Ah, yes, the "sponge bath." Another blast from the past, and definitely the key to once-a-week baths. Important tip: use a fresh wash cloth every day! it should go without saying that you start at the top and work your way down.
The French elevated "sponge bath" to a new level when they invented the bidet. I agree with Jan's French friend that shampoo and soap companies were probably behind the assumptions that we need a "full shower" every day. Another downside to daily hair washing is that this also means (for many people) using a hair dryer every day. Now that is a questionable use of coal-fired electricity. Margaret >My godmother, who lived to age 99 and grew up in CT, told me that when they >were kids they were not allowed to wash their hair all winter long because >their parents feared feared pneumonia, which was often fatal. They'd brush >their hair and re-braid it every morning. They took a full bath only once a >week, every Sunday morning before church -- by heating the water on their >cast-iron wood stove, and pouring it into the clawfoot tub. > >When I lived in France in early 70s, one of my French friends told me he >thought we'd been brainwashed by the shampoo and soap commercials into >believing we needed full showers every day. He said most of the French just >"sponge bathed" every day the necessary body areas, with a washcloth. > >- Jan > _______________________________________________ RSS, archives, subscription & listserv information for: [email protected] http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/sustainabletompkins free hosting by http://www.mutualaid.org
