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.

@Kittromney washing your sheets every couple of months is disgusting (not envy)

Anyway, OP, as the vast majority have already said, reuniting water over your body does not clean you. Some people have said its up to you, and if you feel clean then fine. However, your friends and family probably wouldn’t tell you you smell, and people who smell (regularly) don’t often notice it themselves. It’s really offensive to be in the company of someone who smells.
Cleaning our bodies also helps to keep us healthy. Imagine how many germs and bacteria are breeding on your skin constantly? Washing with soap is a normal and basic thing to do

*running

*I do use soap on my pits daily (more to remove deodorant residue than anything else) and wash hair every other day. I also use face wash, but I assume you do use something on your face?

But water everywhere else. Like you, the nether bits get a jolly good wash but with water and hand only, front to back*

Same here. Sometimes do an extra face wash with flannel at night if my skin feels grubby. Very occasionally do an all over exfoliate with a scrubby glove thing in the shower but probably only once a month. I don't smell. Don't worry OP.

And femfresh is a marketing gimmick based on the rubbish about their bodies that women are fed with shovels. Vaginas - and bodies to an extent - are largely self cleaning.

@Washerg
I think it’s fine.

I have a skin disorder meaning I shouldn’t use soap at all so I don’t except for hand washing (but not in the bath/shower)

I use a sensitive face wash for my face and any sweaty bits of the body (eg armpits). And a special medical shampoo. That’s it.

I don’t smell. I’m not greasy or spotty.

If you wash regularly and wash your clothes, you rarely need a full body wash.

@queenofSI When I lived with my ex the bed used to feel and look dirty very fast. He slept in his pants, sweated profusely and always had very dirty feet. On my own though my bed feels fresh for quite long, so I play it by ear rather than sticking rigidly to rules, that’s what my mum taught me to do and I think it works both for me and the environment 🤷‍♀️ My current partner visits about once every 2 months and doesn’t seem to notice anything amiss. I’ve explained my system (as it explains my manic desire to not get cum on the sheets!) and told him that I plan to continue playing it by ear once we move in together... he’s on board!

The people who don’t use soap - you smell. Maybe not overwhelmingly, and maybe not badly enough for others to notice if you’re clothed and on the other side of the room. But up close or naked, you smell. That’s fine if you don’t mind - it’s your choice - but don’t try and pretend it isn’t true. And your loved ones won’t tell you, either because they don’t want to hurt your feelings, or because they’ve got used to it.

Oh lord this is grim. Sorry op but seriously this is grim.
You wouldn’t clean your dishes without using washing up liquid.
You wouldn’t wash your clothes without using washing powder.
You wouldn’t bruise your teeth without using toothpaste (hopefully)
Why would your body be any different?

Please for the people around you use soap

Revolting. I'm glad I don't have to sit beside you at work or on public transport.
There is no way your family will tell you that you smell!

Get a pair of scrubby gloves. Scrub with shower gel every inch.
Then soak in a bath of bath salts for minimum 1 hour.
Then wash all your clothes at 40 in daz.
All bedding and towels at 60 in Daz.
Yuk.

@NameChange2PostThis Oh god if only it were that simple, being spotty does not mean you don't wash. I've had acne since late teens and have owned hundreds of lotions potions and every bloody face wash going!

Didn’t expect this to escalate as it has! Not convinced on using soap of any kind down below, I am very thorough with water down there.

I am going to go back to soap under arms to be on the safe side though!

Those asking do I wash my hands...as I’ve said repeatedly, yes, very much so and long before covid. I’m a big hand washer.

Also thanks to those who provided nice and kind responds rather than suggesting I smell like a tramp! Im quite self conscious and really didn’t think I could have smelled.

@Rose789

Oh lord this is grim. Sorry op but seriously this is grim. You wouldn’t clean your dishes without using washing up liquid. You wouldn’t wash your clothes without using washing powder. You wouldn’t bruise your teeth without using toothpaste (hopefully) Why would your body be any different?

Please for the people around you use soap

Your dishes and your clothes are not living breathing organs with healthy microbes living on them. Actually neither are your teeth.

I guarantee that 90+% of people who have been referred to a dermatologist no longer use soap - and you can’t spot us because we don’t smell.

I’m surprised I don’t feel insulted but actually I’m just quietly amused by your horror. You do realise there are loads of us who only use soap for hand washing

@Bluesmartiesandpandapop Which soap, any in particular?

OP if you’re self conscious then surely the safest thing is to not take any chances, and just wash with soap like the majority of people, rather than risking smelling bad?

When I worked in dermatology I never heard people being advised to use only water. They were generally advised to use emulsifying ointment as a soap substitute.

@NotMyFinestMoment

When I get in the bath or shower, I wash my hair twice with shampoo and then condition it. I wash my face with soap and wash my whole body from my hair line downwards to my feet including my back and this includes washing every part of my body and I tend to go over areas like under my arms and down below twice. I also scrub the soles of my feet and between my toes. I didn't think there was any other way to wash. You're not washing properly.

Same here.

I guarantee that 90+% of people who have been referred to a dermatologist no longer use soap - and you can’t spot us because we don’t smell.

I guarantee that’s not true. Dh is a dermatologist. Yes he would advise to use un scented products he wouldn’t advise someone to stand in water and use dirty shampoo run off once a week

Interestingly when I had an op and could only strip wash, the KP bumps on my upper arms disappeared and my skin was so soft
After that I stopped soaping (deliberately, I mean the soap runs down) bits like my shins
Underarms get soap and then hibiscrub diluted

How do this many adults need basic hygiene explaining to them?

I scrub my armpits with a body scrub and they still stink of bo. Have to use an exfoliating glove which helps. I can’t imagine just using water on my armpits . I can’t wash my body without a bath sponge thing either.

I use soap/shower yes. Scrub upper body and between bum cheeks etc but don't routinely wash legs or feet unless. In summer I'm more likely to as I walk in garden bare foot.

I wouldn't feel clean just using water and a shower shouldn't last 10/15 mins so I would never stand under it that long. That is quite wasteful of water.

Eczema sufferers may not use soap, but they don’t just use water either! When my eczema was bad I used to wash with aqueous cream, and was advised to wash my armpits, bun and fanny with octenisan.

@Washerg

Also thanks to those who provided nice and kind responds rather than suggesting I smell like a tramp! Im quite self conscious and really didn’t think I could have smelled.

I'm sorry but you must have very polite family and friends if nobody has told you to wash properly. Bodies need soap - if you don't use soap you smell bad. Honestly.

I am sorry, but I think it’s nasty not to wash with some type of soap . Even if one has sensitive skin there are numerous unscented soaps.
Wash your face - with flannel
Wash behind your ears- with flannel
Clean your ears
Wash your pits- flannel/ loofah
Wash under your breast- flannel/loofah
Wash your intimate area- with your hands/ soft flannel
Wash your bum crack with soap fgs- clean rag or flannel- (different from that used for rest of body)
Wash your feet- flannel
Ensure that you wash loofahs: flannels / change them regularly

These are what my mother calls the ‘important’
bits.
Forgive me for coming over as patronising and I expect to be flamed, but some posters need to be told .