Can I just add that mixer taps are common and very non-U. Only chesire and essex "mansions" have them, often gold coloured. Footballer's wives would like them.

There's a big difference between using soap (hopefully antibiotic) and water on your hands and scrubbing them together after using the bathroom, and showering your entire body as part of daily -- or in some cultures, weekly -- hygiene. And unlike full baths or showers when it is good to exfoliate the skin, removing dead cells, that is hardly necessary every time you use the bathroom. There's a big difference between sanitizing your hands a few times a day and giving your body a good hygienic scrub.

For those of you who are puzzled as to why people use cloths to wash - what do you wash your dishes with? I'll bet it's not your hands. What do you wash your floors, your counters, your sinks, your shelves, your cars......with? I'm guessing some sort of cloth/sponge and not your hands. Same with the birthday suit, a cloth works better. I'm just sayin.

If you don't use a washcloth, how do you clean your back?

"If you don't use a washcloth, how do you clean your back?"

Maybe you're lucky enough to have someone do it for you?????

One more thought on washcloths. (This really is kind of a funny topic for a travel website, if you think about it...
8-} )

Sometimes the water pressure in showers is really bad, so scrubbing up with a cloth or sponge is the best way to get clean quickly. If there is only a trickle of water, how are you supposed to get clean? Even worse is trying to wash & rinse long, thick hair. I must have conditioner build-up from 1983, when I first started going to Europe! lol!

If you don't use a washcloth, how do you clean your back?

I can reach round my back (is this a place to start discussing American obesity again? *ducking* to avoid being hit by hurled washclothes :-) )

<<< If you don't use a washcloth, how do you clean your back? >>>

Don't you have loofahs?

Alan, dont tell me you take a loofah on holiday!! ;-)

Or shall we start another fun filled thread about the lack of loofahs in European hotels

*tongue firmly in cheek*

Perhaps you should begin explaining this poor clueless spaniard what a loofah is ;)

The dried, fibrous part of the loofa fruit, used as a washing sponge

Oh, yes, I know what it is !! :) I've used them.

I have it on good authority that Inga Loofah who works in a Stockholm massage parlor is the best back scrubber there is.

:-D

<<<Don't you have loofahs?>>>

Yes, I just don't like to use them on my delicate skin!!!

<<
There's a big difference between using soap (hopefully antibiotic)...
>>

Noooo!! Antibiotic soap is evil!!!

http://www.life.ca/nl/107/soap.html

On a different note, I love these type of threads. They may not be about travel per se, but they give insight into how people in other places live. And isn't that one of the reasons we travel? ;)

"Noooo!! Antibiotic soap is evil!!!"

Interesting article, Sheila Dawn.

". . .older cleansers such as soap and hot water, alcohol, chlorine bleach and hydrogen peroxide are sufficient for most purposes."

Thanks for telling me. So I just threw out my little dispenser of antibacterial hand soap in the bathroom and replaced it. My sink is particularly attractive now with the bottle of clorox, a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, and a bottle of alcohol, and the messy soap dish instead. Thanks for the tip!

LOL

Weel NeoP one of the best cleaner for your bathroom is vinegar - it is great, and cheap, and removes calcium deposits easily.
I'm not a flannel user myself, I use shower gel and my hands. But then I have a really good high pressure shower, just like the one NeoP had in A´dam.
Also how can water be too cold to clean your teeth? I dip my toothbrush under the cold tap, turn the tap off, clean my teeth. Turn (mixer)tap back on, fill beaker with water, rinse toothbrush, turn off tap rinse mouth, and use the rest of the water in the beaker to rinse the basin.

How can tap water be too cold to clean your teeth? I guess you've never stayed in London over Christmas? The cold water comes out of the tap in chunks!! (OK, slight exaggeration). Here in Florida our cold is lukewarm at best. And yes, I do have receeding gums and sensitive teeth.

>>>>>>>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>

I thought we were talking about washing our hands after going to the bathroom -- not cleaning the bathroom. That's all I use the antibacterial soap for. And no, I don't have calcium deposits on my hands -- (do you?), so I don't use vinegar to wash them after going to the bathroom. ??????

OK, consider your chain thoroughly "yanked".

NeoPatrick: Or you could just replace the antibacterial soap with a bottle of regular liquid soap... ;)