Am I not washing properly?

[Washerg]

Inspired (worried!) following a poster today talking about buttocks washing.

I shower daily. By this I mean I stand under the shower and clean under my arms with water only, same down below. I let the water run all over me for a good ten or fifteen mins but don’t actually scrub or touch other parts of my body. On days I wash my hair (weekly), the soap will run down my body obviously but that’s the extent of any soap that runs over me.

I have from time to time used some shower gel but only if I feel like it. Haven’t for about a year or so and before then it would be some weeks not others. Just don’t feel the need I suppose... and when I do use it, again it would be under arms and definitely not a big body scrub. I don’t think I’ve ever ever washed my toes apart from when I’ve been on the beach or outside with no shoes on in summer. I do use deodorant and perfume.

I’m actually worried now that I’m some sort of disgusting person who doesn’t realise it!! It’s not something I’ve ever discussed with friends. Am I weird? Should I be scrubbing away?! I’ve NC.

Letting water run down your body is not washing. Even just using water you need to use a sponge or something to rub to actually wash. I have to use shower gel I would be paranoid I stink otherwise.

Soap neck, under the boobs, pits, bum(crack) and the outings of the crotch area 😂 soap can run over the rest of me but if I had a shower with water alone I wouldn’t come out feeling clean. Personal opinion though I don’t think there’s much of a right or wrong asking as your not growing fungus or stinking.

www.healthline.com/health/how-to-clean-your-vagina#feminine-wash

www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-to-clean-your-vagina#safety

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/how-clean-vagina-vulva-soaps-nhs-advice-gynaecologist-douche-do-not-a8988066.html%3famp

www.nytimes.com/ask/answers/how-should-i-be-washing-my-vulva-day-to-day

Here are four links to articles that say water is sufficient for cleaning the vulva. There are more, I just cba cutting and pasting more.

Didn’t find any links that said soap or any other cleanser is necessary - just some that said unscented soap is ok if you want to use it. Some of the articles say using soap can harm the ph balance and upset the microbiome which keeps the area healthy.

[quote CandidaAlbicans2]@Washerg, don’t you find your hair picks up cooking smells? Even if mine is otherwise clean it can smell if I’ve been cooking certain meals.

Regarding not using soap on your arse crack, Dr Christian from “Embarrassing Bodies” once said we need to use soap there as faeces is fatty so water alone won’t remove it properly. Worth considering. If you got shit on your hand and just rinsed it with water what do you think your hand would smell of? That’s what your arse would be like.

You don’t have to go mad with harsh soaps, or even use them all over every time you shower, just use something the same pH as your skin so it doesn’t irritate; I follow a dermatologist on YouTube who suggests products like CeraVe for example.

@quince2figs, I’m so glad you posted that, I was beginning to lose the will and really didn’t want to have to explain vulva smeg and toe and belly button jam to a bunch of grown women 😝[/quote]
I think I should have just typed out your last sentence, instead of my log-winded post!
Made me chuckle. My DGM used to call it “toe jam”!

Crucially soap & hot water is your 1st defence with COVID. Soap & water obliterate the COVID virus. Hands have oils on them that attract pathogens such as common cold and COVID they are retained there in skin fold or under nails. Washing with soap and hot water dissolves the virus bi-layer that contains the virus genetic material. Once the bi-layer is dissolved it is curtains for the virus

You need soap to break down and remove dirt,grime and fats to cleanse yourself . That can be liquid soap or bar of soap

Letting water run down your body is not washing. Even just using water you need to use a sponge or something to rub to actually wash.
OP said she uses her hand to rub clean.

OP do you feel and smell clean?

If so that’s all that matters, particularly if you are washing daily. Ignore the cruel comments on here, if it works for you it works

Please use soap everywhere and you certainly should soap your feet and between your toes.
Your towel must be dirty after each use or do you not dry yourself either?

Given that your urethal opening sits within you vulva I can't see how you can use soap on your vulva without it going near your urethra. And yes, soap does cause infections there too - it's not just the ph imbalance in the vagina that can occur.

I use shower gel on a sponge/pooffe. Definitely get washing under those pits with soap, get rid of the sweat and deodorant residue as that will wreck your skin!

I do clean my teeth on the shower though which I'm lead to believe is weird 😂 but it's time saving!

Everything @quince2figs said. And once again for the people in the back!

Don't know how many times I've had to explain to women that the vagina is the internal canal, yes that bit is the famous "self cleaning".
External vulva, not so much!! It doesn't "self clean" and yes it WILL smell if not washed properly.

As will arses. Most people don't have enough fibre in their diets to make premium healthy poo so will have some "residue". This adheres to the skin and simply letting water run over it won't remove it.

There's a particular musty, funky, "left in the sun shitty nappy" odour that comes from people who don't wash properly. Anyone who has been a manager in an office who has had to have that excruciating "word" will know exactly the smell I mean. I used to think some were mingers who just didn't care that they smelt bad, but now I realise some just don't ever realise.

OP please wash your bits, pits and feet minimum with a gentle soap or gel everyday. Fragrance free is fine. Sls free is good for you and the marine environment. Whatever you choose, please use it!

@Mulhollandmagoo

I use shower gel on a sponge/pooffe. Definitely get washing under those pits with soap, get rid of the sweat and deodorant residue as that will wreck your skin!

I do clean my teeth on the shower though which I'm lead to believe is weird 😂 but it's time saving!

I’ve never understood the time saving argument for this, do you not spend the same amount of time brushing as you would at the sink?

Why wouldn't you use soap? And standing under a shower for 15 minutes is just plain wasteful. Have you not heard of conserving water?

I'm not sure you're in a position to judge people for using a pouffe as disgusting op. I think if you wask them out after use and use soap with them they're fine. Obviously with regular washing like you'd was towels.

I think lots of gynecologists or similar say water is fine of vulva and surrounding area. I just use water as I get thrush easily. But do use soap or shower gel on my bum.

I also do sweat under my arms a lot so water absolutely wouldn't cut it for me.

I usually shower every other day OP. I do need to wash my hair more often than once a week or it looks gross.

I scrub down with a flannel and water for most purposes. I think soap is overused - my skin is insanely dry and I can't imagine lots of soap will help. That said, I scrub under my arms with shower gel and a flannel every shower.

I would ignore the hysteria here. I work a professional job and my mother is insane about cleanliness. She would certainly give me an earful if I seemed unclean, and I doubt I would make it professionally. I'm also small, with tiny tits. Some of us just don't sweat much or create a lot of unpleasant smells.

There's an in between, I wash my hair 4-5 times a week, I have facial scrub, I have shower gel and a puff, but no I don't scrub between my toes daily!

I'm in your gang, op. I asked dh if I smelt, he said no!

I was always told not to wash nether regions with soap and I’ve just applied it everywhere...except under arms which from time to time I do!

That's very odd logic. Do you blowdry your pubic hair? Do you put eye shadow on your lips? Do you trim your eyebrows with nail clippers? Do you wear socks on your ears? Do you apply sunscreen to your eyeballs? Do you clean your teeth with shampoo?

Different parts of the body require different products and different care regimes.

Ps I do recommend spending some extra time on feet - exfoliating etc

To be fair NHS does list soap and bubble bath as cause of UTIs:

Cystitis can also be caused by damage or irritation to the urethra and bladder. This can be the result of: friction from sex. chemical irritants, such as those in perfumed soap or bubble bath.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cystitis/causes/

It’s not necessarily that you’ll smell of BO, but skin produces sebum to moisturise itself, which gives you a slightly greasy, fatty coating which won’t wash off with running water alone. This layer traps dirt and bacteria. I’ll bet the back of your neck is grey, and you’ve got little fatty balls of crud between your toes and in your belly button. I can readily smell this not-BO but also not-properly-washed smell on people and their clothes, and it’s very unpleasant. Just like the oily smell of unwashed hair. You need something like soap to break down this layer, and take the dirt away with it.

Your towels, and people around you, will thank you.

I use soap all over, surely water alone isn’t enough to get rid of residues of urine, poo and sweat.
But yes you need to use soap!

@Washerg

It’s he just googled ‘washing body with just water.’ It seems to suggest on healthline that this is ok!

I’m mortified by these responses

You might use less water too - 15 mins ridiculous !

OP, don't stress. You're fine. The hive mind is howling at the moon tonight.

Is this real? Just wash yourself with soap and then you don't need to stand in the running water for 15 mins. That's a shocking waste of water.