In the U.S., The word used is "Toiletries." And in stores they have the :"Toiletry" section or department. Toiletries are all things that do with personal hygiene, e.g.., soaps, tooth brushes, Cologne, toothpaste, shampoo, shaving cream, etc. And there are bags called toiletry bags to carry all this stuff in when you travel.
Natasha
Post by LizzyDear all,
Is there a phrase or word to mean the category of materials for washing
up,
To do the "washing up", the -ING form of "to wash up", in my part of
the world means to wash dishes, cutlery, and pots after a meal.
Questions. "Can I wash up for you?" means the same as "Can I do the
washing-up for you?" and always means dishes.
"To wash" is to clean with water. Without an object, that is, as an
intransitive verb, it means to clean the face and hands.
"Washing", the -ING form of "to wash", has a meaning in verbal senses
("The cat is washing") and a specific meaning as a concrete noun:
"the washing" is laundry, that is, clothes and household linen.
Questions *WRONG Can I wash for you?* is almost certainly wrong,
although native speakers can imagine a couple of unlikely uses. "Can
I do the washing for you?" always means laundry.
Post by Lizzyincluding toothpaste, toothbrush, facial bar etc.
Now I understand your question. You want a word for the materials
(consumed,or used up) and the appurtenances (countable items of
equipment, used but not consumed) or paraphernalia (uncountable items
of equipment) for personal washing and cleaning.
Here is an answer. "Toilet gear" (uncountable)
A toilet (countable) is a lavatory, WC (water closet), or bidet, but
the old word "toilet" or French "toilette" means the action of
dressing and preparing oneself. This is the meaning of "toilet gear."
"Lavatory" in olden times meant "a place to wash" but now always
means WC. Even WC itself is fairly recent. I you haven't got water,
I suppose you have an earth closet, that is, a pit privy.
I hadn't seen "facial bar" for soap, but it's perfectly okay.
There's a big difference between laundry soap and toilet soap.
Post by LizzyFor instance, when a wife prepares stuff for travel, she may ask her
husband where to put the materials for washing up.
** Say "... materials for washing" or say "toilet gear" or say
"spongebag" (countable) or "spongebags" if everyone has one of their
own.
Post by LizzySo I guess there is
a fixed phrase for this. Will 'cleaning stuff' work?
No. It's too wide.
I hope this is helpful. Students should note that every generation
has its own euphemism for privy-lavatory-toilet-WC-dunny-john-can-
jakes-longdrop-loo and so on.
Ann
www.lulu.com/AnnEnglish
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