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'm laughing at those saying you need soap and a flannel to get rid of dead skin.

You do realise it's the flannel or towel drying roughly that removes the skin right?

Lots of us choose to use products because we like the smell.

But that doesn't mean it's necessary and recently it's becoming thought it may be an issue. Especially removing natural bacteria and antibiotic resistance etc.

I only one one pump of showergel to clean my whole body - you don't need loads of soap to wash if the shower isn't running at the time. I can wash and condition hair and wash my whole body in about 3 minutes, maybe 4. Running a shower for 10-15 minutes is a dreadful waste of water.

I'm not someone who feels the need to bath babies everyday but you can't get rid of the smell of poo with just water so can imagine there is an odour if someone is close enough. With clean underwear and clothes everyday it might just not be obvious to anyone but a partner.

I wash my hair once a week. You're not meant to wash your hair too often. I also don't shower nearly as fastidiously as people on this thread generally a bit of shower gel or soap for bits and pits but I've never specifically scrubbed my toes or anything.

I don’t know whether or not this thread is real or not.
However, only washing ones arse and Vulva with water is grim.
Also not washing your feet is grim too.

I soap my while body including feet every day. However, maybe that's more necessary since I change my sheets every six weeks or so...

You’d need to be “big on perfume” if you’re not using soap.

I just checked with my VERY honest husband. I do not smell. I also do not use soap or shower gel on my body, I might use one occasionally maybe more in the summer, I can't remember. Wash hair every other day as I do find scalps can smell- not keen on that! I too have met smelly people, often it's due to unwashed and dirty clothes.
I don't think it's the same as washing hands or washing dishes and I think some of you are getting your (very clean) knickers in a twist over nothing!!

@itsgettingweird

I'm laughing at those saying you need soap and a flannel to get rid of dead skin.

You do realise it's the flannel or towel drying roughly that removes the skin right?

Lots of us choose to use products because we like the smell.

But that doesn't mean it's necessary and recently it's becoming thought it may be an issue. Especially removing natural bacteria and antibiotic resistance etc.

I can assure you soap has nothing to do with antibiotic resistance

I’m exactly the same as you OP.

Except 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.

I don’t smell and I have soft non dry skin without having to use body lotion. I think the way I wash is fine 🤷‍♀️

The overuse of the word vulva on this thread

Sorry OP, just water isn’t sufficient. I had to speak to a colleague about this a short while ago. Especially regarding her hair, it smelled stale and awful.
I was very gentle but direct, but just water doesn’t work and your hair will at a minimum need some dry shampoo or something to prevent a stale smell.
Like you she’s a professional (in her early 50’s) no one had ever mentioned it before and she had to pass the message onto her children who had the same hygiene habits.

@PaddingtonsSister

I wash privates with femfresh, then shower gel on a scrubby all over Hairwash daily

There's no need to use anything like femfresh.

Yes I would say soap or a body wash, when many are saying soap, I'm thinking do they mean a bar, as I thought they have been saying for years that soap is too harsh?

Okay in regards to using a product on the outer vaginal area what do you use? I am asking more to hear feedback from others on here too, and if body wash, which one, like to hear if others are using ones that they feel work well, thanks.

I wash my hair, face and pits with a sensitive skin shower oil. I wash my nether regions with water only, soap stops at the belly button. Legs get the run off. I do minimal soaping to preserve my sensitive skin.
I’ve found that the more I wash, the worse my skin is...and nobody has ever claimed that I smell, so I can’t be going too wrong.

Wow. That is exceptionally weird.

I wash my hair once a week and could get away with less often, it's very dry and coloured as well.

I never wash my legs or feet. I have a bath most evenings and a shower the mornings i haven't had a bath and use bubble bath, then soap under arms and under boobs, bum and that's it. I hope i don't smell!

@Washerg

FWIW I think it’s disgusting to use something other than your hand to clean yourself...you’re spreading bacteria around your body otherwise and there’s all sorts that grows on those pouffee things!

But you'll stand under water alone and assume that makes your body clean and have done for how long? Give yourself a decent bloody wash, including your feet. OP this is grim.

@ScrapThatThen That's interesting what you say about shower gel, do you mean if you get one that is fragranced?

Gp ,who had an interest in dermatology, advised to only use something like aqueous cream to wash vulva not soap.

I have a bath every day and wash my feet, crotch, bum and underarms with soap. I don’t scrub my whole body with soap every time, but I do rinse it with water. I’ve been doing it this way for as long as can remember.

I wash my hair every other day and brush and floss my teeth twice per day. I like to think I’m pretty clean, but some would clearly disagree.

Please tell me this is some sort of joke?

OP, do you not wash your hands with soap? If so, what's your logic - hands need soap but underarms and bottom doesn't?

And yes, you should never put soap INSIDE you, but you still need to clean the area in between your legs...

What do you do in the summer when we have more muggy days? Or if you exercise?

@ShirleyPhallus

The overuse of the word vulva on this thread

That's what it is. And the use of the word vagina in place of vulva has lead to confusion over what women should be washing and shouldn't be washing. Words used to describe female body parts aren't dirty words.

This is a very odd thread, did no one ever tell you how to wash youtself growing up? You literally just stand in the shower for ten mins and rub under your arms with your hands?

Have you never seen someone showering on thr tv? Even in an advert?

If this is genuine I am unsure how anyone could get to adult age and think taking a shower entailed standing their for ten mins.

You soap up with the detergent of your choice either in your hands or a buff, cloth, sponge, then rub it over you all over, then rinse off. Just like washing the dishes.

@ShirleyPhallus

The overuse of the word vulva on this thread

Like your name on here is literally ShirleyPhallus

This is a very odd first post. Note how "Washerg" seems to enjoy using the word 'scrub' and getting people to discuss their habits....first post...hmm. Name reflects their 'interest' too.