Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
Smallgoon · 14/01/2021 00:57

@JohnBarron

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.
It is both a waste of time and water if you're still essentially dirty after the 15 mins are up. All of the kidders can continue to kid themselves that washing with water alone ensures you are 'clean'. I'm sure none bother with washing detergent when washing clothes and I'm sure their cars are cleaned with just water too.
beachlife9 · 14/01/2021 11:41

I'm wondering how all these non soap users shave their legs/underarms?

queenofSI · 14/01/2021 11:46

@beachlife9

I'm wondering how all these non soap users shave their legs/underarms?
Not everyone shaves Confused
Smallgoon · 14/01/2021 13:14

Not everyone shaves confused

Even more reason to shower with just water...!

gamerchick · 14/01/2021 13:15

@beachlife9

I'm wondering how all these non soap users shave their legs/underarms?
Seriously, if someone can't be arsed to wash properly then you can be sure getting a razor out isn't going to be high up on their list.

But that's not to say everyone shaves anyway, it's a personal choice that one

SciFiScream · 14/01/2021 14:04

I remember once reading another of these threads and realised that while I'm an expert in cleaning other parts of my body. I seldom make the same effort with my feet.

So I resolved that during the next shower I would make the same effort on my feet.

Lah di dah, lah di dah, having a wonderful time in the shower. (Wash my hair daily as I have to and finish a bar of soap a month) get to my feet and rub the soap on my feet and between my toes
.
.
.
.
And promptly fall over in the shower due to slippy feet. GrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrinGrin

What did I do wrong??????

Bluntness100 · 14/01/2021 14:11

@beachlife9

I'm wondering how all these non soap users shave their legs/underarms?
I doubt they shave, as a pp said, if you don’t wash its unlikely you shave.

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

Unless you have a medical condition if you wash your body and wear clean clothes you won’t smell. If you do not wash your body you will smell.

Russellbrandshair · 14/01/2021 14:15

Oh FFS- of course water doesnt get you clean- otherwise the rain would clean our hair wouldnt it?
Soap breaks down grease and dirt and bacteria- thats literally its job and how soap was actually discovered. Water gets you wet, thats literally all it does and is its job. Water alone wont remove bacteria and it is bacteria that causes stale sweat to smell. So yes, if you are not soaping up, you probably have bacteria present that smells.

Noone is suggesting you "scrub" your skin raw. There is a huge middle ground between using water only and scrubbing your skin with a brillo pad.

wildraisins · 14/01/2021 14:20

There is a Western obsession with these cleaning/ personal care products which in reality I don't think are all that necessary - shampoo, shower gel, shaving foam, and yes soap.

Doesn't mean they're not useful. So many people wouldn't use them if they didn't do something. You can definitely clean yourself more effectively if you use soap! Just like you wouldn't just rinse a dirty dish under the tap - you would use some washing up liquid if you had the option because it's just more effective.

So yeah it's totally possible to clean yourself just using water, but it will be more effort and you'll have to do it more regularly and spend longer to make sure you are properly clean. Soap makes it easier.

Russellbrandshair · 14/01/2021 14:20

Oh, and for those who insist water cleans well, I set you this challenge- next time you go for a smear test or a medial procedure ask the doctor to wash the instruments he used on the previous person with water only to use on you.

After all- water cleans perfectly well right?!

GrolliffetheDragon · 14/01/2021 15:31

@Quirrelsotherface

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!
Used to wash my hair once a week, these days it's twice. But my scalp is sensitive to shampoo and if I wash it too often it's sore, then flaky then itchy, and the scratching is not a good look. Washing my hair less often with a shampoo containing as few ingredients as possible helps keep all this to a minimum.

I do use soap when I shower, but a minimal amount, because my skin, whilst not quite as fussy as my scalp, can still be awkward, and I get thrush if I even look at anything scented.

Standard deodorants and anti-perspirants make me itch as well, so I'm always having to cycle through the sort of things you have to pay £10 for in obscure health food shops.

I seem to manage not to smell though - or I assume I don't as I know people who tend to be quite blunt about that sort of thing so I think they'd have mentioned it if I did.

GrolliffetheDragon · 14/01/2021 15:35

@Russellbrandshair

Oh, and for those who insist water cleans well, I set you this challenge- next time you go for a smear test or a medial procedure ask the doctor to wash the instruments he used on the previous person with water only to use on you.

After all- water cleans perfectly well right?!

But I wouldn't be pleased if they were cleaned with a bar of soap either. There are different levels of cleanliness required for different things, how I clean the chopping board I just cut up raw chicken on is different to how I clean a baking tray.
Isisiris · 14/01/2021 19:39

How do they clean speculums? Never thought about that!

SeaEagleFeather · 14/01/2021 20:05

disinfected, I sincerely hope!

Harmarsuperstar · 14/01/2021 20:53

I think speculums (specula?) are single use now. Plastic

Harmarsuperstar · 14/01/2021 20:53

Presumably they used to autoclave them though?

minipie · 14/01/2021 20:54

Autoclave!! I couldn’t remember the word. Thank you!

Harmarsuperstar · 14/01/2021 21:34

No worries Smile

Bridewel1 · 23/01/2021 16:27

Washing without soap seems unimaginable. But don't your towels smell. You can't really get clean with just water can you! And then drying your still dirty body with a fresh towel! Sorry for the rant but it doesn't seem normal. Maybe your one of the few that don't get very sweaty and I'd assume you knew if you smelt. I must admit I don't shower daily but every few days and in between just wash my armpits but do use soap.

miserableannie · 23/01/2021 16:33

OP How do you shave your armpits/legs etc if you don't use anything but water? You must be cut to ribbons

TechnoDino · 23/01/2021 16:35

I use soap on my pits and bits in my daily shower, but have honestly never washed my arms, legs, back, feet, stomach, neck etc in the shower. Why would I, they don’t get dirty and are rinsed by the shower water.
I smell good, am well groomed and a fully integrated member of naice society Grin

Mumsnet is famous for its competitive shower hygiene, frequent laundering of towels and bedding, and children’s lack of dietary sugar. Meanwhile, in the real world..

rubybarley · 23/01/2021 18:56

@miserableannie

OP How do you shave your armpits/legs etc if you don't use anything but water? You must be cut to ribbons
did it occur to you that not all women shave?
beachlife9 · 23/01/2021 19:30

@miserableannie no, it didn't but every days a school day!

Terriblecreature · 23/01/2021 19:35

It clearly hasn't done you any harm up until now. However, I would say use soap/shower gel in the places you think need cleaned. Face, underarms, between the cheeks etc.

I always remember watching a child's programme that demonstrated with pepper water and soap how dirt/germs are removed. Pepper put on your finger dipped into a bowl of plain water, doesn't come off. Pepper on finger in bowl of soapy water does.

santabetterwashhishands · 23/01/2021 19:40

If your in the shower it's not normal to not use a body wash all over in my opinion