washing intimate places

I used to do an 'under and up' but the hose on our new shower is too short so I'd have to jump up and down.

I have a very clean tummy button though.

merlot janeainsworth I was used to a daily 'shower' as we lived in E Africa and was sluiced down every evening after the beach!

I'm a big believer in handstands in the shower.;-)

I used to have thrush continually until I saw a doctor who said that its possible that I was keeping too clean by constantly washing with soap as it effects the ph and causes infections to take hold. Since then I have been very careful with washing and only use water.

A good wipe with a handful of stinging nettles, well known for their cleansing properties!

But oh, the delights of the Closimat, that I experienced in the hospital after having ds2! Clean, soothed and dried with warm air!

Just thought of another use for those fancy Karcher steam cleaners.

I can't do without wet wipes, I have to use them post exercise and post loo, I have a shallow bath every 2 days so the nether regions are always sparkling ? I also have a quick rinse in the shower post bath, then I usually have a full on deep sea swimsoak once a week, post stress !! ?

I do not understand this obsession with making sure that your undercarriage smells of some product. There is naturally a slight smell and it is part of sexual attraction. It is the product advertisers that have convinced us that no part of us should smell of anything, ever.

Many years ago I was told by a Dr in the "Female" clinic that you should NEVER use anything but plain water "down below". Also she advised against baths with perfumed soaps, salts etc added. In fact she did not rate baths at all from the point of view of infections, as water can access the body too high up when sitting or lying in the bath.
Needless to say I haven't cleaned "down below" with anything but plain water and a clean flannel since!

Clairseptember.

That really made me smile.

Just to avoid any confusion, I meant the inner labia, the outer labia can just be soaked in the bath or cleaned like the rest of the body. I am maybe confusing things by saying the vagina which I take to mean the canal inside the body. Hope that clears any confusion, also I read about this subject in 'cosmopolitan' magazine but I cant remember what they said about washing. Thank you all for your comments.

btw I just use water and a cloth, if I put anything in the bath I tend to sting.

I cannot believe this discussion has spilled over 4 pages.
The advice and variety is amazing. Normal healthy people (ie no specific problems in that area) should wash in shower or bath and then leave alone. No sprays and certainly no pant liners. I cannot believe someone has been using them for 40 years. What a waste of money and must surely only be helping the company who produces them with their profits!!!

I use panty liners because no matter how well you wash there is still a natural lubrication in that area and there is always a residue on underwear. I like nice clean white knickers on my line hence the panty liners.
anyone who doesn't like the discussion should not bother reading it, however I hope that some people may have got reassurance from it.

Maybe you panty liner addicts should get a swab done?

I had a swab done not too long ago as I had had a urine infection due to my immunity being lowered and I got my 'female bits ' done too and I had nothing wrong down there. Everyone knows there is a natural secretion and its bound to mark underwear. That's why panty liners are useful, especially in summer.

BTW an ex boyfriend of DD used to spray deodorant on his penis after washing. Does anyone know of men doing this ? sound horrible, I wouldn't want to smell a penis under any circumstances.

etheltbags

Perhaps some wear very discreet panty liners because the muscles are not all they should be after childbearing? Not enough to warrant surgery but enough not to respond to daily exercises. And worse with a cough. Just a thought.

Just thought of another use for those fancy Karcher steam cleaners.

Well, I have the Karcher vacuum window cleaner or wouldn't that be the right thing to use?

I hate to see knickers on the line with stained middles, so it doesn't matter what anyone uses the pan ty liners for as long as it protects the underwear.

hicaz46- just like you-my mind truly boggles about the 4 pages ....

<sigh>
For once I agree. Are we really so short of intelligent discussion topics?

jamila certainly not. It's far too wide, you'd never be the same again . Mind you, might not be as painful as a steam cleaner!

Whilst discussions about stained knickers is not particularly inspiring I think the OP was a legit topic to explore as it appears there are in fact a wide range of views on the correct approach to washing female genitalia!

I know the OP was about a serious subject, but I think this is the funniest thread I've read on here since joining last year! My imagination is working overtime at visualising some of you with a shower head, especially merlotgran jumping up and down!

I think a bidet is the best answer, but in its absence, I keep a small plastic bottle in the bathroom that I fill with lukewarm water from the washbasin, and use to rinse myself after going to the toilet in the morning, first behind then in front, but I am lucky to have a small bathroom in which the sink is next to the toilet. And it does make the seat wet and requires a certain amount of dexterity ( but not as much as jumping up and down in the shower). And yes, panty liners are useful if you have a bad cough or weak muscles, just a few drops could leave a damp patch on a friend's sofa. This is the reality of growing old for some people.

I notice no-one has mentioned bacterial vaginosis, which can cause a smell and is thought to be a result of the pH changes that we experience when we are older.
I've seen it mentioned on a TV advert but I can't remember what product they were promoting.

I don't use soap, apart from a small dollop of shower gel for my armpits or handwash for my hands, never use it on my face and stick to plain water for external nether regions.