Quick summary (what makes ghusl valid)

1. Niyyah (intention) in the heart to purify yourself (you don’t have to say it out loud).

2. Water reaches every part of the body including the scalp/roots of hair and skin — no spot remains dry.

3. Use water (if no water available or unable, do tayammum instead).

Full step-by-step (practical version you can follow)

1. Make the intention (niyyah).

   • Mentally state: “I intend to perform ghusl to become pure.” (No need to vocalize.)

2. Say Bismillah (optional but recommended).

3. Wash your hands up to the wrists thoroughly (so you don’t transfer impurity).

4. Wash the private parts and remove any physical impurity (blood, semen, etc.).

   • Use water and your left hand to clean well.

5. If there is visible impurity on clothing or body, remove it.

6. Perform a complete wudu (ablution) — many follow the sunnah of doing wudu before completing ghusl.

   • At minimum: wash face, arms to the elbows, wipe head, wash feet (many scholars accept washing after ghusl but doing wudu before ghusl is common and recommended).

   • If you do full wudu before finishing ghusl, you still must wash the whole body afterwards.

7. Pour water over the head three times, ensuring water reaches the scalp and roots of hair.

   • If hair is long and thick: run fingers through hair each time so water reaches scalp.

   • Make sure water reaches every part of the scalp.

8. Pour water over the entire body starting with the right side then the left side.

   • Ensure water flows over every part: armpits, inside of limbs, between fingers and toes, behind the ears, neck, chest, back, abdomen, and the private parts (again).

   • Rub body with hands to be sure no dry spots remain.

9. Ensure the back and hard-to-reach places are washed (use hands to reach or pour water well).

   • Move and check; beard and under the beard if present.

10. Finish by washing the feet if you didn’t already in wudu. Make sure water reaches between toes.

Sunnah / recommended details (many people follow these)

• Rinse mouth (istinshaq) and nose (istinshaf) with water three times before/while washing the head.

• Wash hands and private parts at the start (as above).

• Wash the right side of the body first, then the left.

• Use three pours for head and for the whole body (three is recommended but not obligatory).

• Untie long hair so water reaches roots; do not necessarily cut or comb it.

Obligatory (according to the majority)

• Intention (niyyah).

• All of the body must be washed thoroughly — including the scalp/roots of the hair.
  If those are fulfilled, the ghusl is valid.

If you can’t use water

• Do tayammum (dry ablution) following the rules: strike clean earth, wipe face and hands — this is used when water is unavailable or using water is harmful.

Special cases & short answers

• After menstruation or postnatal bleeding: perform ghusl when bleeding stops before doing prayers or resuming sexual relations.

• After sexual intercourse or ejaculation: ghusl is required before prayer.

• If you shower normally (with soap): that counts as ghusl as long as intention is there and water reaches everywhere. Soap is fine and helpful for cleanliness.

Quick checklist you can use

• Niyyah (intention) made

• Hands washed

• Private parts washed/cleaned

• Wudu performed (recommended)

• Head rinsed 3× (water reaches scalp)

• Body poured/wash thoroughly (right then left)

• Back, between fingers/toes washed

• Feet washed