The previous posts have had quite a serious tone, almost zealous and I truly don’t want to have readers come here believing that’s what they should expect coming here. You see I understand I’m not exactly a squeaky clean individual… well actually I am.

Clean that is, fresh, radiant, taste the rainbow glisteningly clean from head to toe.
Which got me thinking that today I want to talk about personal hygiene and try and discuss how people manage it and why it’s so complicated for many. This will be a long post but I do hope you read until the end, and remember you can always take a break, bookmark and come back later to finish.

How often should a person clean themselves? How SHOULD a person clean effectively? Not everyone is taught the same standards and culturally not everyone follows the same standards and some people don’t have any standards at all through no fault of their own due to injury, circumstances (such as mental or physical issues) or they purposely choose not to follow a reasonable cleaning regime. Let’s talk about that.

However before we delve into the nitty gritty we do need to address a reality for millions of people worldwide when it comes to personal hygiene as it faces barriers as much as food related issues.

There are certain scenarios where keeping yourself clean is not top priority in fact it may be nigh impossible to expect a daily cleaning routine and there are some who rely on others to assist with their cleaning which in itself can be a delicate, humiliating, humbling or hostile process and unfortunately can also be a neglected process if not performed at all. There are many also who are ABLE and want to keep themselves clean but lack the resources, time and ability to do so.

There are also situations where a person cleans themselves but their clothes are dirty OR the clothes are clean but their bodies are dirty. Being clean, presenting yourself as such requires your body and clothes to be clean for the most part.

Before I continue I want to make clear that this post is not about solutions to every situation. They are suggestions derived from a variety of situations that may apply to anyone at any time and may be applied today personally or to someone you know. There will be no charts, no schedule and no strict “laws” provided. What the goal here is today is to simply decide what can YOU do “better” starting today and what SEED can you pass onto others to better their hygiene.

The most vulnerable of humanity are infants and most of us understand they need utmost care which includes (gentle) daily cleansing, washing the scalp/hair let’s say at least twice a week and prompt cleaning of the genital and rectum area following body waste and urination. While older children to a certain age also need this level of care until they can perform the cleansing tasks efficiently on their own, there are those in need of caregivers (some for life) to assist with these tasks.

I bring up these comparisons not to infantise those in need of care but to highlight the baseline standard of diligence must remain the same and caring for another person’s hygiene is admittedly a delicate and physically demanding task.
For those who do this work, whether personally for a loved one or professionally while keeping the individuals dignity intact deserve society’s and the heavens’ immense respect.

For individuals who find themselves in crisis, war, extreme poverty or true survival mode, keeping yourself “clean” be that your body, clothes or lack thereof is understandably not priority over food and safety from harm. With that stated, when given the opportunity should there be available excess water not reserved for just drinking but suitable for washing, it would be beneficial to use that to cleanse all vital areas starting with your face and finishing with your lower regions last, followed by cleansing or replacing clothing should the situation allow it.

Individuals who find themselves experiencing homelessness, but are fortunate enough to be in a town or city that offers social services, should find out what is available and what is free as soon as possible. Figure out what is accessible to you and what schedules you can realistically meet. I suggest traveling as light as possible, ideally just your ID/paperwork, communication devices, one set of clothes in a backpack, and maybe one handbag.
Much like a Globetrotter or Nomad, knowing when to let go of excess belongings is difficult, but traveling light makes it significantly easier to navigate public showers, utilise shelters, and launder your clothes. Please do keep your vital possessions in storage if you can, but carry only the essentials until your situation improves. I want to be clear and brutally honest that keeping clean raises your self-worth and drastically changes how you are perceived and treated by the society surrounding you.
I understand that much like being in a crisis or survival mode, not every goal can be met in a day let alone a week. I hope this advice can provide a path of traction back to a sense of self-reliance.

Before I continue I do understand showers (or bath) are used quite often as the default for washing for their implied speed and water use efficiency and that would be with use of soap, cleansing gel and shampoos/condition as needed if available. The very minimum would always be just water (warm ideally) and a cloth to wipe with and that can be easily done at a sink or a container to hold the water such as a bucket as many in the world make do so in actuality.

For many people, mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, OCD or PTSD can severely disrupt personal hygiene routines or cause them to be neglected altogether.
While I cannot provide a cure-all solution, I understand that this struggle can look like going days without washing your body or being entirely unable to face dental hygiene. This is a complex topic, but I truly believe that with time, grace and support from medical professionals and loved ones that those experiencing these barriers can find their way back to a manageable routine. It also doesn’t escape me that those in survival mode or experiencing homelessness as well as other situations I will touch on shortly are often battling these exact same mental health hurdles at the same time. It makes addressing hygiene incredibly difficult and creates an unfortunate vicious cycle many find difficult to break.

But what about the rest of the population? What about the work colleague who always carries a little funk, the fellow student whose breath is consistently sour, or your long-term boyfriend who apparently believes water alone is a substitute for soap? What about the countless people who if I may be brutally blunt, don’t wash their ass and have never given it a second thought, or those for whom washing their hair isn’t even on the radar?
These are individuals who are housed, have a stable income, and have easy, frequent access to showers and cleaning products. What is the reasoning for individuals like this, when money, mental health, and accessibility are not the barriers? Is it ignorance? Stubbornness? Personal preference?

Well… yes.

Perhaps that realisation is the biggest irony of all. Those who face the most obstacles must navigate a minefield just to secure basic essentials and yet, they are judged the harshest. Meanwhile, those blessed with the means, the tools, and the easy access to care for themselves every single day often simply choose not to.

Being ‘squeaky clean’ isn’t always life’s top priority but making an effort to be clean and presenting yourself as best as you can with the resources you have shows immense respect for your own physical and mental well-being.

If you have the time, the water, the mental fortitude and the ability then don’t take it for granted. It is a fundamental kindness you can do for yourself and for the people around you. So, if you can? Go ahead and do it.

Regards,

Alexander/Zenchi