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Original poster

question for those that stripwash instead of shower

358 replies

eggyfart · 05/05/2019 19:27

our monthly water bills going up! so decided to stripwash instead of shower daily, but I use the shower for hair wash days (2- 3 times a week). Well just used the sink, feel lovely and clean. But I did seem to get a bit of water on the floor!

So tell me stripwashers how do ya do it!

OP posts:
longearedbat · 06/05/2019 10:58

When I was at boarding school in the 60's we were only allowed 2 baths a week (there were no showers), on other days we had to strip wash - having been given strict instructions on how to do it. Old habits die hard. I still strip wash but it actually takes longer than a quick 2 mins in the shower if you do it thoroughly. However, I suffer from vertigo and sometimes I just don't feel stable enough to stand in the shower. I certainly don't smell!

LoafofSellotape · 06/05/2019 11:04

People who strip wash don't smell,it's people who don't wash at all who smell.

A shower might feel nice but you can get just as clean by washing- you just need to make sure you wash by one means or another!

Delatron · 06/05/2019 11:07

A strip wash sounds such a faff. Just hop in the shower!

Any money you save (and let’s be honest you won’t, you just can’t be arsed to have a shower) you’ll spend on washing at least 2 flannels every day... Or purchasing the 14 flannels needed per week.

You can have a shower in a minute so give over.

Do you also wash your feet? Because they will smell? How does that work? Must take ages contorting yourself over the sink, splashing water everywhere, swapping flannels. Versus a one minute shower....

JinglingHellsBells · 06/05/2019 11:08

@ReganSomerset

Reading between the lines the OP did not say they were in poverty. She said their water bills were going up and she wanted to reduce them.

My eyes are fully opened, thanks.

I do not beleive that saving a few litres of water is going to make that big a difference.

If you do a strip wash and a) use a bowl - you will need to change the water between each area you wash. b) if you do not use a bowl and run the tap to wet the flannels you may not save much over a shower and c) if you need to use your washing machine at 60C for a load of flannels, that is costing electricity , water and laundry liquid.

You should not be washing flannels that have poo on them (potential) with other clothes or towels or whatever, because even a hot wash may not be effective.

If the OP wants to do this properly she needs to do the hard maths of buying enough flannels, amount of water used, (measuring it in litres against the current usage), take into account water used for laundry and the associated costs.

I doubt there is much saving to be honest.

Scarcelyburnt · 06/05/2019 11:13

I've never known people who smell to admit or even realise they smell.

There is a lady at work, bless her. You can tell she must be one of the stripwash crowd she smells of perfume and generally smells like soap or something of the kind. Yet there is an unmistakable underlying stake smell. The other day, I went into a meeting room after she had used it and even though I had not seen her, I knew the smell was hers. I am sure she is confident she smells fresh because I can tell she makes an effort to smell fresh. However, she probably does not shower.

A stripwash is a wash but it is not a thorough clean. A wipe down with a cloth will not get rinse off all the dead cells and dislodge all the bacteria that causes our bodies to give off odours.

I find it really interesting that in this day and age, in a western country people still practice this less than hygienic method of keeping clean.

LoafofSellotape · 06/05/2019 11:14

I always think it's a sign of a really spoiled person if they can't work out how a strip wash works. Up to you if you want to shower or wash but honestly,if you can't work out how to wash you need to have a word with yourself!

You should not be washing flannels that have poo on them (potential) with other clothes or towels or whatever, because even a hot wash may not be effective

I think most people use toilet paper so aren't wiping themselves with pooey flannels. And a flannel in the wash is no different from washing your knickers and detergent gets everything clean anyway.

JinglingHellsBells · 06/05/2019 11:15

@eggyfart If you use the same water in the sink for all your body that is very unhygienic. You are washing the flannel out in between areas of your body and simply spreading bacteria around.

So if you change the water in the sink between each area of your body- at least 3 times for your body, arse and fanjo- that is pretty much near what you'd use for a very quick shower.

LoafofSellotape · 06/05/2019 11:15

A wipe down with a cloth will not get rinse off all the dead cells and dislodge all the bacteria that causes our bodies to give off odours

What do you think does this then,water spray from the shower?

Simonfromharlow · 06/05/2019 11:16

The people saying just have a shower obviously don't have hair that frizzes in the tiniest bit of steam! Haha

borntobequiet · 06/05/2019 11:16

I think we need a sitcom The Stripwash Crowd a wry and sympathetic comedy of manners in Austerity UK.

JinglingHellsBells · 06/05/2019 11:17

@loafofSellotape
I think most people use toilet paper so aren't wiping themselves with pooey flannels.

If you use moist toilet paper after dry, you will be amazed at how much faeces is still on your bum. try it- and see! Poo is greasy and it will not all be removed with a dry piece of paper.

(It's like trying to take make up off with a dry tissue and nothing else.)

JinglingHellsBells · 06/05/2019 11:18

What do you think does this then,water spray from the shower?

Yes, in a word.

because it's sluicing it away not simply collecting it then rubbing it somewhere else.

GirlRaisedInTheSouth · 06/05/2019 11:19

I bet the same people who try to save money on water think nothing of buying coffees, takeaways now and then, entertainments, Sky TV etc, yet whinge about their water bill.

I dunno about that, this thread wreaks (excuse the pun) of old-school miserliness. The kind of people who would not put the heating on in -12 as you can ‘just put a jumper on.’

Scarcelyburnt · 06/05/2019 11:19

I wish I had not read this thread. I have real reservations about eating things I've been offered at most people's homes because I worry about their hygiene. This has really turned me off and has worsened my fear that certain people are generally unhygienic. It will be a 'no thanks' from me when I visit certain homes and they offer me anything to eat. I guess some people rinse off plates, cutlery, cups, etc with just plain water and then reuse them?

Yuck! I want to vomit.

LoafofSellotape · 06/05/2019 11:22

I guess some people rinse off plates, cutlery, cups, etc with just plain water and then reuse them

Why would you think that?Confused

hazeyjane · 06/05/2019 11:25

Fucking hell this thread is making me twitch.

I get the feeling some people will only be happy if they are Milton fresh and living in a hermetically sealed bubble, safe from the unwashed, grubby arsed cesspit that is 'other people.'

BigSandyBalls2015 · 06/05/2019 11:26

Occasionally (shock/horror) I won’t shower or strip wash and I really don’t smell on those rare occasions. I’m sure DH and teens would soon point it out if I did.

Obv I wouldn’t do this if I’m going out, but if it’s a lazy day at home then fine. Most people really don’t get that dirty or smelly 24 hours after a shpeer!

BigSandyBalls2015 · 06/05/2019 11:26

Shower!

hazeyjane · 06/05/2019 11:27

I guess some people rinse off plates, cutlery, cups, etc with just plain water and then reuse them?

Don't panic, I only reuse them after i have wiped them dry with an old arse cloth.

Scarcelyburnt · 06/05/2019 11:52

Hazeyjane, I wouldn't be surprised if you did.

Scarcelyburnt · 06/05/2019 11:56

Bigsandy, as far as I understand it, this is not about a one off here and there. It's about people regularly, day in and day out choosing to stripwash. It is their normal day to day way of keeping "clean". Apparently it is more beneficial than a shower, better for your skin, makes you just as clean if not cleaner than a shower and leaves you smelling fresher than fresh. It also saves lots of money. Sad

00100001 · 06/05/2019 11:58

". I guess some people rinse off plates, cutlery, cups, etc with just plain water and then reuse them?"

WHY DO YOU THINK A STRIP WASH DOESN'T INVOLVE SOAP???

Bluntness100 · 06/05/2019 12:01

I had to do sink washes when I broke my ankle and I genuinely don't think you are as clean as when you shower. For the simple fact it's really quite difficult to rinse off properly with a strip wash.

I'd also agree that the difference in water is likely minimal if you lather all over then rinse off in the shower. In fact you'd likely use less.

00100001 · 06/05/2019 12:03

Shower-Is -The-Only-Possible-Way-To-Be-Clean Brigade....

did you put your days/weeks old babies in the shower every day? presumably they never had a bath in their life, nor were topped and tailed only? And I'm guessing you boiled washed washed the towel sponge/cloth on a separate wash every single time...

Obviously you put the shower toys through the dishwasher after each shower too to disinfect them.

And then disinfected the shower cubicle before anyone else used it.

Natch.

00100001 · 06/05/2019 12:06

and heaven forbid they got a bit of food on their face. I'm guessing a wet-wipe of some sort wasn't sufficient to clean their face. so you popped them in the shower to clean them off.

Because as you point out, you can't possibly be at all clean unless you have a shower....