The author, Tahir Shah, reflects on the challenges of achieving true hygiene in difficult or unsanitary conditions. He suggests that despite efforts like wet-wiping, these attempts fall short of delivering genuine cleanliness. The underlying notion is that some environments resist easy solutions for maintaining hygiene.

Shah's insights highlight a broader commentary on the limitations of superficial cleaning methods. In his travels, he discovers that no matter how much one tries to sanitize a place, certain conditions inherently obstruct the possibility of complete hygiene, leading to a sense of frustration and awareness of deeper issues related to cleanliness.