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.

So you're asking if it's normal to shower without using any soap or shower gel at all?

It's not normal. Under arms especially needs soaping to remove swear. Your err bottom needs more than some water running over it

Am I really explaining this to a grown up?

I concur. You don't need to literally scrub the rest of your body daily but you will get a build up of dead skin cells which leads to blackheads on your back, etc, if you never do it. And OF COURSE you need to actually WASH your feet, not just stand in a puddle of water for ten minutes a day.

In fact if you'd just employ some good old fashioned soap you'd be clean a lot quicker and could be in and out of the shower in under 5 minutes instead of wasting 10-15 mins of water per day.

God some of the justification on here.,it’s ok to smell a bit sweaty, everyone leaves a bad odour when they pull their knickers down.

🤮

@JorisBonson I think people who REEK when they sweat either can’t help it (some innate reason) or it’s a result of overuse of products that has killed their natural micro biome. Sweat in its natural state doesn’t really reek... it has a faint musky smell. I don’t mind it so much. I know what you mean about the gag-worthy sweat smell, but like I said in an earlier post, the people I know who smell like that wash the most (with soap!)! Infact they smell like that immediately post shower! They smell like that IN the shower!

@Bluntness100 why are you so disgusted by the fact that bodies have smells? No one is odourless or smells perpetually of jo malone’s English pear and freesia scent! Usually body smells are so faint that others can’t perceive it, and even if they do, it’s a while before it’s puke-inducing my disgusting.

body smells aren't faint when you don't use soap. they smell of shit because u haven't washed the shit off yourself.

Bluntness everyone leaves a bad odour when they pull their knickers down.

Oh god my ex did. She went for a pee once while I was in the bath. UUUGHGH! Gross just gross. Your nethers may have a faint smell when you're close up, but they're not meant to smell sour and strongly musty!

And yes showering with soap can be done in 5 minutes even less! Get in shower, soap up your hand/sponge/poof, pits scrubbed, bum scrubbed, feet scrubbed, quick scrub around everywhere else (I do this for exfoliation but not as important as the smelly bits!)- Done.

I have cared for patients who have only been able to stand in their shower but not physically been able to wash their lower legs & feet with soap or gel often for years.

Their skin down on their lower legs is actually flaky & looks grubby & the feet generally smell when you wash them.

Also I've had patients on the bigger side who've gone in the shower, sat on a shower seat & therefore not washed their bits properly so they do still smell when they come out of the shower as only a bit of water has got there but no soap.

So I have often offered to wash the person 'down below' with some Tena Wash Cream after their shower but you have to be sensitive to their feelings!!

Also a friend decided to stop shampooing her hair & just used water. Well we went to a restaurant & it was embarrassing- a few days later & her hair stank & looked greasy as it was very fine anyway.
Luckily she soon went back to shampoo.

Oh and I dont use soap on my internal parts but I do turn the shower head and douse with water! You pee from there! It gets sweaty! You can't just leave it to fester! Ugh.

I think people who REEK when they sweat either can’t help it (some innate reason) or it’s a result of overuse of products that has killed their natural micro biome.

Or, you know, the most obvious reason - that they don't wash properly or often enough.

VULVAS AND VAGINAS ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS 🙄

why are you so disgusted by the fact that bodies have smells

Let me correct this for you.

why are you so disgusted by the fact that unwashed bodies have smells

Becayse it is unpleasant, unnecessary and rather grim.

@Kittromney

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!

That’s probably the toilet itself after so much use needs a good DUCK or bleach!!

I'm going to say that if OP is using a bidet then throughout the day her personal hygiene is probably better than most people on here saying they use soap once a day and paper the rest of the time!

Not everyone can use soap - I am allergic to it.

Like the OP I tend to wash my hair once a week and I do use good quality bar soap to wash my hands. As long as you don't smell, it is not an issue - I have never had athelete's foot or any other skin condition as a result of not using soap and nobody has ever said I smell and I'm sure my DP or children would definitely tell me! I do have long soaks in the bath and exfoliate my skin regularly using oils etc so there are alternatives.

Please don't start using a lot of unnatural products that are bad for the skin and for the environment. It is unnecessary.

@Dogissue

Bluntness everyone leaves a bad odour when they pull their knickers down.

Oh god my ex did. She went for a pee once while I was in the bath. UUUGHGH! Gross just gross. Your nethers may have a faint smell when you're close up, but they're not meant to smell sour and strongly musty!

I agree, I think it’s becoming apparent that some folks think it’s normal for it to smell when you take your knickers down or they can’t smell it any more. A bit like how you become nose blind with perfume.

It’s not normal. If you wash your bum and bits properly and wear clean underwear, you won’t smell unless there is a medical issue Ie excess sweating, discharge etc. If you have yout period there can be a smell of blood, if you use towels. Past that there should be no unpleasant smells.

I recall a post on here once where one poster was adamant it was perfectly normal you could smell yout own genitalia when going about your normal day.

It’s just really sad that peoooe get to adult hood and don’t know how to wash, don’t know the difference between washing and rinsing, don’t know the difference between their vulvas and their vaginas, think they don’t smell even if they never wash, or think the smell is normal and everyone has it.

But what I can’t get is the strong arguing they don’t have to. “I don’t need to wash my feet” “I don’t need to wash my backside” . Like it’s some big deal to do it.

I was brought up in an abusive neglectful home, but even I know how to wash myself. And that it entails soap and water.

I use soap to wash under arms and body but I don't scrub my bum! I do have a bath every night as well though. I also never use soap down there anymore as it disrupts ph balance and i was constantly getting thrush

all those people who say they haven't been told they smell so they must be ok.. its awkward to tell people this. people are polite and don't say anything when they come across smelly people, that doesn't mean you don't. if u don't use soap or some other soft of product to break down grease you DO smell.
also not everyone leaves a scent after the loo no.. if you go in a busy loo you can see you are going in straight after someone - some stink and obviously been a grubby mumsnetter in there and some are fine so clearly they wash properly.

all those people who say they haven't been told they smell so they must be ok.. its awkward to tell people this. people are polite and don't say anything when they come across smelly people, that doesn't mean you don't.

Totally. 100% this.

@LuluJakey1

I have a bath every morning and scrub myself all over with a hard nail brush and neat Dettol then carbolic soap, including the nether regions. At night I have a shower and DH sprays me with Dettox anti-bacterial spray before I get to bed.

Good one

@TravelBugLife

Identifying as A doctor and posting online potentially means the posts will have a credibility and expectation of sound advice Exactly

She clearly came in and said she's a gynaecologist, there was no need for that unless she wanted to offer a professional opinion and seek leverage.

Don't identify as a doctor then - it's pretty simple, but to come on here and give false information is actually really shit, and her attitude is totally unprofessional as well (given she just pointed out she was a doctor). She's also accused several medical professionals of recommending a product for financial gain - which is not the case, as well as giving misinformation about the product I specifically reccommended.

It's really not a good look is it? And there really was no need for her post to start with "I'm a gynaecologist".

I'm not sure why you feel so attacked. I thought the gynae's advice was accurate and sensible, but you seem to some weird vendetta now. Strange.

Absolutely agree with Bluntness. All these strident protests that they don't wash but don't smell. Sure.

It takes 2-3 minutes to lather up and wash your whole body. Yes use gentle, unscented products, go SLS free or natural homemade soap bars or recommended emollient creams etc or whatever you need to but for goodness sake wash yourselves!

I remember too many days on the Tube being forced to smell other unwashed people (AM and PM). I can assure you, we can smell you.

@Kittromney

Can you explain why *@queenofSI* ? I sleep in pyjamas and shower before bed. I don’t sweat at all. I don’t go to bed covered in mud and filth. I live alone and if my boyfriend is visiting we never get semen on the sheets. I change my pillowcases a bit more often but other than that, what is so “truly disgusting” about it.

You shower every other day according to your previous post... you wash your covers every two months. It's pretty disgusting if you ask me.

I'm not sure why you feel so attacked. I thought the gynae's advice was accurate and sensible, but you seem to some weird vendetta now. Strange

I have to agree, I also thought it was good sensible advice. I don’t understand why you’re so upset by it,

I have to be honest, I had post partum renal failure as a complication of developing full blown eclampsia after my daughter was born, and also got an infection which entered into my blood stream. I spent a month in hospital and then follow up appts for a year after, consultant led.

Not one doctor, be they icu, registrar, consultant, gp, nor any nurse, midwife, or any one else took a discussion with me on how to wash my fanny. Never mind start recommending products. And I met a lot of them. And I mean a lot. I find it very odd the posters doctors all did.