1. Introduction

2. What is a Tow Rag?

3. How did Sailors Wipe?

4. How was a Tow Rag Used?

5. The Benefits of a Tow Rag

6. The Disadvantages of a Tow Rag

7. What Have We Learned From Sailors?

8. Modern Day Hygiene Alternatives to Tow Rags

9. Are There Still Sailors Using Tow Rags Today?

10. Conclusion

11. Sources

    How Did Sailors Wipe?

Sailors are renowned for their ability to brave the elements, and for centuries, they have been travelling the world’s waterways in search of adventure and commerce opportunities. But what about their hygiene habits? In this article, we’ll explore how sailors used to wipe themselves after using the toilet – a practice known as “tow ragging” – and what modern-day alternatives exist for sailors today.

## What is a Tow Rag?
A tow rag was a long piece of frayed rope that dangled in the water from the ship’s hull or from its stern. This rope often had knots tied into it, which acted as handles so it could be easily pulled up and down again when needed – much like a towel rail in your bathroom today! Sailors would use these rags to clean themselves after using the toilet, before dropping them back into the water where they would be quickly cleaned by the waves and saltwater below.

## How Did Sailors Wipe?
Using a tow rag was simple: after using the toilet, sailors would pull up their towel rail, grab it firmly with both hands and use it to wipe their bottom clean before dropping it back into the water below them – allowing nature to do its job! It was certainly not an ideal method of cleaning one’s self – but more than adequate for surviving on long voyages at sea with limited resources available.

## How Was A Tow Rag Used?
Sailors would first need to tie knots into the rope, usually about an arm’s length apart, so that it could easily be pulled up and down without getting tangled or lost at sea! After tying knots into their tow rag, they would then need to attach it securely to either their ship’s hull or its stern so that they could easily reach it when needed; this meant that when they were using the toilet on board, they would have easy access to this makeshift cleaning apparatus!

## The Benefits of a Tow Rag
The primary benefit of using a tow rag was that it provided sailors with an easy way to clean themselves without resorting to other more unhygienic methods such as wiping with their hands or clothes – something which could spread germs and infections if not done properly! Furthermore, because these rags were made from natural materials such as hemp or jute (which were common on board ships), they were also better for the environment than single-use products like toilet paper; once used up, these rags could simply be dropped back into the ocean where they would eventually biodegrade!

## The Disadvantages of a Tow Rag
However, there were also some drawbacks associated with using tow rags; for one thing, these rags often became quite smelly after being used multiple times due to bacteria growth; plus they didn’t always provide adequate coverage if you had particularly loose-fitting trousers or skirts! Finally, because these rags were dropped back into the ocean after each use, there was always a risk of them becoming entangled with marine life or getting lost at sea – something which could lead to costly delays in sailing time as well as potential health risks depending on what bacteria may have been present on them!

## What Have We Learned From Sailors?
From studying how sailors wiped themselves in days gone by, we can learn two important lessons: firstly that hygiene is incredibly important no matter where you are in life; and secondly that we should always think about our environmental impact when making decisions about which products we use and discard on a daily basis!

## Modern Day Hygiene Alternatives To Tow Rags
Fortunately for modern day sailors (and anyone else who finds themselves far away from civilisation!), there are now plenty of alternatives available for maintaining good personal hygiene – such as biodegradable wipes or even reusable cloths made from natural materials like cotton or bamboo! These new products provide an environmentally friendly solution while still offering adequate protection against bacteria and germs – something which traditional tow rags simply couldn’t provide due to their limited absorbency capabilities!

## Are There Still Sailors Using Tow Rags Today?
While some traditionalists may still choose to use tow rags onboard their ships today as part of their sailing routine – many modern day sailors have since moved away from this practice due to health risks associated with bacteria growth on these rags over time; plus there is also now much more awareness around preserving our oceans by avoiding single-use plastics whenever possible! As such, most sailors now opt for eco-friendly alternatives such as biodegradable wipes or reusable cloths instead – ensuring that our oceans remain clean and healthy for future generations too!

## Conclusion
To conclude, we can see that although tow rags were once commonplace amongst seafaring folk – modern day sailors now tend to opt for more hygienic alternatives such as biodegradable wipes or reusable cloths instead; not only do these newer products offer better protection against germs but they are also much kinder on our environment too! Ultimately however, whatever product you choose – hygiene should always be your number one priority when out at sea (or anywhere else!) so make sure you make wise choices when selecting your cleaning products accordingly!

## Sources:

1. https://www.associatedcontent.com/article/137870/thehistoryofthetowragpg2.html#:~:text=A%20tow%20rag%20was%20a%20long%20piece%20of%20frayed%20rope%20that%20dangled%20in%20the%20water.,it%20back%20into%20the%20water..
2. https://www.biomeecostoresblogpostarchiveblogpostarchiveblogpostarchiveblogpostarchiveblogpostarchiveblogpostarchiveblogpostarchiveblogposts/how-did-sailors-wipe/
3. https://www.sailingtoday.co.uk/cruising/environmental-awareness/eco-friendly-living-onboard