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!

Daily - I'm a dog walker so it's definitely needed

Sometimes twice a day if it's really warm.

Depends on seasons. Summer every day if it’s hot and I get sweaty (I shower in the evenings). If I don’t sweat and I know I’m going running in the morning, I will skip the evening shower, have a quick wash of the bits, and have a proper shower after my run. I won’t shower again in the evening.

In winter, if I haven’t been out and had a lazy day in and the most I’ve done is watch tv and put oven food on, I won’t shower and just have a quick wash. Saves me from stripping off when it’s cold.

I do this for environmental reasons and to save time. Won’t go more than 2 days without showering though.

Every morning, I don’t feel fresh to start the day if I haven’t had a shower. I also swear quite a lot at night even with a just a sheet.

Also in the evening if I’ve been to the stables, the smell of horse clings to me and I have often got sweaty

at the moment twice a week max which is know is grim but i have anxiety & depression and have been this way for the last 9 years, i actually don’t think i smell and my partner and friends say the same, i would like to get myself up to every other day at least but i find it really hard

First thing and before bed. Extra one 4 days a week after the gym.

Every 2-3 days. If it’s hot I might have an extra ultra quick shower to cool off. My skin is a lot happier and it saves a lot of water. My hormones changing make me smell more pre-period so wash more if I notice I smell or husband says something! He never smells at all, he’s a bit of a freak of nature. In between showers I wash my face and use a flannel under the arms etc. Try to use fragrance free soap and stuff now, I miss some fragranced things but not many.
My body and hair hates SLS so went free of that years ago, but now wash my hair a lot less and use co wash to bring out waves, I don’t miss “Normal” shampoo at all. My hair is naturally oily and washing it less has made it much better, not worse.

I can’t believe how little people care about the environment, twice a day is so wasteful.

I can’t believe how little people care about the environment, twice a day is so wasteful.

Surely washing more returns more water to nature

Are all you people also washing your hair every day? I couldn't do that for the life of me..... takes 30 mins just to blow dry there's so much of it.

Personally I shower or have a bath three times a week plus more often if I've exercised or it's been hot.

@powkin, it depends on how long you are in the shower. I don't leave the shower running while I shampoo and soap.
If you have a quick shower then that's different to spending 20 minutes under a power shower.

@OptimisticSix

I have gone from every day to once a week. DH reports I do not smell and my skin feels so much nicer. I do dry brush and noisturise with coconut oil every day and if I was sweaty I wash my armpits and occasionally use deodrant. This is a new thing for me too but seems to be working so far.

Finally, some sanity.

I think it’s a terrible waste of water to shower more than once a day.

I have to ask, because I always see comments like this on washing threads, are we running out of water? Is there something I don't know about?

Shower every morning, and wash hair, unless it’s a pj day, in which case I will have a bath in the afternoon, and put on fresh pyjamas.

I need a shower to get going in the mornings on work days.

Shower every morning, wash my hair every other morning.

The things that bug me are people who flush before and after using the loo, and leave the tap running while they brush their teeth.

I shower daily, but how long for varies.

@MikeUniformMike aren’t you meant to flush after using the toilet? /:

I might miss a day here and there but wash well if I don't

Every other day unless it's hot or I've fake-tanned. I do feel like shit when I haven't and deliberately 'dress down' on those days (like I don't want to waste Nice clothes?!) but I do t always have time and I get much more done in the house on my 'grotty' days.

I would like to shower and be presentable every day but just can't manage it.

My husband on the other hand will shower the minute he wakes up - even if we're about to take the toddler swimming. I always think that's a terrible waste of time and water!

Of course every day, sometimes twice.

@Bodgedboxdye, yes, but not before.

Shower every morning, before bed and in between if working out. Bath if cold and tired. We have a large, stunning bathroom and I could happily just live in it.

I'm a right soap dodger and only bathe once or twice a week. I don't sweat though so I'm not smelly.

I shower every morning as I have greasy hair and also feel more awake after my shower. However, I have been known to not shower if I'm feeling sick or hungover but generally get a bath that evening instead

I also have dry skin OP and I only use soap under arms and shampoo for hair. But I avoid soap in my genital area and use moisturisers instead otherwise it makes me itch.

You can put moisturiser on without showering you know.