Strip Washing

I never called it a ‘strip wash’ - it was a ‘proper wash’ - i.e. hands, face, armpits, undercarriage - when there were 6 of us in a house with one bathroom, and just a bath, no shower. When young and agile I’d stick my feet in the basin for a wash, too.

I only shower every other day now (skin too dry for more) but still have a ‘proper wash’ in between.

Why do any of you buy wipes? Are they impregnated with some cleaning lotion? Is that good for the skin? It’s certainly not great for landfill.
What’s wrong with a flannel? They have the advantage of exfoliating as you go.

When I was a child it was one bath a week "whether it was needed or not". A strip wash to the top half other days. Teeth cleaned (to some extent) with a rub from the flannel. I wasn't given a tooth brush until my father ordered my mother to buy me one when I was about sixteen and wasn't just at home or at school. I was getting embarassed by my teeth. Mum complained she would also have to fork out for toothpaste so Dad gave her some extra money.

The "possible" only got the weekly bath. Sharing the family flannel it was not possible to do otherwise...
Remember, back then Washing Day was once a week, everything (except woolens which were eventually hand washed) in the gas fired copper boiler. Two pairs of school knickers a week and a pair of "whities" for the weekend. School jumper washed at half and end of term. Everybody smelled the same back then, so nobody noticed.

These days I have a bath every four days or so, scheduled when necessary to make sure I am reasonably clean when out in public (usually shopping), expecting a visit from somebody or have a medical appointment. Other days I have a quick - very quick in the winter! - top and tail wash, generally in cold water. I only get a tank of hot water on bath day.
In hot summers I supplement these with a refreshing "mock shower". A bucket of water in the bath and a large sponge with a change of clothes. Thank goodness for washing machines!

I used the lampshade-like thing for my children to keep the shampoo out of their eyes

I have a small plastic bidet from Amazon that fits in the loo and used little water. If I don't want to shower too much as I now have dry skin, this copes with 2 of the three FFFs

I didn't buy a bidet (as spoken of above) - it was here when I came. I never knew just how brilliant they were

I can't recommend them strongly enough if you are planning new facilities. always clean and fresh down below no need for daily or every other day showers at all.

You've got me thinking about a bidet Willow3. My bladder is weak and I have to wash and change at least 3 times' a day.

What is wrong with a flannel?

I’ve heard a strip wash referred to as ‘pits and bits’ or ‘soles and holes’ ( charming!).

What soap do you use for a strip wash? Shower gel? Soap bar?

kittylester

What soap do you use for a strip wash? Shower gel? Soap bar?

I use unscented baby wash, and the same in my plastic bidet bowl

In answer to Peaseblossom re the stinging soap, I use Femfresh wash for the “possible” area! It’s gentle enough to be used on your face, or anywhere else if need be. Like others on here, our council house only had hot water when the back boiler of the coal fire was on for Mondays when mum did the washing (whatever the weather!) I first had hot running water when I went to college at 18. I thought having a sink with constant hot water in my room was absolutely wonderful.

I wash my face at the bathroom sink and if I'm not having a full shower I have a riser rail over my bath to detach the shower head to wash 'down below' every morning. I can't imagine not doing that. I have a grab rail for safety.

This all makes me think of my friend's elderly mother who went on her first coach holiday. On returning, she said "never again, I boarded the coach and all I could smell was fishy f*nnies!!"

Please wash your bits, ladies, you may not be able to smell yourself, but others can 🫢.

I appreciate that money is tight for some people, but lately, whilst shopping, I've noticed that some people, of all ages, literally stink - unwashed hair, dirty clothes, and an obvious need of a thorough wash. Yuck 🤢.

Q subject close to my heart as I've aged. I used to love my shower, often 2 a day in the heat.
I'm heading towards 90 now, aim to be very independent but so far am lucky to manage 2 showers a week. It wears me out, truly. I'm good for little else hours after.
I do however keep myself very clean buy strip washing every day. Wipes are also beside my loo ready to clean after every use.
Bits of me have to drip dry, I cannot reach. I have to use a small town too as bath towels are heavy..sounds crazy I know, but it's the best I can do under difficult circumstances.
When my husband was ill I cared for his every need..sadly no one around to help care for me..

I'm with you on the hand towels, grannygran 👍. I never use a bath towel, definitely not a bath sheet like hubby does, a hand towel does the job and is far more manageable, easier to launder too 😉.

Because of my disability I only shower once a week . Have a seat bolted to the wall in my shower which folds up . It's not the shower I find exhausting but getting dry and because I had jaundice in 2017 it damaged my skin and have to put on cream .

So I flannel wash bits than need doing daily . I said that to someone once and they asked what a flannel 🤣was so had to saw face cloth. Then they say but don't you smell so said have a sniff . Of course I don't smell. But some people who shower every day do smell because they don't change their clothes and especially if they don't dry themselves after using the loo then washing there hands .

I use Simple sensitive skin products plus a sensitive skin deodorant so I never smell of products. But have had my daughter and taxi drivers say I smell nice . No idea why so I must have my own smell just hope I don't attract insects 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Nope..why when you have a bath and/or shower would you?

Mojack26

Nope..why when you have a bath and/or shower would you?

To save water
To save time
To save energy (both your own, plus gas/electricity used to heat your water)
To be kind to your skin!

I shower daily , but I’m a gym goer and walk my dog at a brisk pace. Also I still get night sweats, so need a morning shower .
My mums 90 and has a strip wash daily , now helped by her carer . She physically can’t get into the shower which is over the bath . She uses a flannel or a flannel mitt.

I shower daily and, like another GN’er said, I would feel very grubby and unfresh if I didn’t.

Daily, brisk dog walks, gardening, I sweat.

Me too BrownCow I just couldn’t go without a daily morning shower, I don’t sweat even when I do heavy manual work, or in very hot weather I ve never sweated even when I lived in the tropics …but I do like my shower

Not sweating is an extremely rare and potentially dangerous condition. Didn't we learn lots about that when Andrew Windsor claimed he couldn't sweat? Sweating is completely normal and desirable, it's the body's way of cooling so it doesn't 'cook' from the inside out. People sweat at different rates but virtually everybody sweats even if only minimally.
I used to shower twice a day, now I have the briefest of coolish daily showers but my skin is very dry. I have trouble getting out of the bath so that is a rare treat these days. Strip washes take me back to my childhood, when even with a bathroom and an immersion heater a daily bath wasn't the norm.
I've heard the 'we shower and bathe too much' before, but wonder why a strip wash would be less skin drying than a quick shower? I'm not disputing it, just wondering if there's a reason.

It's good to use an all over body moisturiser, it doesn't have to be expensive, I use one from Aldi. It really makes a difference to the look and feel of my skin, it also helps with itchiness due to dryness.

CeraVe is a superb all over body moisturiser, probably the best I've tried except for vv expensive stuff.