Like most girls, you want to stay clean and healthy and follow the rules of proper feminine hygiene. But even when you're taking care of yourself, how do you know when you're "done?" Here are some feminine hygiene timeframes for important personal care activities, or what we like to call, "The How Long's of Feminine Hygiene."

How long should you...

...leave in a tampon?

4–8 hours. If the tampon is saturated before 4 hours, use the next higher absorbency. If it's dry with white showing after 4 hours, use the next lower absorbency. Never leave a tampon in for more than 8 hours.

...go before changing your pad?

Change it a few times throughout the day, when it becomes saturated or uncomfortable. Overnight, change your pad before bed and when you wake up.

...brush your teeth?

2 minutes or 4–5 seconds per tooth.

...wash your hands?

15–20 seconds or as long as it takes to say your ABCs.

...sleep?

8½–9 hours a night.

...nap?

30 minutes. Nap too long and you won't sleep at night.

...brush your hair?

Just long enough to get out all the tangles. (100 strokes is OK for princesses, but too long for us normal gals with non-royal hair!)

...leave in conditioner?

Wash it out right away or for wait 1–3 minutes for deeper conditioning.

...warm up before a workout?

5–10 minutes of slower or lighter exercise.

...cool down after a workout?

5–10 minutes of lighter exercise or stretching.

...hold a stretch?

10–30 seconds, breathing into the stretch. No bouncing.

...spend in the sun?

Take breaks and reapply sunscreen every 2–3 hours and after swimming.

Ask the BeingGirl Experts if you have additional questions about feminine hygiene.