Plume

Last minute ref for Lectric

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disclaimer: this post is going to be moreso related to my disabilities and my needs. every disabled person has different needs. I just wanted to talk about what I do and maybe help normalize it. some of these things may be helpful to you, some may not be relevant at all. I do encourage folks to comment/share their tips if they feel comfortable doing so

I am disabled and it affects the ways that I approach hygiene. This is something that I have struggled with for years and still actively struggle with. Two hindrances I have faced when it comes to my hygiene is 1.) I wanted to try and force myself to approach hygiene like how I think non disabled/neurotypical people would. (e.g. taking a normal shower standing under hot, running water every 1-2 days) 2.) I felt guilty if I was doing hygiene in a different way that might be more "wasteful" than if I did it the "normal" way (e.g. using disposable toothbrushes and bath wipes)

Bathing

• With having plumbing issues, I actually realized how much I hate taking normal showers. It is something I have always struggled with. A combination of it being hard for my physically, while also being sensory hell.
• First off, this is your invitation to get yourself a shower stool/chair. Idc if you say "But what if I'm not disabled enough?" if you think it will benefit your life, even a teeny bit, get one. Even on days that I don't really need it, it's nice to sit in the shower without fear that I will be stuck on the floor forever. It can also be nice to stand and prop your leg up on when washing/shaving so you aren't bending over as much. Just make sure to order one from a trusted brand and check what weight it can support.
• Washing just one part of your body is better than washing nothing at all. If you can only wash your face today, good job, you did it.
• Sponge baths are not just for seniors/babies. You, yes you, can give yourself a sponge bath. I actually like to bath this way now. It is fairly quick, and it helps me avoid the temptation of sitting in hot running water and pissing off my sensitive skin. My skin is in a lot better condition than it was when I was taking regular showers. And I'm not constantly itchy! Even with the same soap! This is the guide I followed
• My mom has an colostomy so she has to be careful where she gets water + arthritis that prevents her from being able to stand long. She depends 100% on shower wipes and no rinse foaming soap. She is able to wash herself in the comfort of her own chair. Bath wipes can be a little pricy, but they are nice and quick to use. Some need to be soaked in hot water before use, while others can be used right from the package. I have also found decent ones at the dollar tree before. My mom has tried a lot throughout the years, but right now she seems to prefer the Clean Life brand if you are looking for recommendations. She likes both their bath wipes and no rinse foam. The foam is nice for in-between washes while the wipes are better for full wash.
• Baby wipes can also work as a shower wipe. We always have them around the house. They are nice to throw in a Ziploc for travel too. Or keep on your nightstand. We get the cheap Walmart brand ones in bulk and they are fine enough quality. I would not trust flushing the flushable wipes down the toilet, but that is just me.
• After you finishing washing and drying yourself, deodorant goes on right away. You can also put body powder in areas that tend to accumulate a lot of sweat or where your body tends to chafe.

Hair

• I personally do not like dry wash shampoos. I don't like the texture of my hair afterwards. However, my mom also depends on dry shampoo, and currently her favorite is from Clean Life as well. It is a liquid that you scrub into your hair and then towel dry. I find this better than powder/spray dry shampoo, but I also think it tends to work better if you have shorter/thinner hair.
• Instead I wash my hair in the sink a lot. It's quick and easy. The main concern here is it is a bit of a strain on the neck. Usually washing my hair in the sink is quick enough that I only feel a little strain while washing, but it goes away once I am done.
• Sometimes it is hard to do a through brushing of my hair every day, sometimes it is hard to brush it at all. Detangling spray is your friend. When it comes to doing a full detangle of my hair, I find a comfy chair and put on something enjoyable to listen to. I have a lot of hair, so it can take over 30 minutes to detangle. It is a lot, so I try not to let it get that bad, but hey shit happens.
• To try and prevent tangles from happening in the first place, you could try putting your hair into a protective bun/braid at night, wear a sleeping cap, and/or use a silk pillow case. Remember to wash pillow cases often.

Dental

• Oh boy! My biggest struggle. I have struggled to consistently engage in dental health my whole life. I will get a good routine going, and then a stress or illness event will totally throw me off track and it's an uphill fight to get back on it.
• Like washing, something is better than nothing. If all you can do today is rinse with some fluoride mouthwash, it is better than nothing.
• Brushing your teeth twice a day is the recommendation. Usually once in the morning and once at night. But really any time you can brush them is good. If you wake up late/can't get out of bed until you have to leave for the day, it is fine if you don't brush them until you get home from work or whatever. Doing it when it is easiest for you is best.
• Rinse your mouth with water after meals, or chew gum. My dentist told me I don't have to quit drinking soda if I don't want to, but that rinsing my mouth out after drinking soda will rinse out some of the extra leftovers that bacteria likes to nibble on (and trying to only drink soda with meals, but I'm bad at that). Gum helps you produce more saliva which also rinses your mouth and saliva helps keep bacteria in check. I find chewing gum for the recommended 20 minutes hurts my jaw, so I only chew for a few minutes and I don't always have it after every meal.
• Put together a travel brushing kit you can keep at your bedside. There are single use disposable travel toothbrushes you can get, along with those disposable flossers (which I always use because I find regular string floss very difficult to use motor skills wise). Keep a Ziploc baggie for new ones and a second bag to dispose your trash in. The disposable toothbrushes are nice because they freshen your breath, and have enough texture to help scrape off plague, but I don't think they have fluoride in them, so keep that in mind
• My dentist put me on a prescription strength toothpaste. They warned me that it may feel funny to use at first because it doesn't foam. There for sure was an adjustment period, but after I got used to it, I had to use the regular toothpaste while I waited for my prescription to be refilled and I hated it. The regular toothpaste foam was a really intense (bad) mouthfeel and also the flavor was insanely overwhelming
• Speaking of flavor, if you hate mint, they do make toothpaste in other flavors. Just be sure to check the ingredients, as I have found a lot of non mint toothpaste do not contain fluoride. Crest kids cavity protection toothpaste contains the same amount of fluoride as the regular old cavity prevention toothpaste for adults it looks like.
• Don't force yourself to use an electric toothbrush if you hate them. I tried for the longest time and even tried different brands and I hated them all. It is better to use a regular ol' manual toothbrush that you will actually use rather than an electric toothbrush that will make every time you brush feel like torture.
• If you don't have insurance/can't afford to regularly see a dentist, try and find a way to at least get a cleaning twice a year. If you have a dental school nearby, many of them offer free cleanings for the students to practice. I have also seen traveling dental buses in my area that do cleanings for free if you have insurance, and $30 if you don't have insurance.

Also, somewhat related, but if anyone has tips or a post about maintaining house hygiene when you are disabled, I would love to see it! I am trying to create a cleaning routine my gf and I can keep up with, but we are struggling.

Howdy! Happy disability pride month to all my fellow disabled peeps. I wanted to share this post around again and I also rewrote this post on my neocities blog 😎