Showering and changing/washing clothes...how often?

Bristle Boy · Jan 22, 2019

nathanael said:
keeps the bed bugs away.

Yep...I have been bitten by the mozzies a few times and haven’t had malaria once but...the reaction is sufficient to end up in accident and emergency for a powerful injection of antibiotics in the area where the sun doesn’t usually shine!

C clearly · Jan 22, 2019

trecile said:
Why do you need permethrin in your clothes?? It's not a malaria carrying mosquito infested jungle trek.

nathanael said:
keeps the bed bugs away.

I think the point was that bed bugs are not flying around biting you while you walk, unless they have hidden in your clothing in the albergue. It is easy to isolate your clothes during the night to protect them, and then isolate your night things while you walk, so you don't need to have permethrin on your clothes. Treating your sleeping things makes some sense, but treating walking clothing is not necessary.

Anthony18 · Jan 22, 2019

A daily wash of "pits and bits" is a must.

Anamiri · Jan 22, 2019

Phil Smith said:
....ah, the joy of occasionally staying somewhere that provides a towel; shower in the evening and the morning. Amazing what a little deprivation can do to your sense of appreciation!!

It certainly changed my perception of luxury

caminoagogo · Jan 22, 2019

janiec said:
I will be walking my first Camino in April. I plan to hike for about 2 weeks from Porto to Santiago. From what I've read, it seems that a lot of people shower and wash their clothes pretty often on the hike. I've been on week-long hikes without any showering and just one change of clothes. For the Camino, I was thinking that it would be much more convenient to not shower and change my clothes regularly, maybe just once or twice in the 2 weeks. Washing clothes every day seems like a huge hassle, and I would be worried that things drying overnight. I know it's ultimately up to preference...but am I crazy (or gross) for thinking this??

Wash yourself and you clothes at the end of every day, for the sake of your fellow pilgrims if nothing else. You can wash both at the same time by hitting the showers fully clothed if you're really pressed for time. As for drying time, buy quick-dry gear (especially Merino wool) and you'll be fine. You can also take a small clothesline that you can string up indoors in case it's raining outside. AND put some carabiners on your pack and you can hang your clothes off those so anything damp can dry as you walk.

Buen Camino

trecile · Jan 22, 2019

nathanael said:
keeps the bed bugs away.

I spray my backpack and sleep sack with permethrin, but not my clothes.

C clearly · Jan 22, 2019

caminoagogo said:
You can wash both at the same time by hitting the showers fully clothed if you're really pressed for time.

I don't understand this, unless of course you just walk out of the shower and let your clothes dry on your body. That would save time, I suppose, but peeling wet clothes off surely takes longer than removing dry ones before your shower.

Deleted member 77020 · Jan 22, 2019

Anthony18 said:
A daily wash of "pits and bits" is a must.

ye alright.

caminoagogo · Jan 22, 2019

C clearly said:
I don't understand this, unless of course you just walk out of the shower and let your clothes dry on your body. That would save time, I suppose, but peeling wet clothes off surely takes longer than removing dry ones before your shower.

I never did it myself, but I met people along the way who did. Obviously you’d take them off, dry yourself and change into dry, clean clothes once you’re finished in there.

mai · Jan 22, 2019

Just wondering if beg bugs prefer a smelly pilgrim or a washed one??
Any experiment before?

C clearly · Jan 22, 2019

mai said:
Just wondering if beg bugs prefer a smelly pilgrim or a washed one?? Any experiment before?

In my extensive reading about bedbugs, I have not found any reports either way.

mai · Jan 23, 2019

@C clearly, thank you. Got it.

Leibniz · Jan 23, 2019

C clearly said:
I don't understand this, unless of course you just walk out of the shower and let your clothes dry on your body. That would save time, I suppose, but peeling wet clothes off surely takes longer than removing dry ones before your shower.

You’re right, it would take more time and faff wouldn’t it! Also it seems to me that neither clothes nor body would be thoroughly clean afterwards.

C clearly · Jan 23, 2019

Leibniz said:
You’re right, it would take more time and faff wouldn’t it! Also it seems to me that neither clothes nor body would be thoroughly clean afterwards.

But it might be fun to try if you arrive at the albergue bored and with too much energy to burn off.

HeidiL · Jan 23, 2019

But really, really dirty clothes, like my trousers after I'd fallen in the mud that time, can be put on the floor of the shower for the first rinse (and I stomped quite thoroughly on them while showering) for a pre-rinse before they're carried IN A BUCKET TO AVOID WETTING THE FLOOR to the washing facilities...

FLEUR · Jan 23, 2019

If the Albergue has washing machines then share the machine load with other pilgrims. Saves money, saves energy.

Sometimes hospitaleros or the owners will wash a load for you for a small fee. Again share loads.

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