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!

Twice a day. Every morning and evening. Wash hair every 3-4 days.

It doesn't make sense though does it? You say you now shower every other day and in between you wash the smelly parts with soap and a flannel, but whats the difference then? You're still washing the same way you would in a shower.

I shower every morning because it wakes me up and i do smell if i dont shower, my husband showers everyday but wouldn't smell if he didn't, I've never smelt BO from him but i would smell by the end of a hot day.

I have scalp psoriasis so try to only wash my hair twice a week but sometimes do it three times and ill use dry shampoo in between as my hair is fine and greasy

Every day. Bath. Every now and then I’ll have a shower As well. Today is such a day. Gonna have very quick cool down before going to bed.

Every morning, most evenings.

Only on MN do people proudly tell others they don’t wash every day 🤢

Only on MN do other people give a shit about strangers' personal hygiene habits.

I personally couldn't give a shit if someone showered thrice a day or once a week, my life is full enough without passing judgement on others.

At least every other , bit wasteful of water etc to do twice a day unless overly dirty or something

I used to wonder why everyone on here was so anxious about coronavirus and now I read this where everyone is showering twice a day every day. Everyone on MN is an OCD germaphobe.

For me it's every day. But if I'm not leaving the house, I don't always bother.

Every day, very occasionally twice - today it was so hot I went and had a cool shower mid afternoon.

I shower every day, in the morning. Would prefer a long soak in the bath but this place only has a shower (miss my morning baths).
If it's hot I shower twice a day....always wash/shower after hot or dirty work or exercise or whatever as well.

Every other day. I WFH all the time though so have no sweaty commute of anything to worry about. I wash at the sink on the alternate day.
I've fallen into this routine mostly because I have three kids and very little time to myself 😂.
I do agree my skin is better from not using soap on it daily.

Every single day and sometimes twice, I have no problem with dry skin so I have no desire to shower less .
My ds has been bathed every day from a baby and now he is 6 he showers daily as that is what I teach him .

I shower every 29th of February, whether I need one or not.

I shower twice a day first thing in the morning and then at night maybe three times on days like today 32 degrees

Shower after exercise every morning and a shower before bed every night and if I've been to my allotment it can be 3 times 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 ... If I could get showered on my own I’d do it every day.

Wouldn't you just... wait til they're asleep? I assume you're a single parent, which is why it's so tricky, so I would either get up really early before they wake, or I would shower/bathe after their bedtime. Or naptime if they still nap. And if they don't, I would imagine they're old enough for a tablet or phone distraction. I mean, I guess there is a reason why you don't - but if you would like to, you just need to figure out how to on your own.

I'm in the 'every morning to freshen up and a bath as well in the evenings to relax' camp.

I certainly think I could 'get away with' a flannel wash in the main bits and pits instead of a shower, but I would miss the experience of a shower in the morning. I don't use body lotion or anything fancy, though - it's really just the experience of waking up to the day to hot water on your body. On the occasions I've had a bath or shower the night before, and not in the morning, I just don't feel fresh.

Shower every day

Careful age water is precious. ! You may want to rethink ?

Wouldn't you just... wait til they're asleep?
Sleep 😂
My 2yo gets up at 7am and can easily still be awake at midnight. I don’t remember the last time I had even five minutes to myself. I’ve tried sitting him in the bathroom with an iPad but he just tries to get in the shower with me.

Every day. Shower in the morning and sometimes bathe in the evening before bed.
I don't wash my hair frequently though as I have a head full of curls that is much healthier when washed less.
My 6 year old bathes/showers daily and my 8 month old sometimes skips a day of shes not jubby and I'm tired

Once a year whether I need it or not.

Every 2 days. I hardly sweat and I naturally have quite dry hair that doesn’t get greasy easily.

After I had my baby, I was very sweaty for the 1st 3 months so I showered every morning and sometimes in the evening (I was carrying a lot of excess water due to kidney damage that occurred during the birth).

I think people have different bodies and you can’t measure hygiene practices off of one particular person.

I have a bath and wash my hair every morning. I haven't got a shower (yet) otherwise that would be my choice.
Then I will run a couple of inches each night into the bath for bits "n' pits. It used to be in the basin but I'm no longer limber enough to my trotters in the sink.

I have a weird allergy to water in that I itch for a long time after contact with water. As a result, I have a full shower once a week. Everyday I wash between my legs, my armpits and under my breasts. I then have to apply cream.

At least once a day, often twice. But I don't lather my whole body every time...pits, feet and bits get a good soaping and just let the water rinse the rest of me most times.

Honestly, less now I'm working from home, because I don't need to wash my hair as much or get properly dressed into office clothes. I still shower most days but not every day and I wash my hair at most twice a week. I get changed even if it's into clean PJs so I don't smell.