Smelly people

[thebottleismine]

I work in a shop and it's surprising how many extremely smelly people walk about. Now I dont mean people that have called in after the gym/run etc I'm talking really, really bad pissy unwashed clothes that absolutely reeeeeek of some kind of putrid smell, perhaps unwashed for an extremely long time. Now, Whilst I know everyone has different circumstances etc but I was really shocked to learn that one of the long term (smelly) shoppers actually has a very glamorous daughter and it stunned me to the core that she would let her dad out knowing he smelt so completely terrible.
Surly most people know that if you don't wash both yourself and your clothes you will eventually smell? Why someone would allow a friend or family to go out like this is extremely cruel in my opinion.

Fat shit. That's so incredibly selfish!

She can't smell anything so everyone else has to suffer, that's not fair.

@lameasahorse

Yes I remember one of our mentally ill patients who used to come in for his money and he would smell 'unwashed'. Someone must have had a word with him because he told us on another day he had had a shower! Was quite pleased with himself!

I used to work in healthcare, and I think a lot of it is the very specific body oil smell that some people have. It can be affected by medication/medical conditions or some are just unlucky. And it's often stronger in older people.... not a lack of hygiene at all.

I've got a very sensitive nose and regularly have to boil wash DH's pillow as his scalp oil is really pungent overnight. He washes his hair and bathes/showers daily. Even our DC noticed and would never use his pillows if they got into our bed.

I think a lot of smells are coming from people's clothes and it can quite often be that they haven't been washed hot enough.

I live in a part of the world where many people wash in cold water. Our clothes, I can assure you, do not smell.

"I thought weekly was acceptable?"

I thought it was more than average, but the poster included it in the 'race to the bottom'. Once every 3 weeks is fine for me and I'm allergic to dust mites.

Poor personal hygiene is a sign of mental health issues, depression and low self esteem.

Its gross, glad I never suffered this way myself and I try to be sympatheitic.

Are you saying that’s hot enough or not hot enough?

I used to work with a chap who was very clean, but his sweat smelt fishy. On a hot day, he would stink. He could not help it. Even the sweat from his head smelt. There is not much in the way of deodorant you can do about that!

Of course you will have people comment and say that they are not complaining about people stinking due to MH issues, as it is part of their illness. Yet, you can't look at someone coming into your shop as a customer and determine if they have MH issues. Some very well groomed people can be mentally ill.

I went to a show last night in a local theatre, and someone reeked of BO. It made the whole thing a bit unpleasant. As the tickets were at least £20 per person I don't think you could blame poverty.

@Gudbrand I'd take a cold shower. I often do we run out of hot water and I'm the last one to get in every morning so I get the cold shower. I'd take a cold shower before I'd go out smelly. Wouldn't you?

There’s a weird smell that I detect - usually on teenagers, but sometimes older people too. It’s like talcum powder with an undercurrent of poo? I know some of the people who I’ve smelt this on and they are freshly showered, clean - but it’s really strong to me. Does anyone have any ideas what this actually is?

I have been told teenage boys have a distinct smell.
I used to work in a children's hospital, and the cardiac ward always smelt of poo.
Some cancers can make people smell too, particularly towards the end if terminal, even if they are still at home and coping ok.

Yep. I've experienced the end of life smell of cancer.

Very old person smell is also a thing. It's a chemical produced as the body's cells break down.

Neither of those smells are the fault of the unfortunate person whose body is producing it. And I imagine that there are other diseases and drugs that can cause body odours too.

Synthetic fibres hold smells more than natural fibres. Washing powder is more effective at cleaning and killed bacteria than liquidd or gel tabs. These days some detergents are sold for use at 0 - 30%. Some washing machine quick programmes are just 15 minutes long. Combine a smelly polyester mix item of clothing with liquid detergent, a quick wash > 30° and it may look clean, but still smell, especially when warmed by body heat.

Clothes washed properly in cold water and quickly dried outside are likely to be cleaner. Sunlight is a natural bleaching agent and UV light kills bacteria too.

Because powder contains bleaching agents that liquids don't. Consequently powder is more effective at killing bacteria and keeping the insides of the washing machine clean.

My sister is like this, she's only 21. She reeks of really bad BO. I feel awful for her but we're not that close so I don't want to tell her, I asked my mum to do it before because they're very close. She didn't bother. I think with her it's because she has a bath instead of a shower every time she uses bath bombs but doesn't scrub the dead skin away or wash properly, she uses the bath to 'relax' every time.

@junglejane66 I need an edit button and new glasses 🤓😳😆

I'm surprised no one has said they can smell when someone is on their period. That's what is usually said on these types of threads. 🙄

Once every 3 weeks is fine for me growing up our linens were changed every other day or every 3 days in winter, that’s what i and all my siblings do too, only on MN I’ve read things like once a week or every other week or once a month,
i can’t imagine sleeping on the same bedlinens for a whole week, we spend a minimum of 8 hours in bed every night that’s the equivalent of wearing the exact same clothes for seven consecutive days .

Frankly @queenofarles that's an excessive amount of laundry for a household.

@queenofarles
I'm generally anal about hygiene but thrice a week is just crazy. Once a week is normal and fine if you shower everyday.