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Original poster

Not washing these body parts?

135 replies

Hanyyd · 09/05/2022 06:29

It occurred to me yesterday that I have only ever washed my feet with soap on vert rare occasions like when I’ve walked on grass or got them grubby in flip flops. Other times I just let the water wash them from the shower or Bath.

Similarly, I don’t think I’ve ever washed my neck or behind my ears, for the same reasons - shampoo surely covers it when I wash my hair?

The magazine I read was talking about the benefits of using less soap and sometimes only water to rinse to give skin a break. I rarely scrub anywhere with soap except my underarms, chest, breasts and carefully with bits below. Anyone else?

OP posts:
FrangipaniBlue · 09/05/2022 23:11

Christ lucky if I crack open the shower gel let alone scrub every nook and cranny with it...

Ain't nobody got time for that.

TwinklingFairyLights · 09/05/2022 23:17

I hardly ever wash my feet and legs either. I swim 5 times a week though, so guess that keeps them clean. I do wash behind my ears though.

SD1978 · 09/05/2022 23:21

Can't think of when I last washed my feet, or my neck, behind my ears deliberately to be be honest. It's armpits, boobs, bum and torso. If I use a scrub, that's different and id include legs then. I am basically mucky now I think about it......

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PrincessRamone · 09/05/2022 23:22

if I haven't done a scrubbing shower for a while then scratching an itch on my neck or behind an ear results in a little lump of grey goo under the fingernail - that's what needs scrubbing away as it doesn't come off from just being lathered with soap suds.

Eww! I can honestly say that has never happened to me. Maybe it’s something to do with oilier versus dryer skin?

Disneydatknee88 · 09/05/2022 23:38

Arms, legs, pits and bits. I've never washed my feet. Surely they are being cleaned while I'm in the bath or shower anyway? It is strange now I come to think of it that I don't wash behind my ears. I always used to wash behind my children's ears when they were little!

IJoinedJustForThisThread · 09/05/2022 23:43

It never occurs to me to wash my neck in the shower, other than letting shampoo run over it, but 2 or 3 times a week I rub the back of my neck with a wet flannel and am disgusted by the dirt that appears on the flannel.

Kat1953 · 09/05/2022 23:47

You're all revolting. I scrub myself all over with wire wool and bleach 3x per day.

IJoinedJustForThisThread · 09/05/2022 23:47

Going off at a slight tangent, I have two friends that are adamant they don’t need to wash their faces with anything other than water as they don’t wear make up.

On the other hand I wash my face twice a day with flannel and face wash, as I don’t believe that water alone is sufficient to remove dirt, oil, pollution etc.

We have agreed to disagree.

MissyCooperismyShero · 10/05/2022 01:19

Hair, face, hands, pits and bits is all I have ever done. If you can smell behind my ears when you hug me then tough luck. Stop hugging me would be my advice

liveforsummer · 10/05/2022 06:34

I've always thought of myself as a bit of a slattern, especially by mumsnet standards however surely feet are up there with pits and bum crack as the most important parts to apply a bit of soap? I say that as someone with raynauds who's feet are always stone cold so sweating is a novelty. Behind ears get washed alongside hair, which I don't actually wash that often. I clean my neck along with my face and even doing it regularly it often leaves a dirty smudge on a face wipe. Your neck gets surprisingly dirty.

SailingNotSurfing · 10/05/2022 08:59

Kat1953 · 09/05/2022 23:47

You're all revolting. I scrub myself all over with wire wool and bleach 3x per day.

Only 3 times a day? I wouldn’t want to sit next to you on the bus, you must reek of stale BO. I boilwash my pits and bits hourly and use an electric sander on my feet and ears.

VeganCow · 10/05/2022 11:22

I knew someone who showers daily but has never used anything but water. I tried it once in the shower with one of those shower ball things and was as clean as with soap, so I'm sure we all over-wash.

KaraVanPark · 10/05/2022 11:26

Never my feet, they get a soak in the bath. Do wash my neck and ears though as I have short hair

Ophanim · 15/05/2022 01:57

FrecklesMalone · 09/05/2022 07:48

Apart from under my arms I never use soap or shower gel anywhere as it makes me itch. I don't smell at all. I never have since I was about 8.

@FrecklesMalone
do you also have dry flaky ear wax (well not wax at all)?

I have never smelt of BO and I have dry ear wax. There is a link between the two, and I wondered if you are like me.

mackthepony · 15/05/2022 01:59

I HATE the word flannel. Especially in conjunction with 'sink wash'

Organictangerine · 15/05/2022 03:49

FrecklesMalone · 09/05/2022 07:48

Apart from under my arms I never use soap or shower gel anywhere as it makes me itch. I don't smell at all. I never have since I was about 8.

Ahhhh the usual poster who doesn’t wash properly confidently asserting they don’t smell…

Norgie · 15/05/2022 08:09

I have a foot scrub thing that suctions to the bottom of the bath / shower tray which is great for doing the feet at the same time as your washing your other bits.
I always wash my neck and behind my ears while shampooing my hair.
I shower and wash my hair daily.

Scianel · 15/05/2022 08:28

I just use soap/shower gel on bits, pits and bumhole. The rest of me is clean. And no I'm not delusional and noseblind to my own scent.
That being said I am almost permanently barefoot.

Zippidy123 · 15/05/2022 08:42

I follow a dermatologist on YouTube and she says the only places that need a proper wash are face, hands and arm pits, water will do on the rest unless there's visible dirt.

Bobbingrazorbill · 15/05/2022 08:45

I wash my feet daily. I can no longer reach them because of a disability. I now use a long handled shower body brush to reach the places I can't. Until this thread I was worrying I wasn't washing them well enough.

liveforsummer · 15/05/2022 10:22

Zippidy123 · 15/05/2022 08:42

I follow a dermatologist on YouTube and she says the only places that need a proper wash are face, hands and arm pits, water will do on the rest unless there's visible dirt.

So this 'expert' suggests you don't need to wash your bum crack? Not sure I'd listen too closely to her ...

Zippidy123 · 15/05/2022 10:39

liveforsummer 😆 yes you need to wash your bum crack!! Sorry I should have been more specific. I'd put shit under the 'visible dirt' category.

She's actually incredibly knowledgeable and well respected. DrDray is anyone's interested.

HowIsItMarchAlready · 16/05/2022 11:50

I just don't get why those who do not wash everywhere, don't. It takes two minutes to scrub yourself with a shower puff, a glove or whatever else you prefer. Yes you may not smell but is that the only reason why you wash? I like to shower because I get clean but also because I remove dead skin, making my skin softer and nicer. Plus in the summer I get a better tan. But even if it were just to be clean all over, that'd be reason enough for me. By the same token, I was my hands every time I come home - whether I've been out all day or just dropped my DP off at the station (steering wheels are yukky). Don't you?

aSofaNearYou · 16/05/2022 11:58

HowIsItMarchAlready · 16/05/2022 11:50

I just don't get why those who do not wash everywhere, don't. It takes two minutes to scrub yourself with a shower puff, a glove or whatever else you prefer. Yes you may not smell but is that the only reason why you wash? I like to shower because I get clean but also because I remove dead skin, making my skin softer and nicer. Plus in the summer I get a better tan. But even if it were just to be clean all over, that'd be reason enough for me. By the same token, I was my hands every time I come home - whether I've been out all day or just dropped my DP off at the station (steering wheels are yukky). Don't you?

Because I don't have problems with dead skin or not feeling clean outside of the main areas.

Plus a few practical reasons like being used to needing to be quick.

I don't wash my hands after something as small as driving someone to the station, no. Why would you assume everyone would?

moomintrolls · 16/05/2022 12:43

I have a bath every few days and submerge and use bubble bath. Everything is cleaned via this. I scrub my feet, so they are smooth, and wash under arms and chest, that's it. Face then hair, shaving. Then I'm out and feel very refreshed.

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