How to Clean Your Body Without a Shower or Bath
At times, you may be on doctor's orders not to use a bath or shower to cleanse yourself due to surgery or illness. Others finding themselves in such a situation may be truckers or traveling, folks participating in disaster relief, or those simply away from a full bathroom for prolonged periods of time. While it may be driving you buggy not being able to take a good soak, there are methods to clean your body without a bath or shower used in nursing homes and hospitals that you can use at home or away. These products are designed to give you the fresh feeling of a good shower and shampoo--minus the water, of course. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Purchase a package of rinse-free bath cloths and rinse-free bath caps. These are used in hospitals and nursing homes for patients who are not ambulatory for bathing and shampooing the hair. You may purchase them online in bulk size or at medical supply companies and some large discount stores such as Sam's Club. As of late 2009, small packages were running in the area of $5 for a single bath cap and $5 for a package of eight bath cloths.
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Remove the label from the rinse-free bath pack and pull out a single cloth.
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Begin to cleanse your body by first wiping your face, chest, and neck area with the first cloth. Dispose of cloth.
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Use a second cloth to wipe your right arm, beginning at the shoulder and working your way down to the hand. Discard cloth, and repeat instructions on your left arm with a fresh cleansing cloth.
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Continue with a fresh bath cloth for each of the following body parts in this order: perineum (scrotum or vaginal area), right leg, left leg, back, and buttocks. Discard used cloths.
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Open the package with the rinse-free shampoo cap and place package with the cap intact in the microwave for thirty seconds. Do not overheat cap in order to avoid burning.
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Place over your head and hair, tucking in any wayward strands before massaging.
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Massage your scalp with the cap in place to clean and soften hair for one to two minutes for short hair, and three to four minutes for longer hair.
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Discard the rinse-free shampoo cap in the trash and style your hair as usual.
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Tips & Warnings
Always follow the manufacturer's directions on any rinse-free products you may purchase.
If you will be confined for long periods without facilities, you may opt to purchase hospital-size portions of these products at the links located in the Resource section of this article.
