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!

I bathe everyday
Sometimes have a shower in the morning and a bath in the evening

@maddiemookins16mum

I wonder how all the soap dodgers felt this morning after a very warm nights sleep and not having showered for three days by this point. Plus those saying it a waste of water, do you also not wash your wains or have a washing machine? Do they also not shower daily during their period? Honestly MN is the weirdest place.

I don't call myself a soap dodger because I'm not. I just don't feel the need to shower 2+ times a day. I didn't shower last night (I did yesterday afternoon though) but I felt absolutely fine when I got up thank you. I'll probably get in again tomorrow or on Monday at the latest.

My children shower every other day usually, although sometimes it goes over to the 3rd day. My eldest has eczema and it's best for his skin to avoid overwashing.

Of course we have a washing machine, what a daft comment! We do a load every day or, at the moment since we're still on furlough and therefore not wearing as many clothes as normal, every 2-3 days. We don't wash clothes unnecessarily either - usually only after being worn a few times do they get put in the basket (unless they're dirty before that of course).

@TwoZeroTwoZero

Thanks for the link. I genuinely did not know that, I live in Scotland though. I'm also not a 3 times a day showerer, I was just curious as to why using water for its intended purpose is considered wasteful.

If you don't have a shower for a few days do you still clean your undercarriage in some way? I think I'd be wiffy if I didn't shower everyday and surely there's armpit b.o.? Id be convinced I stink if I didn't shower everyday. I would like to be free of my "have to shower everyday no matter what' mindset.

on days I don't shower (yes this happens regularly), I wash pits & bits at the sink with a flannel and warm water.

Surely you are just as quick having a shower pink?

Everyday here.

nope
the hot water set up means that the shower needs to run for a minute before it turns from very cold to bearable.
no way am I going to have a cold shower.

Out of interest does everyone turn the shower down to a dribble when soaping up ?

I don't because with our "shower" - which is one of those plastic things that goes on the taps, we don't have a proper shower - it'll take time and fiddling with the taps to get the water running the right temperature again. I just try not to spend too long lathering the shower gel or shampoo.

Shower in the morning to wash, bath in the evening to read.

1-3 times a day depending on what I'm doing, one in the morning always, another if I exercise and another if I help dh out with the sheep.

Every morning after my workout. Wash hair every other day. I'm sweaty and hairy, so if I want to go near other people it's best that I shower and shave.

Shower every morning

Every day. When I didnt because my bathroom was broken I stank within a day, my colleagues visibly recoiled