[pct-l] hygeine tips

[Greg Kesselring]

Maybe that's true for you, but it's certainly not true for me.  Water 
without soap has worked fine for me and I have had no health troubles as 
a result.  In fact, whenever I've used anti-bacterial soaps at home, I 
hate the way my skin feels afterwards.  There are bacteria that live on 
the skin, much like we have bacteria living in the gut, in symbiotic 
relationship with our bodies.  Those bacteria are actually beneficial.  
So why would I want to sterilize my skin and kill them all?  (You want 
gastro-intestinal distress, try killing the bacteria in your gut with 
antibiotics.)

Bacteria are part of life.  It's the terrain that they live on that 
determines whether they will develop into something benign or something 
toxic.  Put an open jar of smashed grapes out in the open air and what 
do you have a few days later?  Do the same thing with a jar of cooked 
meat and see what develops a few days later.  You won't want to go near 
the jar of meat, but the grape juice will likely be drinkable.  Both 
jars were exposed to the same bacteria from the air.  It's the terrain 
that determines what kind of bacteria flourishes.

So that's why I'm not concerned about using soap every time I wash my 
hands.  That, and my experience in washing without soap for several decades.

Greg

Tortoise wrote:
> Sure you are going to get dirty on the trail.
> but lack of cleaning isn't just an appearance or comfort issue -- it is 
> a health issues, and one that could interrupt or even end you hike.
>
> One needs to clean with soap and water or other cleanser your hands 
> after relieving yourself. If not you increase your chance of 
> gastro-intestinal disease. On the trail I always put out my soap and 
> water on a rock away from water sources before heading off to relieve 
> myself. Then I use my left hand to pour water on my right (dirty) hand 
> and add soap and then rub both hands together to clean them.
>
> Similarly, you must keep your cooking and eating utensils clean or you 
> risk food poisoning or other problems. Usually in the evening, I cleaned 
> my utensils, then boiled a little water in my pot with the lid on and my 
> other utensils in it to somewhat sterilize everything. It has always 
> been enough to keep me from getting sick. Sometimes also I used the hot 
> water for my evening coffee or tea.
>
> Tortoise
>
> <> He who finishes last, wins! <>
>
>
>
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