~Hello

Although they are in big demand, I've only sent a few hygiene products...I'm always unsure about what is best to send. Take shampoo for instance...is it better to send the regular size bottles or travel size? If I send the regular size, should I throw in a few travel size plastic containers? What kind of shampoo is best to send? The same goes for soap...body wash or bars? Anyone know what brand works best for them? Should I be extra careful about scented soaps? Remembering when I used to go camping there were some soaps that seemed to scream "come eat me"!!! Is it a good idea to add a few rags (hand size) in my "hygiene" boxes or will they simply be in the soldiers' way?

 Thanks for any & all suggestions,

Shannon
 

Hi Shannon,

 I wondered the same things when I started sending packages, and here are my thoughts after sending many packages and getting feedback from several of my soldiers:

1. Most requests are for body wash instead of bar soap. I've seen several posts that say the water is very hard and bar soap won't make any suds. However, I do occasionally see a request for bar soap.

 2. I try to send regular size shampoo/conditioner/body wash, unless travel size is requested, or if I happen to have a bunch of travel sizes available. (All my friends and family save hotel shampoos for me!)

 3. When in doubt, send what you have available. I've found that no one is more resourceful than a soldier in a war zone! If they can't use it, or don't like a particular brand or scent, they try to find someone who CAN use it.

 4. Always include Q-tips! They seem to be used for many things besides cleaning ears. I include a snack size bagful in every hygeine package.

5. This has been stated in several places on AnySoldier.com, and also by many contacts, but I'll repeat it here: Don't send food in a box that contains any hygeine items. Don't send hygeine items in a box that contains food.

I hope this helps.

 Jenifer / Jenifer_one_N

Shannon-  I usually figure that the male soldiers don't need much shampoo- due to the fact that most have pretty short hair. If they do use shampoo- it probably would last them a really long time.  I think the item that would be consumed the most are good quality razors. 

Also- the no mix food/hygiene rule... don't adopt it with such a fervor that you forget your perspective on things... floss, toothbrush,nail clippers, q-tips, toothpicks and razors or electric clippers are not going to in any way interfere with a yummy package of food.

 

 

It seems to me that there are a couple of thoughts among the deployed troops about soap/body wash.  There are indeed many requests for bar soap (check the search engine), as well as body wash.  Some say forget the body wash as they leak, spill, etc. and make general messes.  Some say that the soap will not lather and they need body wash.  Just in the last week, I read a post by one person who stated that it was too late to send things that might melt while sitting out on pallets in the sun like chocolates and BARS OF SOAP.  What do any of you know about bars of soap melting? I never had any classes in chemistry. I would think that anything other than maybe Oil of Olay or Dove would remain solid.  Do they mean that they lose their firmness so that they don't last as long, or what?  That was my first hint of that problem.  Also, some who especially travel around want travel sizes, while others just seem to pass them up for the more desireable kinds of toiletries.

Gran

I also figure that the males can use their body wash to wash their small amount of hair and it won't hurt anything.  Another thing I have gone so far as to do with combining packages is to put canned food (vienna sausages, potted meat, etc.) in the same package with unscented/hypoallergenic soaps like Dove and Oil of Olay.  I can't imagine that any odors would get into the canned foods.  As well as our toiletries are packed (bubble wrap and extra bags), one of the contacts reported to us that our package had what she thought must have been a "near explosion" because it didn't show any sign of leakage that they could see, but it smelled so loud that everyone in the area knew that it had arrived, so we determined that in the heat especially, they need to be given a lot of space and packing, whether liquid, powder or cream.

Gran

As for the hardwater soap/bodywash question - I haven't sent this yet, but will try:  We travel all over the country and have to deal with every kind of water we run into.  My favorite is Kirk's Original Coco Castile (bar soap) - it lathers great and rinses easily in any kind of water.  (It used to be called Kirk's Coco Hardwater Castile).  And it can be used as shampoo.  If I send it and get feedback from anyone, I'll post it here.

 Pat

Another item I've been sending lately that I think is great is from Bath and Body Works. It's their "Temptation" line, and it's a body wash/shampoo/bubble bath all in one, and it comes in scents like Iced Tea, Orange Smoothy, and Vanilla Frosting. They smell good enough to eat or drink! I've sent the Iced Tea to a few male soldiers, and Pecan Praline to one of my female soldiers.

Obviously, there won't be many using it as a bubble bath (LOL) but anything that's dual purpose seems handy to me! They come in 2 sizes, and I bought the travel size on sale at 4/$10.

On a side note, the last time I was in a Bath and Body Works store, the clerk asked me what I was shopping for. When I told her it was for soldier care packages, she went out of her way to show me items that would work for me, gave me several coupons to use, and signed me up for their e-mail Sale notices. It's great when people want to help!  :)

Jenifer / Jenifer_one_N

 

Thanks to everyone who's already replied...these suggestions have really helped me. I've went out and made several purchases today and will be putting a package together with in the next few days.

Thanks Again,

~Shannon

 

P.S. If anyone else has other suggestions/tips I would love to hear them. Every little bit helps!!!  

I don't have anything very exciting to add except to base it on what the soldier's job is.    If they are a sniper- then the travel size (of anything/everything) is going to be best as they are out on patrol most of the time and it must be portable.   (They loved the hotel sized shampoos, etc and I sent a new toothbrush with a travel lid and a new tube of mini-toothpaste, mouthwash and the listerine spray or breath strips every month.   Since most only have  3-5 people in a group it was easy enough to send one for each of them w/o it being too expensive.)   I also sent the mini- deodorant containers, sanitizers etc- and lots of baby wipes and ziploc bags.)

 With soldiers who are at a base- it depends again on their jobs.   If their responsibilities keep them mostly on base (communications, weapons, etc vs infantry) they prefer the larger sized items (and many like the "poof/net scrubbers- but in non-girly colors, please, unless they are intended for a female soldier. :P)   If the group goes on lots of missions, they may like to have both- larger sizes that they can keep on base, plus some travel items to take with them while on a mission (esp the toothbrushes, etc.   gritty sand in the teeth is not fun!) 

I tend to pick one or two units and send to them for their whole tour.    I always include my e-mail, some envelopes, paper, pens and a few blank postcards in the boxes- and tell them to let me know what they like or dislike in the boxes so I can adjust them for the next box (Sometimes I hear back, sometimes not- but I know someone will be able to use the paper, pens, etc regardless.)     Most of the soldiers will be very courteous and say "whatever you send if fine"- and I know it is- but I remind them that since I'm going to send a box anyways- if I can make sure it is something they really want- it will make all of us happier.   After a little while, I can usually get an indication by them saying "Thanks, everything was great and we really loved...... xyz"    and then you know exactly what it is that they prefer. 

 Sandi

I started with travel size, for both portabiity and to make it easy to distribute to multiple soldiers.  Lately I've trended more towards full size, as I got the impression that most of the showering goes on at a base.  I don't know how long soldiers are usually out on patrol, but I'm inclined to think a lot of them just use wipes for lack of  shower facilities, then take a real shower when the get "home."

It occurred to me only recently that I might send full-size with some of those little travel bottles, so they can fill them up from the full-sized bottle whenever they need travel size.

What is the difference between body wash and shower gel?

I'll bite. 

  I don’t know . . . what is the difference between body wash and shower gel?

 

 

just kidding….



First guess:

1- letter? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   still kidding….

 

 

Next guess:

  Marketing Teams,  the shower gels are accentuating a “feature”?

 

 

  betc

  

 

 

Hey Gran

thanks for the info on the heat/packing. Maybe I have always had great luck (hope I don't jinx it!) That my packages have always arrived in great shape (or does always sending priorit mail help- don't know) .. but I will definitely take that into consideration-- I will change my ways    I would rather reduce the risk and have it get there safely. I am like you.. I have it any shampoo/wash sealed in a tight ziploc and bagged (not too tight but no air bubbles) - separate from razors and shaving cream.. still, I won't push my luck from now on

Thanks everyone! great reading

betc, you are so funny!

 Yes, I have suspected that the only differnce is the marketing, but I was curious to find out if someone here might know different.

I think that the body wash has more of a creamy texture while the shower gel is,well,more of a gel....  Something I hadn't thought about with the bar soaps in that enviroment was that besides getting soft in the heat,the sand is so fine and gritty that it gets stuck on the soap....I guess that could be an exfoliating benifit!....I mostly send the travel size body wash/gel....many don't have room for big bottles and also if they are on the move the little ones fit in their packs better...and always send extra ziplock baggies.....when sending the body wash/gels I also include the shower puffs...yeah...even to the guys...it helps suds things up in hard water....I just try not to send them pink ones!....