Genital hygiene on extended walks

[crollsurf]

Jumping in a creek in Summer in the nude, even in the Snowy Mountains, is one of the joys of bushwalking but on extended walks in Winter... not something I'm keen on. After about 3 days things start to get a bit pongy around the genital area and I was wondering if there could be potential health issues, when it comes to multi-week hikes.

Other than the smell, is it even an issue?
If It is an issue, I'm curious to know how others address it. When to wash and how to wash.

[rcaffin]

Snicker.
Dunno about the 'health issue', but there can be a comfort issue.

In the snow we sometimes have an English Wash inside the tent. A pot of warm water and a washer, and strip down to the waist. Scrub with washer then grab for the towel.
Other times we (might) have a French Wash inside the tent. Ditto, but strip UP to the waist. The wash the washer carefully.

Cheers
Roger

[Moondog55]

Actually Yes it can if you are one of those who suffer from bad crotch rot
Keep it clean and dry doesn't only apply to socks. Give your skin some air as often as possible Walk naked if you can etc Use a good body powder if you can find one

[Mark F]

A sponge bath of the crotch, under arms etc every second day is a good start. It is also important to change/wash undies on the same rotation. Use of an antifungal (tinea) cream also helps keep things "nice".

[Neo]

Biodegradable bamboo baby wipes like the Gaia brand are refreshing for face and all corners. Also a salt deodorant called Body Crystal is a pump spray with potassium alum. The unsented one if you can find it. Works 'down there' and good under toes before putting socks on.

[myrtlegirl]

Personal hygiene and washing can be tricky in Tassie, as it can be awfully cold, even in summer. So when washing: take your top things off and wash down as far as possible. Take your bottom things off and wash up as far as possible. Then wash possible.

[puredingo]

If I'm lucky enough to be camping anywhere near a big enough body of water I'll take the plunge, even mid winter, even for a nanosecond.

Makes all the difference between a sound night sleep or writhing and itching all night long. Especially around the knackers where heat generates fast while tucked up in a sleeping bag...gotta keep the boys cool.

[stepbystep]

Merino underwear helps a lot. Plus a combination of dip and scream, strategic wiping and a blow dry B)

[ofuros]

Your taking your wet clothes off at the end of the day & changing into warm dry
clothes anyway....might as well have a quick wipe down with a damp cloth,
it'll clean away the sweat, dirt & the tiredness your feeling, leaving you feeling brand new again...

[Nuts]

A kilt, better still free-ballin? Not my cup of tea but I understand hygiene/smell and comfort are greatly improved, with the ability to refresh on-the-go with a quick bob at water crossings.

[Neo]

...free-ballin...

This thread kind of ties in with that underwear thread where the popular choices were merino, Uniqlo airism and the kmart 'coolmax everyday' undies. I'm liking the $8 kmart longer leg ones.

[madpom]

I expected the catch for the original poster to be lack of available water for washing in summer ... but was surprised to see the concern is about winter washing.

I can say that except for a very few tops camps with only carried water I've washed from head to foot every night in the bush or hills for the last 15 years. Summer, or winter. A wash as soon as I arrive at a hut, or for camping first thing the tent goes up, second is a full wash - whilst the body's still warm from the walk. Below the snowline that means dipping limbs into meltwater one at a time, scrubbing briskly and finishing off with trunk & privates before towelling down & diving into the tent / hut to get dressed. Above the snowline it means a snow-scrub. Generally either is done stripped down to be as quick as possible, unless I'm in a busy area where you have to the the frustrating beach-change dance - stripping one bit at a time and preserving people's modesty.

You might be marginally colder for 10 minutes after the wash, but come 3am when it's 14 below you will be so much warmer for having removed all that salt from your skin. And as someone who get sweat-rash around the waist, back (pack-contact) and sock-lines washing that salt off is essential health-wise.

[johnw]

...the kmart 'coolmax everyday' undies. I'm liking the $8 kmart longer leg ones.

I got 2 pairs of those last week on clearance sale for $4/pair

p.s. enjoy a dip in the river/creek etc at the end of the day if it's not too cold, keeps everything a little fresher

[CasualNerd]

Are biodegradable body wipes actually biodegradable ? I know they're usually banned from flushing in toilet systems but are they ok in National Park composting toilets ?

[Mark F]

There are several toilet systems in use for NP toilets with pumping out a common one, composting systems seem to be losing popularity. I know they clog up the pump out systems and I think it would be prudent just not to use disposable wipes regardless. I find a jiff cloth works fine. Just wash out in a bit of hot water and a drop of soap occasionally.

[Singe]

Are biodegradable body wipes actually biodegradable ? I know they're usually banned from flushing in toilet systems but are they ok in National Park composting toilets ?

I chuck them in my rubbish ziplock to be safe.

[Neo]

These degrade in 14 days apparently:

http://www.gaiaskinnaturals.com/Bamboo- ... es-90.html

Still no good for a pump or pipe system.

I needed to buy bags for a market stall once and learnt that the 'degradable' epi ones just have an added chemical that breaks them into micro-plastics sooner! So deceptive with their green coloured logo

[Biggles]

At worst you are inviting a urinary tract infection through poor hygiene, and if that takes hold in the wilderness you will be in very serious trouble. Pack a Chux wipe and soak it in the leftover hot water from brewing coffee/tea, washing with that. You then need to boil that and air dry ready for the next use. You can dramatically improve the efficacy of the wash down by adding a few drops of Thursday Plantation tea tree oil e.g. something you should have packed in the First Aid!

Do not wear the same knicks after two days.

Source: my 40 year background in renal nursing

[Biggles]

Are biodegradable body wipes actually biodegradable ? I know they're usually banned from flushing in toilet systems but are they ok in National Park composting toilets ?

No, definitely not. There is a push to have these things banned.

[DaveNoble]

Do not wear the same knicks after two days.

There is the old method for blokes who were called up for national service and then wanted to fail their medical examination. They would wear the same pair if undies for a couple of weeks, and then on the morning of the medical examination, put on a fresh pair. Apparently it usually did the trick......

And for lightweight walkers - this method is used to make a pair of undies last a month - first week - wear them normally, second week - wear them backwards. Third week - inside out and the fourth week - inside out and backwards.

One classic photo I have seen, was taken of a friend of mine at Prion Beach. The party he was in had just been from Melaleuca, up the Old River, over Feders, up Mt Bobs, down the Knobs to Vanishing Falls, then over Bisdee and VC and then to PB and down to the beach. He is standing watching the sea in just his undies. His undies are just a piece of poor elastic with a few threads hanging off...... and they were his best pair!

Dave

[GBW]

A kilt, better still free-ballin? Not my cup of tea but I understand hygiene/smell and comfort are greatly improved, with the ability to refresh on-the-go with a quick bob at water crossings.

I tried the free-ballin method in summer with a pair of oversize lightweight nylon swimming trunks after I cut out the mesh liner. Looked a bit daggy but did the trick...nice airflow, but you can't beat a sponge bath when possible.

[whynotwalk]

And for lightweight walkers - this method is used to make a pair of undies last a month - first week - wear them normally, second week - wear them backwards. Third week - inside out and the fourth week - inside out and backwards. Dave

Of course Dave you can extend that for another month by swapping undies with your walking mate on the first day of week 5. Then continue as before for weeks 5-8

cheers

Peter

[north-north-west]

That is taking lightweight a few thousand steps too far.
I stick with one day normal, one day inside out. Then change. Or wash.

[oldpiscator]

At worst you are inviting a urinary tract infection through poor hygiene, and if that takes hold in the wilderness you will be in very serious trouble. Pack a Chux wipe and soak it in the leftover hot water from brewing coffee/tea, washing with that. You then need to boil that and air dry ready for the next use. You can dramatically improve the efficacy of the wash down by adding a few drops of Thursday Plantation tea tree oil e.g. something you should have packed in the First Aid!

Do not wear the same knicks after two days.

Source: my 40 year background in renal nursing

+1 for the Tea Tree oil. Great on the feet too.

[tas-man]

+1 for the Tea Tree oil. Great on the feet too.

+2 for Tea Tree Oil - a little goes a long way as an anti fungal!

[Giddy_up]

Chux wipe down and +3 for Tea Tree Oil

[GPSGuided]

That is taking lightweight a few thousand steps too far.
I stick with one day normal, one day inside out. Then change. Or wash.

Why the inside out? Makes no sense. If there’s no staining, then just wear for 2 days. If there is staining, then turning inside out would just widen the contamination. A wet one wipe makes far more sense.

[Zapruda]

That is taking lightweight a few thousand steps too far.
I stick with one day normal, one day inside out. Then change. Or wash.

Why the inside out? Makes no sense. If there’s no staining, then just wear for 2 days. If there is staining, then turning inside out would just widen the contamination. A wet one wipe makes far more sense.

Not everyone on this forum is male, mate.

[GPSGuided]

Not everyone on this forum is male, mate.

The consideration is independent of gender. Given the absorbing power and thickness of current day underwear, any excretion would be fully absorbed, making turning over of little practical benefit. Wipe and hang up to air overnight would make more sense if washing is not possible.

[north-north-west]

That is taking lightweight a few thousand steps too far.
I stick with one day normal, one day inside out. Then change. Or wash.

Why the inside out? Makes no sense. If there’s no staining, then just wear for 2 days. If there is staining, then turning inside out would just widen the contamination. A wet one wipe makes far more sense.

Inside out because that way the cloth is only against the skin for one day. I've had issues in the past with UTIs, and this works for me. Anyone else can do what works for them.