Poof? Silicone body scrubber?

[Sam]

Been seeing a lot of ads for silicone body scrubbers. Manscaped for one. Been using a mesh poof. No problems but been reading they can harbor bacteria. Switch? Or stay with the poof since no problem ? Sure it sags a bit but been going on a year with it

[drmoss_ca]

If a poof harbours bacteria, they will, at least, be your bacteria. Far more will live in a soggy flannel or a sponge, and we all managed to survive them!

That's just a marketing argument, and should be ignored.

C.

[John Rose]

If a poof harbours bacteria, they will, at least, be your bacteria. ...

What about Serratia marcescens, that pink not-actually-a-mold found in showers? (Which I attack with a bleach-based spray.)

[drmoss_ca]

We have all sorts of delightful pathogens that live upon us. The trick is to get accustomed to them and to fighting them off. Trying to kill all of them is generally futile, and worst of all, when you manage, sort of, you get other issues that were unintended. See the hygiene hypothesis for asthma etc.

[Gene]

Is that why nut allergies rose so sharply? As a kid we all loved peanut butter - today I have been on flights where peanuts were left behind because a passenger had an allergy.

[drmoss_ca]

Bingo! That's the theory, Gene.

C.

[Onelini]

I've tried both silicone body scrubbers and mesh poofs, and while the mesh poofs can harbor bacteria, I've found that regular cleaning and replacing them every few months can help. If you're happy with your mesh poof and haven't had any issues, you might as well stick with it!

[ty65nw]

Silicone body scrubbers are much better than sponges, especially if you're concerned about bacteria. They can be cleaned thoroughly, unlike sponges. It's also recommended to replace them every few months for optimal hygiene. However, you need to be careful when choosing one. From personal experience, I mistakenly chose a silicone body scrubber that was too harsh, which led to skin irritation.

[Sam]

Update: Got a Salux towel off ebay. I had stayed with the mesh poof my wife got me from Bath and Body Works. Starts losing its shape after a month but nice scrubbing and makes lots of lather. The one from Walmart is denser and more exfoliating and I take it on trips. On a lark, I read up on towels and the Salux is long so that I can actually get my back. Folds up real small and it is thin and so dries out quickly. So far I prefer it. And not harsh.

[brothers]

Next time I accompany my wife to Bath and Body Works I'll check them out. Sounds like something useful.