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Original poster

Am I not washing properly?

608 replies

Washerg · 10/01/2021 20:44

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.

OP posts:
Tehmina23 · 12/01/2021 19:19

I rarely agree with @Bluntness100 but on the issue of washing properly I agree with everything Bluntness has posted!!

As I described earlier I have seen at work the results of poor hygiene.
I forgot to mention the fungal infections & sores people can also get from sweating, skin chafing & the areas not being cleaned.

If you can't use soap then see a dermatologist & use a suitable emollient such as Aqueous cream, dermol etc.
Wash that vulva with it! But inside your actual vag. If you don't know what I mean get a simple anatomy book.

If you can't shower daily then for the love of god at least wash your pits n bits. Thoroughly.

trixiebelden77 · 12/01/2021 20:17

Oh yes. The fungus. Or even just the smells around folds of skin.

I examine a lot of people and this thread is explaining some of what I encounter.

Quirrelsotherface · 12/01/2021 21:05

Admittedly I'm a clean freak, shower and a bath every single day but c'mon washing hair once a week (can you imagine how musty it must smell after even two nights?!) and never using soap or fem wash or anything near your vulva or arse..that is fucking grim!

Bluntness100 · 12/01/2021 22:03

Hopefully some folks had a seed planted in their heads and cracked out th shower gel/soap and enjoyed the experience.

My shower this morning, I used grapefruit shower gel, Moroccan oil shampoo and then conditioner and came out squeaky clean, and smelling lovely, ready for the day.

It’s really much better than coming out smelling like you went in, and then rubbing the stale skin oil and sweat off on your towel as you dry yourself, because a water rinse alone can’t shift it.

Smallgoon · 12/01/2021 23:31

Hopefully some folks had a seed planted in their heads and cracked out th shower gel/soap and enjoyed the experience.

Haha, doubtful!

PerveenMistry · 13/01/2021 01:13

@plinkplinkfizzer

This thread is umm eye opening . Mainly because a thread a while ago was asking other countries what they thought of Brits , and the main opinion was that Brits were dirty . There was howls of outrage . Hmm there is also an Aussie phrase " As dry as an English mans towel ( maybe that should be Woman ) . Also in warmer countries the weapon of choice seems to be a BAR of soap , and gel are shunned . I am embarrassed by this thread . Please wash .
Ugh.

And yes, please use soap everyone! Chemical gel is not a good substitute and just creates more unnecessary plastic waste. Please, treat yourself to a nice bar of natural soap. It's cheap and effective and eco-friendly.

HowOnerous · 13/01/2021 07:10

No seed planted here because i've come across the concept of soap before and used it funnily enough and it causes the smells and fungal problems spoken of on my skin. You can argue on mn til you're blue in the face but there is nothing ACTUALLY wrong with my wash routine, i have a normal life.

Nonamesavail · 13/01/2021 07:16

I prefer a bar of soap in summer. I find it feels cleaner with sweat etc. In winter gel feels a bit more comforting!

borntobequiet · 13/01/2021 07:39

I agree the no open toe shoes thing is health and safety rather than aesthetics. Having said that you do see some horribly neglected feet in sandals. Why wouldn’t one at the very least thoroughly wash (and drey) feet daily?
Also, I hope everyone on here is being careful to properly clean and dry their umbilicus, haven’t RTFT so not sure if this important issue has been mentioned.

borntobequiet · 13/01/2021 07:40

Drey? Meant dry!

Sakura7 · 13/01/2021 08:50

I agree with PPs, the stubborn resistance to just having a basic wash is quite something. What on earth is the problem? It's one thing to be unaware because you weren't taught, but to become informed and then still double down is a bit silly.

Yes, some people have very sensitive skin. But the answer is not to stop washing properly, it's to find a product and routine that works. There are tons of products formulated for sensitive skin and many of them are soap free. Sanex Zero, Elave, E45 and aqueous cream to name a few.

Bluntness100 · 13/01/2021 11:23

@Smallgoon

Hopefully some folks had a seed planted in their heads and cracked out th shower gel/soap and enjoyed the experience.

Haha, doubtful!

Seems you’re right...😱
beautifulmonument · 13/01/2021 11:35

"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."

You just stand there doing nothing for ten or fifteen minutes? Really? 😂

JohnBarron · 13/01/2021 11:35

I agree with PPs, the stubborn resistance to just having a basic wash is quite something

I just don’t get it either, just wash yourself, it’s not difficult. One my DC had eczema as a baby, we used all sorts of emollients to wash him, it didn’t stop us bathing him.

It’s not pleasant being around people that smell.

peaceanddove · 13/01/2021 11:58

If you're not using soap/shower gel when you wash, then you are not washing. You're just getting wet.

JohnBarron · 13/01/2021 12:06

Exactly, might as well just stand out in the rain.

midnightstar66 · 13/01/2021 12:51

"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."

Yet on a work morning if I don't need to wash my hair I can be in and out of the shower fully cleansed in under 2 minutes just by using a bit of soap. Rather a waste of time to emerge not even clean. If just running water, 15 minutes won't make any more difference than 5.

Smallgoon · 13/01/2021 17:50

@Sakura7

I agree with PPs, the stubborn resistance to just having a basic wash is quite something. What on earth is the problem? It's one thing to be unaware because you weren't taught, but to become informed and then still double down is a bit silly.

Yes, some people have very sensitive skin. But the answer is not to stop washing properly, it's to find a product and routine that works. There are tons of products formulated for sensitive skin and many of them are soap free. Sanex Zero, Elave, E45 and aqueous cream to name a few.

Spot on.
whenindoubtBake · 13/01/2021 19:02

There's a difference between washing and wetting.

Chel098 · 13/01/2021 19:09

@beautifulmonument

"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."

You just stand there doing nothing for ten or fifteen minutes? Really? 😂

Exactly OP is having us on!
Wrenna · 13/01/2021 21:01

Hot water, wash hair with shampoo, wash face with shampoo as well, condition hair then use bath pouf with unscented/no dye soap. Lather the pouf up well, scrub everything and everywhere including bits. I have this nice stiff brush I use on my back too with soap. But I must admit I’m more meticulous after joining mn!

SeaEagleFeather · 13/01/2021 22:06

@Bluntness100

Some folks I think are having a laugh. I seriously doubt many people believe that never actually washing yourself you don’t smell. Logically we know we smell if we don’t wash ourselves. We know that our skin secrets oil. We know that that oil gets stale and traps dirt and bacteria, we know we get sweat in cracks and crevices, we know that that sweat begins to smell badly if left. We also know rinsing with water doesn’t clean it, because we wash our clothes, dishes, cars.

Either these folks are having a laugh, or the whole family is at it, washing the kids in just water, husband doing it too, parents did it, so they don’t know any better and they are just thinking everyone smells like this. Or they genuinely believe they are some sort of exception in the human race.

What I can’t get my head round is the sheer determination not to wash.

There is no discussion to be had on the smell/not smell thing. If you do not regularly wash you smell. That’s pure biology. No one is super human and a scientific marvel as is being posted, that they can rinse in water and they don’t smell.

If you don’t wash properly you smell bad. The fact you don’t know it doesn’t change it.

Broad brush stroke over-confident pronunciations are opinion, not the same as fact.

You simply don't know if all the people around you are washing with or without soap, unless you see what they do in the shower. Some people smell if they don't use soap, some don't.

I'm amazed at the number of people who magically seem to know if everyone around them has used soap or not.

topcat2014 · 13/01/2021 22:14

Well. I just wash with the shower on v hot. I do aim the hose in all directions.

I do not ming.

My skin cannot tolerate any detergents.

Plus my hair is amazing.

Just to go against the grain.

I am by no means new age hippy type.

JohnBarron · 13/01/2021 23:03

I can wash myself and my hair in less time than it takes for you to just stand under the water for 15 minutes. Seems like a waste of time and water.

PerveenMistry · 14/01/2021 00:33

@midnightstar66

"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."

Yet on a work morning if I don't need to wash my hair I can be in and out of the shower fully cleansed in under 2 minutes just by using a bit of soap. Rather a waste of time to emerge not even clean. If just running water, 15 minutes won't make any more difference than 5.

Rather a waste of water too. 15 nin is a long time.