Originally Posted by
seeker333
Touring is partly about expanding your comfort range. The world won't end if you don't bathe daily or smell a little. There's a billion dollar perfume industry that's exists mostly due to the reality that people often stink.
Avoid bathing in rivers/lakes - detergent is bad for aquatic life.
There are quite a few solar showers devices which are nothing more than black water bags with cord. These, or a water bladder made by MSR or Ortlieb will provide a neat, lightweight shower capability along with the obvious necessary water carrying capacity. Don't ruin the material with boiling-hot water. This water bag is nearly perfect with the accessory shower nozzle:
http://www.modernbike.com/itemgroup....FQsGnQodmmEAXQ
Have you used one?
I have and it's not particularly practical for bicycle touring unless you intend to remain in one spot for 24 hours when there is intense sunshine -- the water takes about that long to heat up.
After the bushfires mentioned in Machka's post, I lived in a caravan by a lake for three or four months. Using the solar shower became a real nuisance and wasn't practical, even after heating and filling it with water from a pot.
I had more success using ordinary bicycle water bottles.
Originally Posted by
TulsaJohn
The primary place to keep clean at least once daily is the crotch and bottom areas. If they get infected (that rash that won't be fixed by typical monkey butt ointments), it is very painful and takes a few days to heal up after you have started taking the antibiotic.
Most of the issues relate to fungal growth related to ringworm or athletes foot, but in the groin and butt region.
Topical treatment with ointment with antifungal agents are preferred. There is a chance of bacterial infections, but they originate in sweat glands and broken skin caused by other issues.
Wiping your arse properly after a crap is a good first-line defence against smells. This is where wet wipes become really handy.