Hygiene for Hermits: The Evening Wet Cotton Bath?

It's 5:13 PM on Friday evening as I begin to write this update on Eremitic Spirituality and Hygiene Indifference (which I published last month). After consultation with my therapist and some research on Amazon, I ordered a 48-pack of McKesson Washcloth Wipes to keep in my closet. Then I made a rule to wipe my entire body down with a disposable washcloth and change my underwear every evening before putting on my pajamas if I did not take a shower that day. This rule worked very well, and I was planning to order more McKesson Washcloth Wipes in October when I received a surprising response from Google Gemini to my query about the environmental trade-offs between hot showers and disposable washcloth wipes. You can see the results of that deep dive here: https://share.google/aimode/qgA7E4aKy7CrCillX (be sure to scroll all the way to the top of the thread to see how it unfolds). Now, instead of ordering more McKesson Washcloth Wipes, I am going to upgrade my pre-sleep ritual with a traditional evening wet cloth bath.

I don't have plumbing in my loft, so I need a way to carry warm water up to my walk-in closet where I will bathe. It looks like my best solution at the moment is a 3-gallon bucket with a handle. That will leave plenty of room for a little slosh in the bucket as I traverse the stairs.       

The next thing I need to consider is wash cloths. Currently, I only have microfiber wash cloths on hand - this is what I use when I shower. I didn't realize they release microplastics into the water supply until I launched my Google Gemini query. I am not sure if our household washing machine has a microfiber filter, but I don't think it does. My safest bet is to pick up a 24-pack of cotton wash cloths.

As far as soap is concerned, I am going to try Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Lavendar Soap. I suspect it will be most economical if I use a foaming dispenser.

I don't know. I have time before October rolls around to decide if this is a ritual that I really want to try. Here is some additional grist for the mill:

Video link: Best Ways to Remove Microplastics from Your System.

Addendum

It is 3:56 AM on Saturday morning. I woke early because I am disappointed with the above post. I don't want to leave myself anxious about microplastics, though maybe it's a little too late for that now, and I don't want to wait until October to decide on a new 8 PM pre-sleep ritual.

The microplastic-induced eco-anxiety and mild paranoia is something I need to handle with a mix of gradual problem-solving, on one hand, and radical acceptance, on the other. I am still planning to use my microfiber wash cloths when I shower, and my McKesson Washcloth Wipes every evening before putting on my pajamas, with gratitude to the American and world economy despite the cons of modern living. But I am also determined to try the evening wet cotton bath in October, not in a spirit of eco-anxiety, but in a spirit of peace, simply because the wet cotton bath before bed seems like the most sensitive, ecological, and contemplative way for an aspiring hermit to take care of his skin on a daily basis. Showers feel like more of an essential weekly luxury, while washing my hair in the sink feels like an essential midweek compromise. This is bearing in mind that I am between sedentary and lightly active in my physical habits. Moderately and highly active hermits will surely need to strike a different balance. All of us, whatever our states of life, must pay attention to our particular circumstances and customize our hygiene practices accordingly.

A new 8 PM pre-sleep ritual is something I can and should start tonight. But this warrants a separate blog post on sleep hygiene.