As someone who takes great pride in maintaining a spotless home and personal hygiene, I’ve always been fascinated by the diverse cultural practices around the world when it comes to cleanliness. Sure, we may all agree on the basics – washing our hands, showering regularly, brushing our teeth. But delve a little deeper, and you’ll find that the nuances of what constitutes ‘proper’ hygiene can vary wildly from one society to the next.
The Great Leg Washing Debate
Take the recent social media frenzy, for instance, sparked by a tweet from a White woman who claimed she didn’t use soap to wash her entire body when showering, and only bathed once or twice a week. The people of color who responded were horrified at the idea, with many directly linking poor hygiene to White people. The backlash was so intense that the original poster even went on to characterize cleanliness as “weird classist bullshit.”
This episode illuminates a fascinating cultural divide. For many people of color, the notion of not thoroughly scrubbing one’s legs in the shower is simply unthinkable. As one Latinx person put it, the appropriate response is to firmly declare: “Lávate las piernas” – wash your legs! The Very Smart Brothas website even went so far as to publish a video titled “The Case for Washcloths: Why White People Need to Wash Their Damn Legs.”
It’s a clash of perspectives that speaks to deeper-rooted differences in cultural norms and values around personal cleanliness. While some may view meticulous body washing as a sign of refinement or social status, others see it as a basic expectation of good hygiene. And of course, there’s the ongoing debate around whether certain hygiene practices can be linked to race or class.
Soaking in Icelandic Tradition
But it’s not just people of color who have distinctive cultural approaches to bathing and cleanliness. Take Iceland, for example, where geothermal hot springs have been a central part of the national identity for centuries.
As Rick Steves Europe explains, the Blue Lagoon spa is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Icelandic thermal bathing culture. Across the country, you’ll find over 120 municipal swimming pools, or “sundlaug,” where Icelanders gather after work and school to unwind and socialize in the toasty waters. And these aren’t your typical suburban pools – they range from modest one-pool facilities to sprawling complexes with saunas, waterslides, and even full-service cafeterias.
What’s truly unique about the Icelandic bathing experience is the strict protocol. Before entering the pools, Icelanders are expected to strip naked and thoroughly shower – no swimsuits allowed. It’s all part of the national obsession with cleanliness and hygiene, which is seen as essential for maintaining the purity and integrity of the communal hot springs.
Finding Wellness in Natural Hot Springs
But Iceland offers even more than just municipal pools for those seeking a soak. The country is also home to a variety of premium thermal baths, like the Laugarvatn Fontana and Krauma spas, that cater more to the tourist crowd. And for the truly adventurous, there are the natural hot springs, where you can soak in remote, off-the-beaten-path locations, surrounded by the stunning Icelandic landscape.
One popular choice is the Reykjadalur hot spring, located just above the town of Hveragerði. After a scenic hike of about an hour, you’ll be rewarded with a warm, knee-deep river where you can lie back and let the stress of the day melt away. Of course, as Rick Steves cautions, bathing in a geothermal landscape does come with its risks – so it’s crucial to stay on marked trails and watch your step.
What’s remarkable about the Icelandic approach to bathing is the way it’s so deeply ingrained in the national culture. For Icelanders, soaking in hot springs isn’t just about getting clean – it’s a way of life, a ritual that connects them to the land and to each other. And it’s a tradition that’s been passed down for generations, persisting even in the face of the country’s modernization and globalization.
Sustainable Suds and Eco-Friendly Packaging
Of course, cultural attitudes towards hygiene aren’t just limited to how we bathe. They also extend to the products we use to clean ourselves and our homes. And in today’s eco-conscious world, more and more consumers are demanding that these products be as sustainable and environmentally-friendly as possible.
Enter Bathing Culture, a California-based company that’s redefining what it means to be a “personal hygiene” brand. As Mohawk Connects reports, co-founders Tim Hollinger and Spencer Arnold are on a mission to create products that serve both people and the planet. Their lineup includes everything from soap and hand sanitizer to face oils and body scrubbers – all made from natural, biodegradable ingredients and packaged in either refillable glass or recycled plastic.
But Bathing Culture doesn’t stop there. They’ve also partnered with Mohawk, a leader in sustainable packaging, to ensure that even their secondary packaging is as eco-friendly as possible. The result is a line of boxes and containers made from Mohawk Renewal Straw, a premium paper product that incorporates renewable wheat straw fibers. As Mohawk Connects notes, this “radically sustainable” packaging not only looks beautiful, but also sends a powerful message about the brand’s commitment to the environment.
It’s a sentiment that Tim Hollinger echoes, emphasizing the importance of businesses working together to create products that “do less harm and can make the world a better place.” And with more and more consumers seeking out sustainable options, it’s a message that’s resonating louder than ever before.
Conclusion: Embracing the Diversity of Cleanliness
As I reflect on the diverse cultural practices around bathing and hygiene, I can’t help but be struck by the sheer breadth of human experience. From the heated leg-washing debates to the Icelandic obsession with communal hot springs, it’s clear that what constitutes “proper” cleanliness is far from universal.
And that’s ultimately what makes this topic so fascinating. It’s a window into the rich tapestry of human civilization, where our most basic daily rituals are imbued with deep cultural meaning and significance. Whether it’s the Latinx call to “wash your legs” or the Bathing Culture commitment to sustainable packaging, these variations remind us that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to personal hygiene.
As I continue my own journey of maintaining a spotless home and meticulous personal care routine, I’m more mindful than ever of the cultural biases and assumptions I bring to the table. After all, who’s to say that my way is the “right” way? Perhaps the true mark of cleanliness lies not in rigid adherence to a set of rules, but in the embrace of the diverse traditions that make us human.
So the next time you step into the shower, take a moment to consider the rich cultural tapestry that informs your own bathing habits. And who knows – you might just discover a whole new world of hygiene traditions waiting to be explored.
