How often do you shower/bathe?

[fandemic]

Out of curiosity: how often do you bathe/shower? And if less than every day, do you so any maintenance in between?

I've always been a germphobe and used to be quite phobic about it - like, if for some reason I couldn't shower one morning, I would feel gross and uncomfortable all day. I'm not so bad now but still, until this week, showering every day. At the same time I have always suffered with dry skin and use a body lotion every day. I cut out products with sulphates a couple of years ago and switched to bars of soap, which I prefer, but even so - lots of washing.

I read this interview and have started experimenting with showering less: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/jul/28/soap-dodger-meet-the-doctor-who-says-we-have-been-showering-wrong I was really interested in what this guy says about how if you wean yourself off showering frequently, your skin builds up a layer of useful bacteria which metabolise the sweat for you, so that you no longer smell. This was a bizarre idea to me as I usually think of sweat = dirt. I've just reduced to a shower every 2 days, using soap only on the smelly bits, and rubbing down with a plain flannel and water over the rest. I might reduce further if things go well. One issue I'm having, though, is what to do about dry skin and especially ingrowing hairs from shaved areas - I'm definitely not ready to stop shaving my legs, underarms, and bikini line and I usually use exfoliating gloves to wash daily in the shower. I'm also accustomed to the softness of skin you get from using body lotion every day and am wondering what to do about that ... basically I'm wondering if my skin will eventually settle down and be soft without the need for lotions.

Interested to hear other people's thoughts about all this!

[jess3817]

I shower every day, sometimes twice a day. It wakes me up in the morning and makes me feel ready for the day. The second shower is because I'm a cleaner and get very hot and sweaty, even when the weather isn't as hot as this so, I get in the shower as soon as I can when I get home.

[Fleamaker123]

Shower in the morning to wake and freshen up, usually have a bath in the evening it helps me to relax. Couldn't miss a whole day without a proper wash, I'd feel grubby.

[bengalcat]

In the morning before work and when I get home from work . If I’m at home after the gym or a run in addition .

[Crosswithlifeatm]

I shower in the morning on days I'm working but not on days off.I also shower at the end of the day if it has been sunny and I've had suncream on,not had to do that much this year.
It takes a leap of faith to go long enough to realise you don't smell and to use soap when you do.
I do wash my hands a lot and have never bad the time to see what happens if I don't wash my hair,I wash that every 3-4 days
I shower on Christmas day,New year's Day and my birthday whether I need it or not.
I use a light moisturiser on my legs as they get itchy.

[Juiceey]

I'm grotty. I shower every other day, sometimes every 3rd day. You get used to it. I do have MH issues though that makes self care difficult.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

Every morning and after every time I exercise or have a haircut or it's a hot day. Hair wash, body wash, face wash.

[MissNotMrs]

Every morning. Depending what I've been doing in the day I may shower before bed

I do t think we NEED to shower everyday I just feel better after I've had one

[Norugratsatall]

Once a year whether I need it or not...

[pinkbalconyrailing]

every christmas.
whether I need it or not.

[ButterMeCrumpets]

Shower in the morning and again just before I go to bed.

[KatherineJaneway]

Every day.

[JamesArthursEyelashes]

On the hour, every hour. Anything less is grim.

[RainbowFlowers]

I shower every morning it wakes me up. But I only use shower gel every other day as I think its not good for my skin to use it too much. I use e45 after every shower. I wash my hair once a week but I condition it one or two more times than that without shampooing.

I have horrible rough dry skin on my arms and wonder I could do anything to help that.

Could you use lotion even on the days you don't have a shower?

[Runmybathforme]

Every day. Why wouldn’t you ?

[TwoZeroTwoZero]

This is mn so you'll get lots of people saying they have a shower every 10 mins or else they smell and anyone who has fewer showers than that are smelly, skanky bastards.

I shower every 2-3 days mostly, but occasionally, like today, I have an extra one because I was too hot.

[totalpeas22]

Always every morning and sometimes twice if hot or we are going out.

I ride my horse most days so smell of horse and get hot and sweaty riding

[IncrediblySadToo]

Every morning, I don't feel human until
I have

Most nights before bed. I feel fresh & sleep better.

In between if necessary. Like soon. I've just loaded & then unloaded a car full of my nieces stuff to store for her.

I'm now very hot & very sweaty

Long story, but I have gone a week without showering/washing and my skin gets sore, not by choice & hopefully never again

I wash my hair most mornings. If I've washed it the night before I sometimes skip a morning.


Occasionally use body lotion, but not often, can't be done with the faff and I hate the feeling in my hands.

It's been 35 deg here today and 40 in the car (air con decided
It didn't fancy working
🤬🥺). I've been dripping wet. Thankfully
I'm home alone right now & will finish the car then fall thankfully into the shower


Do what works for you, only change if you want to. All the adults I know shower at least daily. MN has quite a few who claim once a week Is plenty🤥

[Bodgedboxdye]

Everyday.

Sometimes twice a day. (:

[EmpressSuiko]

Every day or every other day.

[kimlo]

twice a day.

[hellywelly3]

I can go a few days without a shower, I think it’s a terrible waste of water to shower more than once a day.

[LegoMaus]

I’d like to shower every day but I have a toddler. It’s just too much hassle to take a child in the shower with you, wash them, stop them hitting you with the squeegee or climbing out, get water spat at you, dry them while they try to run away, try to moisturise while they’re crying and swinging on the shower door, then carry them up to your bedroom and try to stop them wrecking the joint while you get dressed. If I could get showered on my own I’d do it every day. Under the circumstances I put it off as long as possible because it’s a huge undertaking and isn’t relaxing at all. I work up the energy to deal with the whole palaver every three days or so.

[BlueJava]

I shower and wash my hair every morning without fail, even on a PJ day I get up and shower and put on clean PJs. Sometimes I'll also have a bath in the evening, perhaps twice a week. DH showers every morning and every evening without fail, 2 DS also shower every morning and bath about 3-4 nights a week (for hours!).

I have no idea why anyone who had access to enough water would not! I know some say it's better to not and better for your hair too... but I'm in my fifties and I've done this since teenage years and it's been fine so far!

[Northernsoullover]

Hot days twice a day. If I'm working, every day. If I'm not working and its winter I'll happily skip a day. Unless I'm on a promise

[SouthorWest]

Most mornings, wakes me up. Use soap bars not shower gel though.

I have skipped a shower a couple of times since I've been WFH. I wash my hair about every 3-4 days.

I'm fully on board with the 'washing less' thing - I do agree with the article that daily washing is probably unnecessary and possibly even harmful...but it's hard to get past the feeling of ick if you've not washed!