question for those that stripwash instead of shower

[eggyfart]

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!

I love hot water and prioritize showers.
But my gran strip washed all her life, didn't like showers and she certainly didn't smell.

It's really quite easy to lather up soap in your hands and rub it on your body.

To remove bacteria and dirt from pits and bits, this really isn't enough. You probably smell. You need to use a flannel or something similar.

Lol the shower brigade are always good for a titter 🤭

Only on MN would someone who showers every day be accused of smelling.

Only on MN would someone who showers every day be accused of smelling.

I've worked in healthcare for 12 years... believe me you can shower everyday and still smell.

A quick Google shows me multiple results where dermatologists recommend using hands only as it's more hygienic and less likely to irritate your skin. I only use an 'implement' when I exfoliate, which is roughly every 3-4 days. My family, DP's family and most of my friends are the same, and we don't smell. How ridiculous.

MoreCookiesPlease

I guess your one of those people that have never just washed a babies/child face with soap, water and a flannel. Or wiped their hands with a wipe. And obviously never topped and tailed them. Or indeed, they've never had a bath without a shower after.

Obviously you fully showered them anytime they needed cleaning.

Otherwise...ugh... gross.

And at a baby bathing in a sink
Naturally they were never clean until they had their first ever shower.

at all the pearl clutching on here.
OK, to do a basin wash (as I understand it):

• put water on flannel using tap
• rub flannel on body
• rinse flannel under tap
• add soap to flannel
• rub flannel on body
• rinse flannel under tap
• rub flannel on body
• repeat until no soap is left on body (may rinse by holding a very wet flannel and squeezing water over body if desired and if standing on a suitably absorbent surface)
• pat dry with towel

Note: To prevent freezing owing to rapidly drying water on skin, wash one part at a time. Do this in order from least to most dirty part. After, wash flannel.

Now, personally I shower daily at the moment, as I am able to and it requires less chiliness due to aforementioned rapidly cooling water on skin. But I have previously basin washed every other day unless unusually sweaty or dirty, and probably will end up doing so again at some point. It is effective at removing bacteria and odour. People who don't use soap, don't rub etc. may find it less effective, in the same way that those who shower incorrectly may smell. It's really not that remarkable.

@JinglingHellsBells

So, because you've read between the lines you think you know what OP's financial situation is? Whether basin washing would save her money is irrelevant- I objected to your post because you suggested that people who have issues with the size of their water bills are frittering their money away elsewhere on frivolity. I'm pointing out that this is not always (or even usually) the case. Even if OP is not struggling, some people are and they could do without those who are better off than them suggesting that it's probably all their own fault.

Gross. You would probably save more by having a 2 min shower and only flushing the loo when you poo.

@HotChocolateLover

Hang on, so washing with a flannel is gross but leaving urine to stagnate in your toilet for hours on end is fine? < not envy

Anyone else thinking about Kelly McGillis stripwashing in "Witness"?!

I've started strip washing in place of a showering on alternate days - nothing wrong with it at all. A small sink of water is of course going to have a lower volume than even a short short shower - especially with 'getting to temperature' time.

My skin is healthier and I don't smell any worse - in fact I probably smell less.

I'm using less water and less gas - neither of which are unlimited resources. I'm also using soap instead of shower gel

Not everything 'modern' is better

@ReganSomerset

I think you didn’t read my post. I am making the point regarding amount of water saved. Not suggesting the OP takes me up on her suggestion. That’s a choice....

It's not that you shower everyday - more about the frankly odd ideas many of you seem to hold.

Is this really a thing???

Could you save even more water by doing your dishes at the same time as your strip wash?

Red for cutlery and crockery.
Green for glassware.
Blue for your dicky bum wash.

Could you save even more water by doing your dishes at the same time as your strip wash?

Some woman on extreme cheapskates USA does that.

Detectivesantiago, that wouldn't surprise me. I now understand why some people have such poor teeth too. Perhaps a quick brush only once a day or week to save water. The stripwash has opened my eyes to many of the mysteries here.

I now understand why some people have such poor teeth too. Perhaps a quick brush only once a day or week to save water. The stripwash has opened my eyes to many of the mysteries here

🙄 Yes, that makes perfect sense. Run along now.

Teethwise I prefer to chew on a bit of tree bark, whilst keeping my pits and bits fresh by lathering up a squirrel with cuckoo spit.

As long as it's organic tree bark...

I do this every other day when not washing hair as I just can't do the 2 minute shower. Once in there my hair gets wet on the ends so I figure I may as well wash it properly and once I'm standing under the hot water I'm in there 10 mins at least . Then it takes ages to dry off properly then dry and style my hair.

Strip wash - bath mat down, lather up flannel, wash then rinse with clean flannel. Obviously paying more attention to bits likely to smell! I do my feet by putting towel on side of bath and resting feet on towel.

I can understand that it probably does seem more of a faff than a really quick shower if you are able to do this.

The stripwash has opened my eyes to many of the mysteries here

"I accept that other people do things differently to me and that what I do is not necessarily the only right way to do things, as evidenced by the multitude of people from different places and eras who managed to be happy and healthy without adhering to my every opinion."

I'm going to assume that that's roughly what you were trying to say. Badly.