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.

I think people are missing the point that I have used soap under arms in the past and will occasionally. I’ve used water down below and scrubbed and am a keen bidet user for that area anyway. It’s not like I just don’t wash! I’m very specific about it.

I used to use all sorts of lotions and potions but even then it would all run off me and I would start washing my arms and legs. I do think if I smelled them dates wouldn’t be asking to meet again and past partners would have mentioned it. My mum certainly would as she is rather direct.

That said, I can’t obviously be totally sure and maybe colleagues have had a whiff of something. I’m fastidious with deodorant and when working in the office I washed my hair twice or three times a week. It’s only working at home that’s been once a week.

The feet washing though is beyond me. Having said that I do tend to rinse them right before bed so that the sheets don’t get dirty.

Reporting back.
Just out of a hot bath followed by shower rinse.
As direct result of this thread I did very thorough soap (dove) wash of absolutely everything. Arms legs back etc.
Bloody hell took time and now has taken a lot of moisturiser !
Daily shower/bath here. Daily hair wash. Daily under arm and bottom washer. Foot as and when and in summer daily.
Thinking I’ll stick to that tried and tested routine.

• wouldn’t start washing arms and legs that should say!

[quote katnyps]@JorisBonson
"There's a difference between natural body odours and BO / unwashed vagina."
You do know what the acronym BO stands for?! [/quote]
Well I'm not entirely thick

People's natural scents can be wonderful - I like the way DH smells when he's been doing something manual and is a bit dirty. But if he had that cannabis-y smell of BO I wouldn't go near him until he had a wash.

It’s not like I just don’t wash

But you don’t. You rinse. Washing involves water and some form of detergent. You generally never wash yourself. You simply rinse your body with water.

OP there are numerous scientific studies that suggest over washing is very bad for you

Sure. But there is a mid ground between over washing and never washing. It is not one extreme or the other,

@Stepintochristmas

OP there are numerous scientific studies that suggest over washing is very bad for you. I don’t know why everyone has such a problem with you not using soap. The amount of products we use these days is insane and we only use them because marketing tells us to. Just like Gillette once told us that hair on women’s legs was unsightly and now we all shave it off.

You really don’t need to a rub your entire body with soap in order to be clean. As long as you don’t smell I would say your hygiene routine was just fine.

Posters have explained why. After been at work all day in the summer especially most women having a period would want to get in the shower and wash with soap. It’s an unpleasant smell for a start a period. Do you honestly wash away your period with just plain water? It’s disgusting.

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.
Why do you feel the need to wash your hair with soap rather than just rinsing it, if you don't feel your body deserves to be actively cleaned in the same way?

@Bluntness100

OP there are numerous scientific studies that suggest over washing is very bad for you

Sure. But there is a mid ground between over washing and never washing. It is not one extreme or the other,

Totally this. Doesn't need to be a black and white argument or extreme. It's called a happy medium I think I only use actual soap on my underarms and feet although it will fall down my body. I use baby wash or gentle shower gel other places incl my bum crack and vulva. Using something highly scented will make me sore and itchy. I love the smell of Baddedas but it makes my skin tight

You need body wash or a bar of soap. Wash all over. Especially underarms, bits and feet

Masking sweat with deodorant makes a really horrible smell.

Do people apply the same hygiene to their dishes? Just a rinse with water? What about hand washing? No wonder we're in a pandemic.

@JorisBonson
Cannabis-y?! I think we know / meet different people!

@Stepintochristmas

OP there are numerous scientific studies that suggest over washing is very bad for you. I don’t know why everyone has such a problem with you not using soap. The amount of products we use these days is insane and we only use them because marketing tells us to. Just like Gillette once told us that hair on women’s legs was unsightly and now we all shave it off.

You really don’t need to a rub your entire body with soap in order to be clean. As long as you don’t smell I would say your hygiene routine was just fine.

there’s overwashing and there’s not washing at all. which the OP is doing if she’s just rinsing with water

[quote katnyps]@JorisBonson
Cannabis-y?! I think we know / meet different people![/quote]
I think sweat and cannabis smell very similar.

It’s that sickly, sweetish smell. Bleurgh.

I don't think you can blame soap on advertising when its been documented to have been used in Egypt in 1550 BC

Yes! I thought sweat and cannabis smell the same too

Agree that cannabis smells like really bad BO!

OP unless you naturally don't smell I think you'd struggle to properly de-smell your armpits without soap - I know I do on the rare days when I'm feeling lazy and don't bother. Also if I didn't use soap on your arse crack I'd feel like I was getting shit on my hands without washing them properly But otherwise I don't usually soap my whole body unless I'm sweaty after exercise or properly dirty. Like you I'm quite slight and don't have many skin folds even in the boob area, which probably helps.

Sweat is a part of natural body odour. It is entirely natural and in-fact good to sweat. Other cultures are far less disgusted by the smell of sweat. Now there is such a thing as too much, but we as a society I think have overdone it with our violent reaction smelling a bit sweaty.

That was to @JorisBonson

*MY arse crack! Don't worry OP, I have absolutely no intention of soaping yours

@Kittromney smelling a bit sweaty and reeking of BO are 2 different things.

I remember having a really nerve-wracking day at work where I was interviewed for hours. I was beside myself with nerves and made the mistake of wearing a vintage 100% polyester shirt and sweated buckets due to nerves.

I went to a do at the pub afterwards and fucking stank. People were actually moving away from me. It was one of the most mortifying things to ever happen to me.

The shirt was binned that night.

I do know the slightly musty post-toilet smell hanging in the stalls that some posters have mentioned. Again, I don’t think that has anything to do with not washing. In fact, I’ve never gone into a stall immediately after someone and not smelled it. I highly doubt that NONE of the women at my office wash! There’s over 200 people just on my floor! It’s just something about the combination of work trousers and sitting all day that leads to vaginas festering in humid warm conditions. Posters complaining about it probably leave the smell behind as well - you just don’t realise it! Or maybe the competitive mumsnet washers take quick Turkish baths at lunch and coffee breaks!