Yellowfriend
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Porto- Santiago / Fisterra- Muxia sept 2016
SJPP- Santiago may 2017planninh
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Thank you!It is probably not going to help much because this is a personal choice. This is what I actually did on my own camino.
I had similar ideas with washing clothes with proper soap etc. In reality, you do not want to carry anything extra. It saves time and money if you just use the same soap for your hair, body and clothing. If you are concerned with getting things washed properly, then splurge every now and then for someone to do your laundry for you. It may be one of those things you have to figure out while you are walking the camino as well. As for a towel, I did not like what I brought. I had a shammy type towel from a sporting goods store. It didn't do a good job of drying me off. I saw some people using a big scarf to dry off as well. The scarf dried out much quicker. I hope that helps.
I have a cotton pareo but that don't dry the body after showering. I read about a hammam towel?Shampoo for washing everything.
A pareo/sarong style fabric for drying/covering everything.
Buen Camino, SY
Thank you!
What kind of soap did you use as multi purpose?
Thank youMicro fiber towels sold for camping. Something like this:
https://www.mec.ca/fr/product/5024-431/Serviette-Packtowl-Personal
For showering, as I have very curly hair I must use conditionner, and that is all I use.
Laundry... I used to carry a bit a soap for washing machines but the ones on the Camino these days supply their own. For hand washing, after 5 caminos this is still my favourite:
https://www.mec.ca/fr/product/4015-090/Savon-CampSuds
Other option that has worked well, bit perhpas only available in North America are Tide baggies: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000GCS004/?tag=santiagodec0b-20
Third choice is a hard soap like Savon de Marseille, which can also be used for body, but I don't find it cleans cloathes very well if with mud, very dirty...
Thank you Donna!Micro fiber towels sold for camping. Something like this:
https://www.mec.ca/fr/product/5024-431/Serviette-Packtowl-Personal
For showering, as I have very curly hair I must use conditionner, and that is all I use.
Laundry... I used to carry a bit a soap for washing machines but the ones on the Camino these days supply their own. For hand washing, after 5 caminos this is still my favourite:
https://www.mec.ca/fr/product/4015-090/Savon-CampSuds
Other option that has worked well, bit perhpas only available in North America are Tide baggies: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B000GCS004/?tag=santiagodec0b-20
Third choice is a hard soap like Savon de Marseille, which can also be used for body, but I don't find it cleans cloathes very well if with mud, very dirty...
Yes me too , that's why I am looking for Information for a light but dring towel , Thank youI HATE HATE HATE - those synthetic camping or shammy towels.
They grab at the skin and feel horrid.
I prefer a thin, therefore usually cheap, or an old, cotton towel.
900-1000mm long, 400-500mm wide.
Cut to required length, then hemmed.
Compresses into compact roll.
Shampoo for hair, body, clothes.
I also like a face cloth for a rubdy scrub in the shower.
Small and light, like for babies.
Regards
Gerard
I use a piece of raw silk fabric that I purchased at a local fabric store. I had to hem the ends but that was easy. It is very absorbant, soft, and dries quickly when doneYes me too , that's why I am looking for Information for a light but dring towel , Thank you
Stomping on clothes in the shower while they are on the dirty shower floor? That's gross. I could not even imagine doing that. Lot's of germs and fungus on those floors and yes, people do urinate in the shower. Besides, that extends your time in the shower, and if in a busy/full albergue that also extends the time someone has to wait for you to emerge from the shower so they can take theirs, not to mention that additional time burns up hot water.A friend who worked in Africa told me of a tried and tested method for washing clothes.
Put them in the shower tray and then shower yourself! You stamp on the clothes, they take advantage of the suds etc and you are halfway there. Another advantage is that you no longer SLIP in the shower tray. (I have fallen once and seen others do so).
I wash my clothes every day and use one product for everything (unless I see soap powder in an Albergue...)
I always just carry bar soap for washing everything. Myself and my clothes. The clothes I bring are the synthetic, tech type, and they are easy to wash and rinse soap out of. The bar soap seems to do a good job getting them clean and bar soap is easily bought all over the Camino. Now and then at albergues there will be laundry soap available at the laundry washing basins. When that happened I took advantage of it and used that soap. Also nice to occasionally pay to have all your stuff washed and dried at the albergues.I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
Me too. Used a waffel-weave towel (someone on this forum recommended it). Loved it. It dried as fast as the microfiber one. I also took the microfiber one - it was light enough. I used it for my hair or wringing out wet clothes or even for standing on when getting out of the shower. It was always wet and hard to dry your feet off. Another vote for Ligget's Soap.I'm in the "hate the tiny microfibre sports towel" brigade.
I used a liquid multiuse soap for body and hair, it worked well. Bar soap for clothes scrubbing. I wish I had taken an old, worn, cotton towel instead if the hiking microfibre, which I find don't dry as well after use or after washing.I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
Good point, Sparrow, about trial and error at home. By initially hand washing my clothes at home, I determined what soap would serve best, how much to take, and how long different materials take to dry. There was never a time when I didn't have fresh smelling clothes to change into, though sometimes they were damp. I also tried out the sleeping bag liner and microfiber towel ahead of time. I kept my bar soap in a snap-shut soap container and put it in an exterior pocket in my pack. No problems with that. As with Whariwharangi, my mid-weight socks never dried overnight, so they ended up hanging on the back of my pack during the day. (*Tip: don't leave your clothes hanging out to dry overnight. The morning dew will wet them.) There is no practical reason on the Camino not to use soap for laundry and personal hygiene, so please do. 10-day wilderness treks are an entirely different animal. However, if your preference is not to use soap on the Camino, so be it. Some people you hike with will never notice. Buen Camino!
The ONE item I loved the most in my pack was my Turkish towel. The size of a beach towels, but as light as. A camp towel...and ALWAYS the FIRST towel dry. I also used it as a cover up to the John and it could be used as a curtain on a lower bunk. I used it a lot as a top sheet/blanket in warmer alberques. It's what I use at home too...get one and try it. Seriously!I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
Shampoo for washing everything.
A pareo/sarong style fabric for drying/covering everything.
Buen Camino, SY
Thank you! I Will try at home what works, Very good tip!!!!I used a small sea to summit microfiber towel. I used shampoo to wash my clothes but 7-10 days had everything (including sleeping bag) washed (I stayed in hotels if I was spending a rest day sightseeing, usually around ten days each stop). I learned the hard way to specify "no ironing." What I took that worked for me: zip lock bags to wash clothes in with a tiny bit of soap and water. I would never wash my clothes in the shower, as I've said on other threads I keep my shower time to less than 3 minutes, don't want to waste water, and I know what some people do to shower floors. I took a small bottle of leave in conditioner that I put on after I was out of the bathroom, to comb through/detangle. What didn't work for me: I took a small bar of soap in a mesh bag, thinking I would use it to wash my clothes, and it would dry out hanging in the bag. It didn't dry satisfactorily, and someone liberated it as it hung to dry.
What no one has said, but I hope you will do: try out your chosen method for hair, towel, and laundry before you go. I found I didn't mind the microfiber, and how large/small a size worked for me. I thought soap and shampoo "leaves" from REI would be the right combo...I couldn't get my clothes clean, and it turned my hair to straw (luckily I found this out before leaving for Spain). No one has the magic combination, just what works for each of us individually. trial and error done at home is what determines what works best for you. Good luck!
The ONE item I loved the most in my pack was my Turkish towel. The size of a beach towels, but as light as. A camp towel...and ALWAYS the FIRST towel dry. I also used it as a cover up to the John and it could be used as a curtain on a lower bunk. I used it a lot as a top sheet/blanket in warmer alberques. It's what I use at home too...get one and try it. Seriously![/QUOTE
Thank you! Do you mean a hammam towel? Can I look it up online?
Thanks
Plus shampoo/shower gel makes your clothes feel REALLY nice!Shampoo for washing everything.
A pareo/sarong style fabric for drying/covering everything.
Buen Camino, SY
Not poking at you or anything, but that reminds me of an old saying we used to joke about, in reference to showering with your clothes on, ha ha.There is no correct or right solution to this issue. Likewise, there is no wrong, dumb, or stupid answer to this issue.
I submit that the "best" solution is the one that works best for YOU.
When having to shower in an albergue or shared shower situation, I usually go into the shower in the boxer shorts, socks and polo shirt that requires washing. I wash these items, on me, as though they were an outer skin. Then, once rinsed, I remove the garments, rinse again and wring them by hand as best I can. I then hang them off the shower floor as mentioned above (it is icky), then proceed to finish showering me.
After my shower, I towel off with my über-long yoga towel, then put on a clean pair of boxer shorts. Alternatively, I will wrap the long towel around me until I can slip on clean boxer shorts underneath.
The damp yoga towel is then used to create a roll of the wrung out polo-shirt, boxer shorts, and socks I just washed and rinsed in the shower. Having rolled these items into a tube, I then place the roll on a hard floor and walk on it in bare feet to wring maximum water from the garments.
Once unrolled, the damp, washed clothes are hung on a line to dry. The towel is hung on the line to dry, suspended horizontally between bunks to create a privacy screen while drying, or affixed to the outside of my rucksack the next morning to complete drying, or some combination of this, depending on the dry state of the yoga towel.
I hope this helps clarify.
I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
I use a large silk scarve .It's very light , effective , and dries quickly .Also very good for using as a scarve .I found Dr.Bonners liquid soap the best option for washing hair , body , face and clothes. It's highly concentrated so light to carry .I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
Thank you. Is the a name plus shampoo or do you mean all kinds of shampoo?Plus shampoo/shower gel makes your clothes feel REALLY nice!
I used Dr Bronners soap for everything. I used an ultralight towel and washcloth from REI. They are great...dry super fast and are incredibly absorbent.I will go with carrying backpack and not sending it, so what is the best towel that also make you good dry and what do I take for Washing hair and body. And clothes. I read about the same soap for all but I doubt about that because when taking so less clothes I like to wash them properly .
Thanks
while I cannot say for sure, I believe he means plus as "in addition to" not as a brand name.Thank you. Is the a name plus shampoo or do you mean all kinds of shampoo?
Drape wet clothing over pole so it falls evenly on both sides
Grasp two hanging ends of clothing in left hand
Hold pole in right hand and twist/wring clothes
(or vice versa if you're a southpaw)
Notice how much water has just landed all over your feet
Keep twisting until flow stops
Umm, ok.For all you urine-phobics out there here are a couple of thoughts: urine is generally sterile when it leaves the body and though slightly acidic, ph 6.5 -7 in the morning, is more likely to be alkaline, ph 7.5+, by evening shower time. This makes it an excellent bleaching agent, encourages foaming in most standard produced soaps, and as any tanner will tell you helps to preserve suppleness in hides - think of that leather like skin on the soles of your feet. And if the previous occupant of the cubicle to you did have a teensy tinkle, the usual 300-400ml, then the 35l they used to get the trail-dust out of their hair will have more than flushed that away compared to the 13l of an average toilet flush.
I carry a small cotton flannel (face-cloth) - great for scrubbing the skin, and then wrung-out and used to dry myself (by the way useless on hair but I don't have a lot) by the time I've finished my rub-down I'm dry enough to dress. Note: this does not work well in high humidity - but then neither does anything else..
Hallo,
Does anyone know how I can order Campsuds (the all in one soap) order from Holland? I cannot find a site, Amazon.com doesn't ship it to Holland. Thanks!
Yeah, them flip-flops worn on Caminos sure do see a lot of publicly shared floors (ugh). I always buy cheap ones, and they get bagged and ride in an outside pack pocket when not worn, and meet their end in a bin in Santiago.Mark, if its any comfort (probably won't be) the Human Papiloma virus (Verrucas) doesn't like Alkaline environments but will really enjoy the slightly acidic and protein rich environment of your rubber flip-flops. Hey: life is a sexually-transmitted terminal disease: who are we to fight it
Where can i order it? Thanks!this is the best all around, View attachment 29824 great for clothes also
Thanks! I orderded it and i will try : )Bever sport. Everywhere in the Netherlands. Different brand but does the same trick.
http://www.bever.nl/uitrusting/verzorging/hygiene
So i can better use my shampoo for washing clothes? It is completely new for me this difference between washing machines ; )@Yellowfriend : as a one time chemistry student I know that there is quite a difference between soap for the body and shampoo. The chemical difference between shampoo and modern detergents is not that large, so it is absolutely no problem to use the shampoo, that makes your hair nice and clean, for the hand washing of your clothes. Better not use soap for that purpose--our grandmothers used it, yes, but now we know better.
And for members from the USA, your washing machines are not the same as the European machines. Yours are laid out to work with a lot of foam and the machines in Europe hate foam. So better not use your detergents, like Tide and other brands--which are not for sale usually in Europe.
I can picture it now...Kanga showering...wet hair et al and running rapidly "in the buff" for the perfect dry. Apologize for the lack of decorum.I'm in the "hate the tiny microfibre sports towel" brigade. I have a very thin cotton sarong that covers me completely and I find works well - useful for all sorts of things and dries very quickly. For drying my hair I use my buff.
Actually a lot of North Americans now have high efficiency front load washing machines, similar or in many cases identical to those used in Europe, Asia, etc.@Yellowfriend : as a one time chemistry student I know that there is quite a difference between soap for the body and shampoo. The chemical difference between shampoo and modern detergents is not that large, so it is absolutely no problem to use the shampoo, that makes your hair nice and clean, for the hand washing of your clothes. Better not use soap for that purpose--our grandmothers used it, yes, but now we know better.
And for members from the USA, your washing machines are not the same as the European machines. Yours are laid out to work with a lot of foam and the machines in Europe hate foam. So better not use your detergents, like Tide and other brands--which are not for sale usually in Europe.
I'm curious about why it is better not to use soap for the hair or for clothes.The chemical difference between shampoo and modern detergents is not that large, so it is absolutely no problem to use the shampoo, that makes your hair nice and clean, for the hand washing of your clothes. Better not use soap for that purpose--our grandmothers used it, yes, but now we know better.
Shampoo (a sulfonate) is a friendly detergent that leaves some tallow on the hair so it is not unmanageable after washing and drying. Bathing soap (a carbonate salt of sodium) is harsher on the hair--it usually makes the hair feel brittle after drying. Detergents for washing machines are also sulfonates--soft detergents of this type can be used for washing the hair of sheep, which we usually call wool. And can be used for human hair too. So if you want to travel easy, just use shampoo for all your washing and clean the whole caboodle more thoroughly when you are home again. A few drops of shampoo go a long way.I'm curious about why it is better not to use soap for the hair or for clothes.
Tinca,I am mightily impressed by all these facts and figures. Oh yes,To pee or not to pee that is the question.For all you urine-phobics out there here are a couple of thoughts: urine is generally sterile when it leaves the body and though slightly acidic, ph 6.5 -7 in the morning, is more likely to be alkaline, ph 7.5+, by evening shower time. This makes it an excellent bleaching agent, encourages foaming in most standard produced soaps, and as any tanner will tell you helps to preserve suppleness in hides - think of that leather like skin on the soles of your feet. And if the previous occupant of the cubicle to you did have a teensy tinkle, the usual 300-400ml, then the 35l they used to get the trail-dust out of their hair will have more than flushed that away compared to the 13l of an average toilet flush.
I carry a small cotton flannel (face-cloth) - great for scrubbing the skin, and then wrung-out and used to dry myself (by the way useless on hair but I don't have a lot) by the time I've finished my rub-down I'm dry enough to dress. Note: this does not work well in high humidity - but then neither does anything else..
Just try the "not to pee" option.Tinca,I am mightily impressed by all these facts and figures. Oh yes,To pee or not to pee that is the question.
For all you urine-phobics out there here are a couple of thoughts: urine is generally sterile when it leaves the body and though slightly acidic, ph 6.5 -7 in the morning, is more likely to be alkaline, ph 7.5+, by evening shower time. This makes it an excellent bleaching agent, encourages foaming in most standard produced soaps, and as any tanner will tell you helps to preserve suppleness in hides - think of that leather like skin on the soles of your feet. And if the previous occupant of the cubicle to you did have a teensy tinkle, the usual 300-400ml, then the 35l they used to get the trail-dust out of their hair will have more than flushed that away compared to the 13l of an average toilet flush.
I have got a RUBYTEC Outdoor towel !It is probably not going to help much because this is a personal choice. This is what I actually did on my own camino.
I had similar ideas with washing clothes with proper soap etc. In reality, you do not want to carry anything extra. It saves time and money if you just use the same soap for your hair, body and clothing. If you are concerned with getting things washed properly, then splurge every now and then for someone to do your laundry for you. It may be one of those things you have to figure out while you are walking the camino as well. As for a towel, I did not like what I brought. I had a shammy type towel from a sporting goods store. It didn't do a good job of drying me off. I saw some people using a big scarf to dry off as well. The scarf dried out much quicker. I hope that helps.
I'm glad your gear list is nearing completion.But haven't tried it yet after taking a shower.
Will do so !
I haven't even startedI'm glad your gear list is nearing completion.
I'm also glad you pulled this thread away from the side discussion of what goes on in showers
well, you have a towelI haven't even started
That is true !well, you have a towel
Actually, Arn I am 72,and to Pee etc. is very much the question!!Just try the "not to pee" option.
You are obviously not past 70'.
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