For most clients in long-term care the day begins with the same routine: the wash. It is so ordinary that it is rarely questioned — and at the same time it is one of the few moments when skin, water, textiles and the carer's hands all come together. That is precisely why basic hygiene during personal care has become a subject of discussion again.

Infection prevention guidance on personal care has been revised in several countries in recent years, and waterless care washing is now explicitly part of it rather than an exception. In the Netherlands, for example, the collaborating infection prevention bodies published a revised guideline on basic hygiene during personal care in 2025, replacing guidance that dated back to 2004–2011.

That raises a practical question on the ward: when do you choose water and soap, and when do you choose pre-moistened wash gloves? This article puts both methods side by side on the points that actually matter in daily care.