# Best way to wash without liquids?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 17, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516 "2002-06-17T13:18:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/1 "2002-06-17T13:18:39Z")
I recently broke my hand and I’ve got a cast that goes from my fingers to under my elbow. Tis my first break and 3 days later my fingers are starting to get a bit ripe. Can’t get water near them cause of the plaster, so what’s a good way to keep my hand clean?
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### Author:  [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/2 "2002-06-17T13:36:14Z")
I’d try rubbing alcohol, followed with a moisturizing lotion to prevent excessive dryness of the skin.
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### Author:  [@deball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deball)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/3 "2002-06-17T13:39:11Z")
Baby wipes or wet-naps. You haven’t lived until you’ve used baby wipes as a shower for several weeks. PU.
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### Author:  [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/4 "2002-06-17T15:17:53Z")
[ul]Stand naked in a sand storm.[/ul]
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### Author:  [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/5 "2002-06-17T15:34:24Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by kniz \*
> \*\*[ul]Stand naked in a sand storm.[/ul] \*\*
Y’know, that’s stupid on even more levels if you actually read the OP.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/6 "2002-06-17T15:56:48Z")
okay. Firstly, is it a plaster cast? Here in the US the majority of casts are made from a plasticy material that doesn’t dissolve in water. If your cast is any color other than white, it is probably not plaster. In this case, carefully rinsing the fingers would not be a problem, try cutting holes in a plastic bag or latex glove to guard the cast.
When I broke my wrist I had a cast from behind my knuckles to a few inches before my elbow. When the cast was removed there was a really remarkable accumulation of dead cells on the back and underside of my wrist.
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### Author:  [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/7 "2002-06-17T16:15:55Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s plaster. I imagine that plaster is cheaper than the plasticy stuff and it’s not that bad a break. Plus, it’s white :).
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### Author:  [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/8 "2002-06-17T18:40:47Z")
There are alcohol-based gels meant for washing your hands when you don’t have access to a sink. Various brands are called “waterless” or “instant” hand “sanitizer” or “wash” or something along those lines. You just rub the gel on briskly, the alcohol evaporates, and your hands are left fresh-smelling and supposedly 99.9% germ free (though, after it became popular in hospital, studies showed that it wasn’t as effective as a soap-and-water washing–but I digress).
You should be able to find them near the liquid hand soap at your local drugstore–or try a craft store. It’s popular for people who want to be able to clean their hands quickly before they pick up their handwork, so they keep a bottle in their bag with their embroidery or whatever.
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### Author:  [@robinc308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robinc308)
#### Post date: [June 17, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-way-to-wash-without-liquids/114516/9 "2002-06-17T23:19:05Z")
You could probably wash your hands with a damp cloth. So long as you avoid the plaster as much as you can. The plaster isn’t going to fall to bits with just a damp cloth…