STINKY AND DIRTY FEET!! - "foot wipes"

[1st Baby Due 03/9/2010]

Well... it is getting to be that time of year again... sandal season. People are starting to come in with dirty feet. This is my second summer in the biz... I am going to provide a container of HUGGIES shea butter baby wipes for dirty and or smelly feet. I will probably keep it out all the time now, not just in the summer.

The problem tho... how to let people know that they are there for that purpose without being super blunt??

I am thinking of writing on the cover with a marker something that says, "for foot emergencies," or something on that order.

I have it in my office against the wall by the chair my clients sit in.

I really dont want to say to my clients, "if ya got some stank or dirt on ur feet, will ya please clean em up." I think most people are pretty much aware if they have this problem... I really dislike massaging dirty feet. Even working them through the sheet just gets the dirt on the sheet.

So, opinions please.... Does "for foot emergencies" sound ok?? Will people know what I am implying?? If not... what else could I write on the container??

tia,

Christine

 

[FAiiRY FLOSS]

I'd label them "foot wipes". A lot of people don't realise they have stinky feet, and would never classify it as a "foot emergency", and they're probably the worse ones!

It sounds like you want them to wipe their feet themselves before they get on the table? Would you consider doing it yourself for them? (or is that not allowed in your state?) If you do it, it becomes a bonus refreshing add-on. If they start face down you might be thinking you'd have to wait until they are face up to wipe the feet and by then you've already been subjected to their foot aroma - you can wipe feet very well with them face down, I think it actually makes it easier to get around the toes.

 

[daffodil]

Foot wipes!! Duh!! How simple!! That will work.

Gee... I never thought of doing it myself....I suppose I could... I dont know why it would be illegal...

Does anyone clean their clients feet in such a manner?? I dont have time to give everyone a foot bath... Wiping someones feet would be okay... but maybe they would think I am insulting them??? Geee... I didnt think my feet were that bad... maybe I would embarrass someone?? Do you think??

Christine

 

[Aaron PQD]

I have the hot towel cabi on all the time, and I will do foot compressions using a hot towel when someone is gritty/grubby/dirty/smelly. It does add to the laundry, so I don't do it for everyone, but if I think "gotta do a load of towels today could put in a couple of hand towels..." I may, regardless of foot condition.
Sometimes I will give them a foot bath, sometimes not, depends on how busy I am and laundry.

 

[Gipper]

I have a box of baby wipes in my treatment room at the fitness center, and at the end of the pre-treatment interview I will tell them to undress to their comfort level (explaining the choices if they are new to massage), to get between the sheets face down with their face in the face cradle, and point out the wipes and say "there are wipes for your feet if you need them" and then tell them I will go wash my hands while they get on the table, and I'll knock before re-entering the room. It works fine, and nobody blushes about their feet. I don't generally know who uses the wipes or who doesn't, but I've never had to face the stinky feet.

At school in the clinic I started doing that because too many people thought of it about the time I got to their feet, which was too late to save them the embarrassment (or me the ick factor!).

 

[Not I]

I had a client while in student clinic that had filthy feet, they looked like she had been walking around in dirt for weeks, it was that bad. I saw then as, she knew she was coming in for a massage and should have cleaned her feet. As this was not from just the shoes she had on. She came in there for a massage not a pedicure and I wasn't about to wash her feet for her, thats her job. With the dirt on her feet that I knew would loosen upon oil being massaged on it, she got a full body massage with a little added dirt thanks to herself.
I don't go to the dentist expecting them to brush my teeth nor go to any DR. expecting them to clean me in anyway. Except if I am getting a shot and they have to rub alcohol on me.

Me as a client I would be offended if you washed my feet for me.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[laptop_boy537]

If it is done in the right way its not really a "foot wash".

In the summer you could offer a peppermint towel treatment to refresh tired feet. (Or lemon or something to that effect)

This way, you're not potentially insulting anyone, and your clients think they're getting a treat. I think there are threads around here somewhere that goes into more details.

(tex - you're the link queen, can you do your magic? 8) )

 

[ecogrl23]

Me as a client I would be offended if you washed my feet for me.

Just my 2 cents.

Yeah, this is what I would be worried about, someone being offended.

Shannon, what if the wipes were in the room and the therapist let you know they were there for you if you needed them.... or if they were in the room labeled "foot wipes" they were near the area you undress, but nothing was said??

Christine

 

[Melly<3]

I would be ok with that and probably use them...just in case and I wouldn't find offense with it at all. Just having my feet cleaned by someone else would bother me and I would be self concious the rest of the time.

 

[norski]

I would find "oh, your feet need to be cleaned because they are so stinky and dirty" offensive. But as Talenyn said, if you include it as an extra treat, that's what it is, a bonus for them to be happy about.

I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone has thought I've used aromatherapy essential oils in their massage oil becuase I need something to cover up the smell of their body, it's just one of the extra things I do.

 

[hey_uk2000]

I think it is all in how you phrase it whether people will be offended by it.

Something like, "With summer approaching I've decided to add a new treatment to your session. I think you will really enjoy this." I wouldn't bother addressing your reasons for adding it...just do it, make it as thoroughly enjoyable for them as possible and emphasize how pleasant or wonderful it is.

Chances are the majority of your clients will appreciate it and not think much about it. Those who mention it and ask why you can say that you noticed last year a large majority of clients wear sandals or walk around barefoot and you wanted to do something special for them.

There are other threads in the forum that discuss alcohol sprays for feet too. You might want to check those out.

 

[Van-Hy]

I'm with the tactful-approach suggestions. Women wear sandals nearly year-round here and feet do get dirty. But no stinkier than ones that have been encased in pantyhose (remember that? ) or cooped up in leather dress shoes all day.

I generally start face up and will begin by grasping the ankles to do a little pull to help settle them in and stretch the spine. So the first thing I touch is the feet. It's just standard process for me to have a little bottle of tea tree foot spray under the table and a disposable wipe. If you do this with a loving heart and a gentle hand and convey the attitude that you are simply giving their feet a little treat, (poor feet, they take so much abuse) and it's no big deal then there's no reason for anyone to be offended or feel embarassed. I nearly always work on the head and neck first, but I still clean the feet. Done properly, it's a very luxurious and relaxing little thing that helps literally set the mood of being in a different sphere.

The main point is to not be angry or offended that they did not cleanse their feet to your satisfaction. Maybe they were fine when they left the house, maybe they honestly aren't aware..whatever, it doesn't matter. We don't judge someone or allow them to repel us if they have ribs sticking out from the back or layers of fat on their legs, hairy limbs or overly sweaty palms or soles...I don't see this as any different than providing stuffy noses with a kleenex before they have to ask. It's a thoughtful, easy, quick, kind thing to do that benefits both parties.

We can't judge others by what we would do ourselves; all we can do is make it easy to change the situation to our preference without causing the client distress.

 

[downloadaholik]

I'm with the tactful-approach suggestions.

We can't judge others by what we would do ourselves; all we can do is make it easy to change the situation to our preference without causing the client distress.

Beautifully said, I couldn't have said it better myself.... Now that is something to remember. Thanx Kitten

 

[Mr Chill]

thank you. Someone much wiser than myself used to always tell me that.

Now I apply it to anyone who can seem a bit challenging. It makes life a lot easier...

 

[jimbo]

Why not incorporate a foot treatment prior to starting every massage?

It's a nice relaxing "hello" for every client and ensures a clean & sweet smelling session for you.

 

[David P]

I might simply do the feet last and sprinkle some tea tree oil (which is also a great disinfectant, in addition to being an odor-killer). The wipes are an awesome idea, but yeah, many ppl won't do the wiping and they're often the biggest offenders. You COULD start with the feet and wipe first thing, ks then you could hide under the "let me cool you off" guise since they just came in from the hot outdoors. You could quietly grab a wipey and massage their feet with it...that way they get cool, clean, AND massaged and they might not say boo. You might reiterate your policy on showering as close to the session as possible "so that the skin can breathe" and, if you have a nice way to say it, "for hygenic reasons" or to "avoid the spread of...(whatever) to other clients" or something. I'm not good with wording yet, but the ideas are there lol. I don't have any qualms about washing someone's feet if they're not clean and I have to do their feet (if it's a reflexology session, for example, or if they've specifically requested foot work during a massage). If the feet are that nasty and it's a regular massage, I might (regrettably but for the sake of my sheets and my sanity) skip them altogether. Just my rambling thoughts...

Blessings,
~Jyoti

 

[Juan Carlos]

Ha ha! I totally forgot about that scene. Thanks for the reminder.

I have an outcall client who is especially flatulent due to a medical condition. She used to get very embarrassed and apologize profusely but I laughed it off and told her that's what the dog is for (also in the same room with us) :wink: . Now she laughs about it, too, and is a lot less self-conscious. I mean, please. It's not her fault and if she tenses up it ruins my work!

 

[kingsley]

if i had a penny for everytime a golfer got on my table and didn't wash the sand from his ankles!
i just figure if the guy spends that much time in the bunker, i shouldn't give him grief for the sand. :mrgreen:

 

[Arturo B]

I have just recently acquired a new client who is going to come in weekly for one hour massages. The second time that I saw him, he started taking off his shoes during his interview, when after peeling off two layers of socks, he calmly stuck his fingers between his toes to check for dampness, then nonchalantly wiped the bottoms of both feet on my rug! :shock:

When I stepped out to wash my hands, I went searching for hand sanitizer or anything I could use to clean his obviously sweat-soaked feet. I ended up just spraying a little wintergreen alcohol on my hands and wiping them down with a towel, which I'm sure he didn't notice cause he was snoring at this point. I have sincd added a bowl of individually wrapped wet wipes witha small sign stating 'foot wipes' in my room...he hasn't been in again yet, but I'll let you know if he gets the hint. If not, then I will wipe them myself! :wink:

 

[Naomi C]

I have just recently acquired a new client who is going to come in weekly for one hour massages. The second time that I saw him, he started taking off his shoes during his interview, when after peeling off two layers of socks, he calmly stuck his fingers between his toes to check for dampness, then nonchalantly wiped the bottoms of both feet on my rug! :shock:

Now that is just gross!!!!

Christine