Please Don't Wash Yourself In Public.

[ralerin]

I was at Wendy's tonight, enjoying my spicy chicken fillet with woefully undercooked fries and a coke when a homeless man wandered in. He was wearing a dark grey trench coat, black pants, black boots, a black scarf and a once orange hoodie that had faded to a dull pink and that was covered with patches of black dirt. He himself was coated in a thick layer of pure black grime.

"Canna havea cuppa water?" he said, and the cashier gave him one. Homeless man wanders over to the napkin stand, grabs a fistful of napkins and plops himself down at the table right behind me. I, luckily, was facing away from him, but the smell coming from him started to activate my asthma-that lovely heady bouquet of dirt, pee, and sweat. I finished my dinner, threw my trash away and turned around to look at him.

He had a small pile of napkins beside him that were once yellow but were now a dark gray. He was busy dipping a napkin into the cup of water and washing off the grime. He was taking off his scarf to wash his neck when I left.

Um...the bathroom's not too far off, why sit near me to wash?

[wagegoth]

One time at the grocery store, I couldn't get to the sink in the restroom because a woman was washing her hair in it. I settled for the sanitizer I carry in my purse.

[ralerin]

Washing her hair...? O_o

Ok. Just WTF is it with people who have to clean themselves in public?!?

[joe hx]

Ok. Just WTF is it with people who have to clean themselves in public?!?

they probably live in their cars and have nowhere else to go. it's sad, really...

[Fox One]

they probably live in their cars and have nowhere else to go. it's sad, really...

Agreed. It's probably actually a good thing that they're giving personal hygiene somewhat of a priority at that point, even if they do have to do it through...different means.

[PepperElf]

at least they're not taking baths in the deep sink?

[Dawnchaser]

This makes me really glad that there are a few nonprofit places locally where homeless folks can go get showers.

Though I'm sure there are some who have been banned from those places...

[PepperElf]

i remember my church in college was putting that together for homeless people to get jobs. they were taking collections to get some hotel rooms and toiletries, so the people could shower and clean up and go out looking professional to a job interview. not sure how well it worked though

[calulu]

I have volunteered with the local soup kitchen and mobile homeless shelter for a few years now and that is one of the hardest things about being homeless, being able to clean up. We have gotten the local fitness center connected to the hospital to allow our folks to shower there three times a week.

Be thankful all he did was wipe down. I've been in China and seen homeless beggars spit into people's food just so the people would abandon it and they could eat.

[CrazedClerkthe2nd]

I've seen many men who shave, cream and all, in public restrooms.

[Kogarashi]

For the hair-washing lady, to give her the benefit of the doubt, perhaps she had an emergency that required washing her hair? (I can see myself doing that if my toddler managed to get something yucky in my hair, like throwup, and there are other things that can get hair grimy-yucky in a public place.) At least she was in a restroom instead of the dining room of a restaurant.

[wagegoth]

For the hair-washing lady, to give her the benefit of the doubt, perhaps she had an emergency that required washing her hair? (I can see myself doing that if my toddler managed to get something yucky in my hair, like throwup, and there are other things that can get hair grimy-yucky in a public place.) At least she was in a restroom instead of the dining room of a restaurant.

I figured she was homeless or living out of a car. She had shampoo and everything with her. Because of that, I didn't complain to her or the store.

[LillFilly]

I've had people like that in several places where I work. Most walked around and interacted with you like any other customer. Some came-in and tried to sleep on the couches (no no). And some broke-into the fence underneath the lowest level of the parking garage and set-up camp

I feel for them; sometimes you don't want to admit to your situation, but when it gets to the point that you can't bathe, it's even worst.

That's why I preach to the power of baby wipes; even a travel pack. Great for camping or unexpected physical exertion.