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!

A shower every couple of days, unless it's very hot and I want to cool down, a basin wash the other day. I wash my hair every 5 or 6 days - it's long and fine and I do not want to strip all its natural oils, but I wash my hairbrush most days. Fresh clothes every day are even more important, I find even natural fibres pick up smells.

Every day or every other. My skin was better when I couldn't shower post op for weeks and was just washing armpits etc

@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.

I tend to agree, but this is MN where if you don't wash (and tumble dry) your towels after every use you're basically Stig of the Dump.

Shower every day though wash hair every second

Lived in this house 4 years never had a bath

I shower everyday, more habit than anything although it's probably not very good for my skin. I'm curious, those who shower every few days would you wash your armpits or anything or do you not need to? I remember when I was growing up we got washed everyday at the sink with facecloths and got a bath maybe a couple times a week.

On the hour, every hour, except on Sundays when I get in the shower at 7am and stay there until bedtime.

I quite like a pit wash at the basin - it makes me feel like one of those paintings of A Lady At Her Toilette

Once a day either a bath or shower. Usually the evening, I don't really feel a need to shower in the morning. Wash hair every three days or so

Twice every day.
I’d feel dirty if I didn’t.

Daily but was 3 or 4 times a day when I went through the menopause hot flush stage.

Everyday unless hungover

Every morning and again after exercise which is most days.

pretty much have a shower every morning - and a shower at night if ive been exercising or feeling a bit grimy
theres some days where i dont have a shower in the morning, if ive had a long bath the night before i may skip my morning shower if im not going out that day

I tend to shower in the evenings to wash off skin products. plus I usually exercise in the evenings and get sweaty.

gives me 10 extra minutes in the morning with a if I don't shower

Daily 5 minute shower. Twice if it is very hot/humid like today or I have to go on the tube, which always feels horribly grubby.

I shower twice a day. Once as soon as I get up and once at about 7.30pm before we have dinner. Husband does the same. Its not because we’re germaphobes, we just like it.

Every evening. I do a lot of exercise in the evening so shower after.

Every morning. Always.

Twice daily.

I normally shower once a day when I get home or before bed. Some days I might not bother if I've not moved from the sofa all day but other days I might have 3 if I've been busy or doing something especially dirty!!

Every day usually in the summer. Every other day at other times.

Every other day, generally. I have eczema and very dry skin (tend to get heat rash rather than actually sweating!) so too much washing is not good for me.

Mostly every day. Some days, like today for instance I will shower twice, but they're rare

Every few days, with a ‘festival wash’ in between.