Bath Mitt—Right Fit—To Stay Fit

“Water, Air, and Cleanliness are the Chief Articles in my Pharmacy.” -Napoleon Bonaparte

A bath mitt might be the right fit to help stay fit.  But, how so?  Many people have weak hands caused by a myriad of conditions, diseases, and syndromes.  Given many years working as an Occupational Therapist in a rehabilitation setting, I’ve seen the symptoms of weak hands in those suffering from Cerebral Palsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Cerebral Vascular Accidents, and Spinal Cord Injuries, just to name a few.

To me, weak hands can make it difficult to complete many self care activities such as bathing and washing-up.  When hands are weak, it’s difficult to hold, control, and use a washcloth.  But, a bath mitt might be the right fit to ease this process.

But, what exactly is a bath mitt?  A bath mitt is a washcloth folded in half and sewn on two sides to create a mitt.  An adjustable velcro fastener may be added on one end for easy fit around the wrist and hand.

A bath mitt has many virtues!  It stays in place and is less likely to be dropped.  And, when velcro closure is added, it stays secure when scrubbing hard-to-reach areas that would otherwise go unwashed.  And, no need to make a special trip to the store, as any washcloth in your vanity can be easily adapted into a bath mitt.

A bath mitt can be used alone or with assistance from an aide or caregiver.  And, a bath mitt helps you carry out steps that would otherwise be entirely done by a caregiver.  Doing more for oneself, promotes self-help while also lessening stress on the caregiver (Kim, 2017).  And I know when I complete the steps of any activity I can do for myself, I feel a greater sense-of-purpose, a greater sense-of-self, and a greater sense-of-pride!     

So, to do more for myself, I consider which steps of washing I can do independently, which steps I need some help, and which steps I need total help.  And for guidance in this decision, I recall the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr, that poignantly says, God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference (Bartlett & Kaplan, 1992).

So, if washing-up is time consuming, requires much help, and is difficult to do, it will be done less often, and less thoroughly.  But, when washing up is efficient, requires only some help, and is easier to do, it will become more of a habit and less of a chore.

Ease-of-use means it’s used more often and thoroughly.  This in return improves personal hygiene and even well-being!  Yes, even well-being!  Uhm, perhaps “soap is to the body, what laughter is to the soul,” (Yiddish Proverb). 

Cleanliness is the result of a consistent self-care routine.  And, a bath mitt is a simple adaptation made to a regular washcloth that’s easy to make and simple to use.  

Interest piqued?  Here’s how I make a bath mitt at home.  So, let’s get started.  To begin, you’ll need the following:

• Sewing Machine, Optional
• Washcloths
• Needle 
• Thread
• Hook and Loop Velcro or,
• All Purpose Hook and Loop Tie Down Cinch Straps 
• Scissors 

    

Step 1:  Gather materials and set aside.

Step 2:  Choose a washcloth that’s not too thick and bulky.  This will ease sewing, be easier to handle when washing, and dry quicker. 

Step 3:  Lay washcloth flat with right-side facing up.

Step 4:  Fold washcloth in half with wrong-side facing up.

Step 5:  Sew the washcloth across the bottom end and along the open side leaving the top end open.

Step 6:  Turn the sewn washcloth right-side-out thereby making a mitt.

Step 7:  If you’d like to add a cinch strap to help secure the bath mitt to your hand when washing, then sew strap on top end.

Step 8:  Secure cinch strap so that bath mitt will stay on while washing but is still loose enough for comfort.

Step 9:  Place bath mitt on preferred hand.

Step 10:  Ready bath mitt by pre-soaking.

Step 11:  Use bar or liquid soap of your choice.  Here’s Shiloh, one of our Golden Retrievers working as a Canine Good Citizen.

Step 12:  When finished, hang bath mitt to dry in a convenient location that’s easy to reach when needed and out of the way when not in use.  This prevents clutter and ensures safety.

Helpful Hints For Pet Parents:  Bath mitts are versatile and versions even exist on the market today designed just to bathe pets.  So, if you’re a pet parent with fur babies and have compromised hand strength, a pet bath mitt might help you keep your pet clean.  And, if you need to dry off your furry friend after it rains, a pet bath mitt might be the right fit to help your pet stay dry and fit.  So, check out your local pet stores for pet bath mitts. Or, perhaps put one you’ve already made aside and designate it especially for your canine companion. 

Here’s doggie daddy demonstrating how to use a pet bath mitt to clean Shenandoah, our Canine Good Citizen and helper.

Here’s yet another example of a bath mitt.  But, this one’s a bath glove that I found in the Health & Beauty section at my local supermarket.

Again, Napoleon claimed that cleanliness is a chief article in his pharmacy, and that makes perfect sense to me!  And, I know when I feel clean—I feel good! 

So, “take care of your body with steadfast fidelity.  The soul must see through these eyes alone, and if they are dim, the whole world is clouded,” (Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe).

You’re comments are welcome and if you’ve found this post helpful in any way or have any suggestions, please say so below.

References:

Bartlett, J. & Kaplan, J. (Eds.). (1992). Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations (16th ed.). New York, NY: Little, Brown, and Company.

Kim, D. (2017). Relationships between caregiving stress, depression, and self-esteem in family caregivers of adults with a disability.  Occupational Therapy International, 2017, 1686143. http://doi.org/10. 1155/2017/1686143