up and eating it. Whether it’s a crisp, a grape, or a biscuit, the decision is often made before hygiene even enters the conversation. What’s hilarious is that everyone has their own version of the rule. Some people have strict limits about what counts as “safe,” while others are more relaxed, but nearly everyone has bent the hygiene rules at least once.
11. Using spit to clean things
Parents have done it forever, but adults do it too. Using spit to wipe away smudges on glasses, phones, or even clothes isn’t glamorous, yet it’s oddly effective. It’s one of those shortcuts that makes perfect sense in the moment. You have to admit it works, even if it sounds gross when said out loud. From clearing smudges to quick fixes on the go, it’s the world’s oldest cleaning hack, and everyone has relied on it at least once.
12. Skipping showers
Everyone loves the idea of daily freshness, yet sometimes laziness or tiredness wins. Skipping a shower now and then is more common than most will admit, especially on lazy weekends or exhausting evenings. It’s not ideal, but it happens.
Be honest that this is normal rather than shameful. Life gets busy, and even the most polished people have opted for “tomorrow instead” when it comes to washing, which makes it a truly universal secret.
13. Fishing hair from the drain
Pulling out a clump of hair from the shower plughole is universally hated, yet it has to be done. It’s slimy and unpleasant, but ignoring it only makes the water pool higher until you give in. It’s a gross but necessary job that everyone faces eventually. The satisfaction comes when the water finally drains freely again, even if the task itself is one of the least glamorous parts of daily life.
14. Picking teeth with whatever’s handy
Toothpicks and floss are ideal, but plenty of people improvise. Using fingernails, bits of paper, or even cutlery at the table isn’t uncommon. It may look questionable, but it’s far more widespread than anyone admits. Everyone’s done this in desperation. It might not be dentist-approved, yet it proves that practicality often beats polish when something is stuck between your teeth.
