Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Commuting
Reload this Page >

Any recommendations on body wipes?

Search
Notices
Commuting Bicycle commuting is easier than you think, before you know it, you'll be hooked. Learn the tips, hints, equipment, safety requirements for safely riding your bike to work.

Any recommendations on body wipes?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-10-13 | 07:32 AM
  #1  
jdefran's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 333
Likes: 6
Any recommendations on body wipes?

With the hot, humid summers of Florida I usually only commute late fall-early spring. I'm getting the itch to ride and with a busy schedule commuting is the only way to do so. My workplace does not have a shower and I am not close to a gym, so it seems my next option is using wipes.

My plan is so leave before the sun rises to avoid additional heat and have plenty of cool down time before others arrive to the office. After cooling down, I can simply wipe down and change. I will be showering before my ride, have a complete change of clothes, etc.

So what wipes do you have experience with? So far I feel Dickinson's might be a good one...
jdefran is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:34 AM
  #2  
10 Wheels's Avatar
Galveston County Texas
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Sponge bath in the restroom sink will work fine for you.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:39 AM
  #3  
jdefran's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 333
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by 10 Wheels
Sponge bath in the restroom sink will work fine for you.
I've thought of that but I wouldn't have a place to store a wash cloth/sponge. I could bring one daily and keep the dirty one in my panniers. My thought is the wipes would address potential BO
jdefran is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:41 AM
  #4  
10 Wheels's Avatar
Galveston County Texas
 
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 33,335
Likes: 1,285
From: In The Wind

Bikes: 02 GTO, 2011 Magnum

Wipes are not all that good.
__________________
Fred "The Real Fred"

10 Wheels is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:42 AM
  #5  
locolobo13's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 4,091
From: Phx, AZ

Bikes: Trek Mtn Bike

Sponge bath if needed. Most of the time I just wait til I quit sweating, dry off with a beach towel and change clothes.
locolobo13 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:45 AM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,144
Likes: 4
From: cherry hill, nj
Just use the air spray deodorant and carry on. Works perfectly.
chefisaac is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:49 AM
  #7  
arex's Avatar
Abuse Magnet
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,881
Likes: 188
From: Colorado

Bikes: '91 Mtn Tek Vertical, '74 Raleigh Sports, '72 Raleigh Twenty, '84 Univega Gran Turismo, '09 Surly Karate Monkey, '92 Burley Rock-n-Roll, '86 Miyata 310, '76 Raleigh Shopper

Originally Posted by jdefran
I've thought of that but I wouldn't have a place to store a wash cloth/sponge. I could bring one daily and keep the dirty one in my panniers. My thought is the wipes would address potential BO
Keep the cloth/sponge in a ziplock.
arex is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 07:56 AM
  #8  
squegeeboo's Avatar
******
 
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 949
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, NY

Bikes: Specalized Tri-Cross

Any unscented baby wipe work well enough. The secret (as mentioned above) is to wait until you cool down, then clean up.
__________________
In the words of Einstein
"And now I think I'll take a bath"
squegeeboo is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 08:21 AM
  #9  
baron von trail's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,509
Likes: 2
From: SW Ohio

Bikes: 3 good used ones

The trick is to stop sweating. I let cold water run over my head. I peel off my cycling clothes, towel off and sit still in front of the fan I have in my office for a few minutes, usually booting up my computer and logging into some of the programs while I cool down. Once I cool down, I towel off again and put on deodorant before getting dressed.
baron von trail is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 08:26 AM
  #10  
alan s's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,977
Likes: 191
From: Washington, DC
I shower before riding, and then wipe down with a wet washcloth and dry off with a hand towel. Bring clean ones daily and hang on my bike to dry.
alan s is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 09:02 AM
  #11  
Fork and spoon operator
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 577
Likes: 11
From: Hopkins, Minnesota

Bikes: 2013 Surly Crosscheck, 1990 Schwinn Impact, 1973 Schwinn Continental

I second the suggestion of unscented baby wipes. I have a big package of regular, scented baby wipes, and the smell is getting really annoying. Other than that they work great.
PennyTheDog is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 10:33 AM
  #12  
Member
 
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, Ohio

Bikes: Surly LHT, Novara Flyby, Seven Odonata, Trek beach cruiser

+1 on unscented and waiting until the cooldown. I liked both a baby wipe and any wipe that included witchhazel.
jiggity is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 02:29 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,685
Likes: 2,603
From: northern Deep South

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Originally Posted by squegeeboo
Any unscented baby wipe work well enough. The secret (as mentioned above) is to wait until you cool down, then clean up.
+1 more. Check your email, look up the weather forecast for that afternoon. It usually takes me 15-20 minutes to stop sweating.
pdlamb is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 02:57 PM
  #14  
MMACH 5's Avatar
Cycle Dallas
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,776
Likes: 11
From: Land of Gar, TX

Bikes: Dulcinea--2017 Kona Rove & a few others

I have a buddy who swears by a 1:1 mix of witchhazel and water. He wipes down with it, when he gets to work.
MMACH 5 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 03:24 PM
  #15  
enigmaT120's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,965
Likes: 6
From: Falls City, OR

Bikes: 2012 Salsa Fargo 2, Rocky Mountain Fusion, circa '93

I just wipe down with the sweaty t shirt I rode in. I hang it out to dry when I get to work. I shower before I leave the house in the morning.
enigmaT120 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 03:56 PM
  #16  
gyozadude's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,180
Likes: 0
From: Sunnyvale, California

Bikes: Bridgestone RB-1, 600, T700, MB-6 w/ Dirt Drops, MB-Zip, Bianchi Limited, Nashbar Hounder

I've had the displeasure of having to work in FL in the heat of summer. Mostly out of Tallahassee, so I don't know the climate elsewhere in FL, but it was plenty hot and HUMID. It's like showering 2 - 3 times daily heat there. The only place worse is probably Hong Kong in June or NOLA in August. I doubt wipes will work. Even working inside A/C'd gov't offices, the humidity was high and I'd sweat. I found it best to carry clean undershirts, a couple of micro-fibre towels and a sponge and squeeze bottle of bodywash with me in a ziploc bag. A little bodywash on a cold sponge diluted under running cold water was great relief and a good deodorant. The microfibre towels were great for drying off quickly, and a new undershirt removed 90% of the moist and sticky clothing that made it hot and smelly. I carried a small backpack with waterproof bag for the smelly tshirts and towels.
gyozadude is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 04:53 PM
  #17  
the sci guy's Avatar
bill nyecycles
Titanium Club Membership
10 Anniversary
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 359
From: Houston TX
I use these basically all over to wipe off my sweat (arms, pits, crotch, back, face).
They work well. found them in the natural products section of our grocery store.
the sci guy is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 05:16 PM
  #18  
jdefran's Avatar
Thread Starter
Full Member
 
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 333
Likes: 6
Originally Posted by gyozadude
I've had the displeasure of having to work in FL in the heat of summer. Mostly out of Tallahassee, so I don't know the climate elsewhere in FL, but it was plenty hot and HUMID. It's like showering 2 - 3 times daily heat there. The only place worse is probably Hong Kong in June or NOLA in August. I doubt wipes will work. Even working inside A/C'd gov't offices, the humidity was high and I'd sweat. I found it best to carry clean undershirts, a couple of micro-fibre towels and a sponge and squeeze bottle of bodywash with me in a ziploc bag. A little bodywash on a cold sponge diluted under running cold water was great relief and a good deodorant. The microfibre towels were great for drying off quickly, and a new undershirt removed 90% of the moist and sticky clothing that made it hot and smelly. I carried a small backpack with waterproof bag for the smelly tshirts and towels.
I'm actually in Tallahassee. Fortunately I don't work for the state. Thanks for sharing your experience when you lived here.

I appreciate everyone's input, looks like I just need to try different things and ask my coworkers how I smell
jdefran is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 05:57 PM
  #19  
caloso's Avatar
Senior Member
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 40,863
Likes: 3,115
From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

It's hard to beat an old fashioned wash cloth. Plus, it won't end up in a landfill like a baby wipe.
caloso is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 09:09 PM
  #20  
Double0757's Avatar
Full Member
 
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: West Palm Beach, Florida

Bikes: 1984 Cannodale full touring bike, Giant full carbon dura ace, Belinsky frame Tandem

South Florida commuter here. No showers at work either. I first tried a sink sponge bath, and that worked, but the mess it left on the floor for me to dry was a 5 min mess. Then I decided to try wipes. I like them better than the sponge bath. I still wash my hair in the sink, but my body gets about 4 large wipes all over. I use no scent, large and 99.9% bacteria killer. Walmart sells them, 28 wipes for $2.?? It escapes the name at this moment, red packaged. I use a uniform with a tie. No problem all day with BO or feeling sticky. Cool down for about 15 min. before dressing. When it rains, I only need one wipe, specially after installing fenders on the bike. I think I ride more than other co-workers that bike recreational or competitively. Double O
Double0757 is offline  
Reply
Old 07-10-13 | 09:27 PM
  #21  
gerv's Avatar
In the right lane
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 9,556
Likes: 8
From: Des Moines

Bikes: 1974 Huffy 3 speed

Originally Posted by caloso
It's hard to beat an old fashioned wash cloth. Plus, it won't end up in a landfill like a baby wipe.
gerv is offline  
Reply
Old 07-11-13 | 08:46 AM
  #22  
noglider's Avatar
aka Tom Reingold
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
Community Builder
Community Influencer
 
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,172
Likes: 6,393
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Your rest room at work probably has paper towels. You can wet those and wipe yourself down. Works for me.

I like the witch hazel idea! Hadn't thought of it. It's a very mild astringent, so it will evaporate a little faster than water, which also cools you better than water. I might even use it straight. I use it as an after-shave.

I've been having a lot of itchy skin lately, and both my GP and my dermatologist don't know what it is. I don't have rashes. The only remedy seems to be to use olive oil as a body lotion. Yes, I'm serious. I put it on after my shower. It does not make me feel greasy, and it does not stain my clothes.

Another trick to staying relatively odor-free but not dry is to try to get yourself to sweat more by drinking much more water than you think you need. Another trick is to discover what foods make your sweat smell. Many people reduce their odors by cutting meat back or out completely. I suppose this has something to do with bacteria. I've increased my water in the last three years or so, and I sweat much more. The salt etc. in my sweat must be diluted because of this, and I seem to be fairly low-odor now. I don't wear deodorant because of my irritation problems. Still, a daily shower is completely necessary for me.

My advice may not be useful, because Florida is very different from the rest of the country. I don't know if I could adjust to the heat there. I have visited in fall, winter, and spring and find it oppressive. I can't imagine what it's like in summer.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog

“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author

Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
noglider is offline  
Reply
Old 07-11-13 | 10:41 AM
  #23  
alhedges's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 4
From: Naptown

Bikes: NWT 24sp DD; Brompton M6R

I'm a fan of Action Wipes.
alhedges is offline  
Reply
Old 07-11-13 | 11:07 AM
  #24  
Senior Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 9,685
Likes: 2,603
From: northern Deep South

Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee

Originally Posted by jdefran
I appreciate everyone's input, looks like I just need to try different things and ask my coworkers how I smell
Be careful of the power of suggestion. Try different things, yes, but don't go asking for trouble. If you reload a copier and get a strong whiff, that may be an indication you need to change something. But even if you showered, dried off in a refrigerator, put on clean clothes, and asked people if you smelled bad, probably half of them would smell something, just because you asked.
pdlamb is offline  
Reply
Old 07-14-13 | 12:02 PM
  #25  
terrapin44's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: California

Bikes: 2012 Civia Prospect, 2012 Specialized Sirrus Sport, 199x Canondale M800

I use these from Target:
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
12940923_120706023000.jpg (28.6 KB, 15 views)
terrapin44 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.