The Green, Clean Art of Keeping Our "Rear Ends" Hygienic: What Are We Afraid Of?

[marmar]

The Green, Clean Art of Keeping Our "Rear Ends" Hygienic: What Are We Afraid Of?

By Liz Langley, AlterNet. Posted September 26, 2009.

We use enough deodorizers to ensure that we don't smell remotely organic, and yet we can't even keep our own heinies clean? What's a first-world country to do?



So, do you ever feel ... not so fresh?

This question is traditionally asked by young women of their mom's on boats in douche ads, but this one is directed at everybody and the answer is probably "Yes."

Whether it's from being hermetically sealed in pantyhose all day, from sweating inside wooly winter wear or dripping with summer heat, feeling no-so-fresh is easier than the acres of body care products in the store would suggest.

And the fact is that most Americans aren't as clean as they imagine themselves to be. We pay catlike attention to grooming, and yet all that Purell-ing sort of fades at the thought that we're walking around with our nether regions shmeared with -- there's no nice way to say it -- poop.

So, how can this be if Americans use about 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper a year? ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/healthwellness/142908/the_green%2C_clean_art_of_keeping_our_%22rear_ends%22_hygienic%3A_what_are_we_afraid_of

[msongs]

1. would be nice for those with kids on the edge of toilet training especially nt

[crim son]

2. I don't know why

but this just isn't a subject I want to read about tonight. Maybe tomorrow morning. :D

[NMDemDist2]

3. I love my Biffy!!!!

and wish they had them at work...

http://www.biffy.com/

edit to add without (hopefully) entering the "TMI" territory, I didn't trust it at first and would use toilet paper to dry and 'check'

now we just have "his and hers" hand towels on a rack above the loo and they get washed every week and that works out great.

I highly recommend the Biffy and instead of buying 12 rolls of TP every couple weeks (and filling up our septic system faster) I buy a 4 pack a couple times a year when we're expecting guests for the guest bath.

I may even get a Biffy in there too, Mom and Dad have traveled to Europe enough they'd probably enjoy having it. and I didn't have to wire anything or try to figure out where to put another fixture.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

5. The Toto Washlet. Very popular in Japan.

http://www.totousa.com/Default.aspx?tabid=113

[gauguin57]

10. Wow! The people in that "Biffy" ad seem to be high on life!

What's that Biffy pumping out? Speed? LOL!

[sailor65]

4. You mean you don't know how to use the 3 seashells?

:-)

[snake in the grass]

7. I was just waiting for that one!

And no, I don't know how to use them.

;-)

[grasswire]

6. ugh public pools and shared hot tubs

ewwww

[Daveparts still]

12. Having taken a Seminar

on the road to becoming a certified pool technician. I can assure you that if you sat in on the seminar you would never go near a public pool. On a hot day each adult sweats one quart per hour of swimming. Fifty or sixty people in the pool and you get the picture.

As all in the class were becoming more grossed out by the minute the instructor then switched to lakes and oceans. A public pool is an operating room compared lakes rivers and oceans. Vermin, fecal matter, bacteria just waiting to get in your nose your eyes and worse.

[TankLV]

8. OK - I'll ask: Why don't they have "seats" like a toilet?

Are you supposed to squat?

That would seem painful for the elderly, etc.

And what is there to prevent you from falling in like when the seat on a toilet is left up?

Is is a drenching bunch of water or just a trickle? What happens if you're not perfectly centered - do you get a free back (or face) wash? or a clean bathroom floor after the water goes all over the place?

Do you use a towel or TP after?

AND WHEY THE FUCK IS THERE NEVER INSTRUCTIONS OR A PICTORAL/CARTOON GUIDE ON HOW TO USE THE DAMN THINGS?!!! That would go a long way into getting people to use/install one!!!

I'm a fucking ARCHITECT for chrissake and I've specified all sorts of building products - especially toilets -and NOT ONCE - NOT ONCE IN ALL MY DAYS HAVE I EVER SEEN ANY - ANY INSTRUCTIONS THAT ACCOMPANY AN AD FOR THE THINGS!!!

[bhikkhu]

9. Reminds me of the "wash yer azz!" deal of the 60's counterculture

I recall Kerouac and Ginsburg were involved. For myself, I don't have a bidet but have read the statistics - and fecal matter in the shorts hasn't been an issue. Adequate TP, Soap and water are employed as necessary, and all care toward cleanliness is a good habit.

[formercia]

11. Proper use of TP

When I worked in DC, the powers that be required all of the staff to attend a class in the proper and frugal use of toilet paper. Apparently, some liked theirs spotless, and the recommended ration of 3 sheets of Uncle Sam's finest just wouldn't do it.

Lucky for me, I didn't have to attend. Apparently, they felt that Officers' shit didn't stink.