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AIBU?

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Original poster

Belly button cleaning - yes or no?

40 replies

Bellybuttonquestion · 22/06/2024 14:09

With friends the other night, the subject of belly button cleaning or not came up.

Caused quite a debate as one party said you never need to clean your belly button, it’s self cleaning and why would you? The other party said of course you clean your belly button every time you shower, just have a quick wipe around with shower gel like the rest of your body and all done.

There was incredulity on both sides at the others opinion.

So, to the popular vote:

YABU - there is no need to clean your belly button, it’s ridiculous.

YANBU - of course you clean your belly button when you have a shower.

OP posts:
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NoCoordination · 22/06/2024 18:09

And as for 'cleaning' being needed or not needed, I presume a human body wasnt evolved with the need for soap in mind?

Evolution doesn’t work that way though.
Most if not all animals grooms themselves/ each other. If they didn’t they would be more susceptible to infection, for one.
It’s an innate behaviour that’s essential to survival.
Humans have evolved in such a way that they understand the need for personal hygiene and the consequences of neglecting personal hygiene and how to take care of themselves effectively. They have also invented medicines etc.
What did people do before soap, not to mention anti fungal/ anti biotic/ antiseptic treatments were used? Probably get seriously ill or die from skin infections a lot more often.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 22/06/2024 16:59

I clean mine even though I have a horrible aversion to touching it (like a physical sensation, not that I think it’s gross or anything)

Luxell934 · 22/06/2024 16:56

I’ve got an innie and it definitely needs cleaning each time I shower.

Original poster
Bellybuttonquestion · 22/06/2024 16:54

Thank you all for the replies!

To clarify, I am the belly button cleaner out of the two friends. I have an innie and stick my finger in and give it a gentle clean every time I shower. Obviously those with outies don’t need to worry so much.

I will send my friend a link to the thread 😄

OP posts:
Octaviathethird · 22/06/2024 16:46

Mine is really deep and every time I've tried to clean it, I've ended up with it getting infected so I leave it well alone now!

MsLuxLisbon · 22/06/2024 15:36

An umbolith is a navel stone. It is a calcified mass of keratin and sebum, people with deep belly buttons can get them. There are some absolute beauties if you care to peruse reddit.

soupfiend · 22/06/2024 15:31

Whats umbolith then if people dont want to google

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 22/06/2024 15:31

MsLuxLisbon · 22/06/2024 15:19

Tell the people who say that the belly button is self cleaning to google the word 'umbolith'.

I don’t think it’s self cleaning but I’m too scared to Google this 😆

BakedOrDeepFried · 22/06/2024 15:30

I don't clean mine other than brushing over it with the loofah, but I don't think it counts as mine is quite 'flat' from being stretched out during pregnancy, it's not quite an outy but it doesn't go in either. There's nowhere dirt could collect, otherwise I'd definitely clean it.

I tell DP to wash his though as he has a proper inny which collects fluff!

AGodawfulsmallaffair · 22/06/2024 15:29

mynameiscalypso · 22/06/2024 14:45

I can't touch my belly button. It makes me want to heave (as does this thread if I'm honest; no idea why I clicked on it 😂)

😆

NoTouch · 22/06/2024 15:29

Shower every day, but never specifically cleaned my 55 year old belly button in my life.

In the interests of science, I have just stuck my finger in it and given it a sniff (dh looked a bit horrified, but had gone back to watching the football), all good.

I must have one of those magical self cleaning ones.

Destiny123 · 22/06/2024 15:28

Judging from working in theatres where surgeons have belly button cotton buds to clean before surgery... people rarely do, the swabs come out minging n stink

MsLuxLisbon · 22/06/2024 15:19

Tell the people who say that the belly button is self cleaning to google the word 'umbolith'.

Pickingmyselfup · 22/06/2024 15:16

I have on occasion but for the most part I don't need to bother, just like I don't wash the underside of my feet/in between my toes. I've been alive nearly 37 years, had a handful of relationships, friends and not had any embarrassing conversations about the way I smell at all my workplaces so I'm happy to carry on as I am.

Sherwil16 · 22/06/2024 15:14

I use a wet cotton bud with the tiniest amount of shower gel/ soap, then rinse with plain water. Works for me.

soupfiend · 22/06/2024 15:09

Given that most people have either showers or baths as their washing routine (very few I would imagine ONLY have strip washes with flannels),,,, then feet and belly buttons get washed within that shower or bath, no need for specific 'cleaning', the soapy water will be swilling about them.

And as for 'cleaning' being needed or not needed, I presume a human body wasnt evolved with the need for soap in mind? Just water

Mauhea · 22/06/2024 15:06

Get them to google omphalolith (with a bucket handy if they have a weak stomach) then tell them to go have a good scrub!

CaptainOliviaBenson · 22/06/2024 15:05

longdistanceclaraclara · 22/06/2024 14:43

I've never cleaned my belly button or between my toes

😬

MyOtherHusbandIsAWash · 22/06/2024 15:02

I have quite a deep belly button. The one time I decided to try and really clean out the crevices I got a fungal infection, probably due to irritating the skin. Never did that again! I have dry sensitive skin so don’t use any form of soap anywhere in the shower except armpits. I never clean between my toes but my feet don’t really sweat much or produce anything that needs cleaning off so don’t see the need to (never ever had stinky feet). Rarely I use a skin scrub if my foot skin looks dry. Maybe because I have dry skin, I don’t feel body skin is something that needs washing unless there’s a reason eg muddy, removing sunscreen etc. But I realise everyone’s skin is different!

pigsDOfly · 22/06/2024 15:01

Seems there's a fair amount of people who don't know how to wash themselves properly.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 22/06/2024 15:00

I try to clean mine, but it's not as easy as it uses to be. I had a nice circular innie belly button that I could easily clean with a finger. Then I had keyhole abdominal surgery which involved a camera and surgical instrument going in via an incision to the belly button. When it was sewn up it was much smaller and more of a narrow slit, and I can no longer get a finger in it. I do try to get soap suds into it but not sure how well that cleans without a finger to scrub.

twentysevendresses · 22/06/2024 14:59

Londontown12 · 22/06/2024 14:55

Yes always wash it and make sure it’s dry after mine is quite deep !!! X

Same...mine is very deep and can get really quite minging if it's warm. Needs cleaning properly daily (as do feet...I've no words for the posters who think they have self-cleaning feet and belly buttons! Rank 🤢)

KnittedCardi · 22/06/2024 14:58

It depends if you've got a inny or outy, or flat. Mine is kind of flat, so gets washed when I wash my tummy.

I have also never cleaned between my toes..... They spend 8 minutes swishing in foamy water....... Sorted 😂

twentysevendresses · 22/06/2024 14:57

longdistanceclaraclara · 22/06/2024 14:43

I've never cleaned my belly button or between my toes

Jesus 🤦‍♀️

Londontown12 · 22/06/2024 14:55

Yes always wash it and make sure it’s dry after mine is quite deep !!! X

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