A regular wash is a must for keeping fresh. Bathing helps to remove sweat before it starts to decompose.
A mild soap is always better and a clean sponge and wash-cloth are the only accessories needed. Regular washing also helps to retain your hair’s freshness.
A regular change of clothes is also a must as sweat clings to clothing. Synthetic fabrics encourages sweat to cling on resulting in unpleasant smell. Loose clothes in natural fibers are ideal because it allows sweat to evaporate.
Anti- perspirant or deodorant offer protection for the underarm area. If used daily, the level of protection gradually builds up. Always apply anti-perspirants or deodorants to clean, cool, dry skin, and allow them to dry thoroughly before dressing. Deodorant sprays for the feet can also be useful in hot weather.
Diet:
General health and keeping fresh are closely inter-related. Indigestion, heavily spiced food, excessive alcohol, smoking, and poor dental hygiene can all cause bad breath and unpleasant odor.
Baths & Showers:
The best way to relax and unwind is to head for a warm bath. Too hot a bath will make you sweat, can damage your skin (making it age more rapidly), and may cause some of the tiny blood vessels in your body to break. Never remain in a bath so long that your body skin takes on a wrinkled, waterlogged look.
A shower is invigorating, speeding up the circulation. It should be warm and not hot, or it can have the same damaging effects as the hot bath. Showers are more useful as the water pours over soaking in your own dirt. Combining the two will give you the best results. Use a shower to rinse away the soap and scum after your bath, or wash first under the shower and enjoy a relaxing soak in clean bath water later.
Washing Equipment
- Washcloth: It is very important to keep your washcloth clean and to replace it regularly, or it will become an excellent breeding ground for bacteria. Rinse it thoroughly every time you use it. Boil it at least once a week, adding a tablespoon of lemon juice, vinegar or (calamines juice) to the water to remove soap slime.
- Sponge: Natural sea sponges are expensive and deserve care. Rinse your sponge thoroughly in clean water every time you use it, and leave it to dry somewhere where all the water can drain away from it. A sponge that is left to stand in water will soon rot.
- Loofah: A loofah is actually a dried vegetable gourd. When you buy one it is flat: soak it in hot water and it will swell up. Its rough surface helps to remove dead skin cells and keep your skin soft and smooth. Rinse and drain loofahs as for natural sponges, or they will go black and mouldy.
- Back Brush: Unless you have someone handy to scrub your back for you, you will need a back brush or friction strap to get your back clean. Pick one with an abrasive action that will remove dead skin; this will help to prevent blackheads and spots developing on your back.
- Friction Mitt: This is an alternative to a loofah for removing dead skin cells, smoothing rough skin, and stimulating circulation. A mitt is most effective if you use it before your bath or shower: if this feels too harsh on your skin; use it when you are actually in the water.
- Pumice Stone: This is a piece of porous volcanic rock that provides a firm abrasive for removing rough or hard skin from your feet or elbows. Synthetic pumice stones are also available. Work up a good soapy lather and then rub the stone on your skin with brisk circular movement.
