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

How long have you gone without a shower/bath?

176 replies

Inthebathagain · 30/08/2023 09:43

I normally bath/shower every day, but due to a number of unexpected matters cropping up, I haven't had one since Saturday.

Brushed my teeth daily. Quick face cleanse on a couple of those days.

I don't feel as dirty or smelly as I thought I would.

What's the longest you have you gone between showers/baths?

OP posts:
MitchellMummy · 30/08/2023 11:04

24 hours. But I have a 2 minute shower as opposed to a Mumsnet 30 minute one!

Cowlover89 · 30/08/2023 11:04

Taketurn · 30/08/2023 11:03

mmm still young but I think he could still do with a couple more baths a week like. Especially if he goes to daycare.

He doesn't go to daycare and its perfectly fine :) he doesn't get mucky.

Worldgonecrazy · 30/08/2023 11:05

A few days due to hospital or wild canping. In normal circumstances I shower twice a day. Hair only gets washed once a week though as I have curly hair that would go to frizz if washed every day.

CallieQ · 30/08/2023 11:05

Shoxfordian · 30/08/2023 09:51

Unless I’m really unwell and can’t get out of bed then every day I shower and wash my hair

We had guests recently who didn’t shower for 3 days: disgusting

Judgy
3 days is fine

Worldgonecrazy · 30/08/2023 11:06

MitchellMummy · 30/08/2023 11:04

24 hours. But I have a 2 minute shower as opposed to a Mumsnet 30 minute one!

Who has time to spend 30 minutes in the shower? I’m another 2 minuter!

Spacemoon · 30/08/2023 11:06

5 days when I was (much) younger and at a festival - the thought of using the unclean communal showers meant I'd rather be a bit unclean myself 🤣

Now, I would never leave it longer than 2 days and even then, i'd only be able to leave it more than 24 hours if I had a good 'pits and bits' sink wash in-between. Only wash my hair every 3 days now. Use to be daily as I couldn't stand the feeling when it wasn't super freshly washed, but washing it too often destroyed my hair in the long run.

Jennalong · 30/08/2023 11:08

When it was still unknown whether people becoming very ill in early 2020 ( was it influenza or covid? ) I was struck down with something and was very ill , I had to crawl to the toilet and back to bed , it didn't cross my mind to shower and I wouldn't have been able to stand for it anyway . It's actually all a haze , I don't think I even thought about washing for 10 days.

IseeNarcPeople · 30/08/2023 11:10

@Robbiesraft
I've just sprayed mint tea everywhere.

museumum · 30/08/2023 11:12

About a week hiking. Would not have liked to be in close contact with others indoors after that!

Herecomesthemoon · 30/08/2023 11:12

When I had a new bathroom fitted it took over two weeks so could only wash in the kitchen sink for that period. I did go swimming once and showered there during that time.
The only other time I went without showering was 6 days after surgery.

FoodCentre · 30/08/2023 11:12

Who has time to spend 30 minutes in the shower? I’m another 2 minuter!

Listening to music

Winter when you can't bear to come out!

Very bad for the environment though.

Whichwhatnow · 30/08/2023 11:13

Me - daily.

DH - once a week at most 😬

He never seems to smell or get sweaty though...

blahblahblah1654 · 30/08/2023 11:16

Every single day. Even when in hospital after a c section. I can understand it if you had certain illnesses/surgery and couldn't get up to shower daily. I feel gross if I don't shower and wash my hair daily. I'm quite a sweaty person though

Fizbosshoes · 30/08/2023 11:16

I imagine the super sniffers will be along soon to confidently proclaim they can tell how frequently everyone within a half mile radius of them, showers

FoodCentre · 30/08/2023 11:16

Robbiesraft · 30/08/2023 10:43

3 days. We stayed at a 'friends' house and I'm sure they were listening when we were in the bathroom and DP caught them feeling how wet our towels were. Lots of mutterings from them too about how disgusting we were when we left. The thing is the bathroom was rank. Weirdos.

Why do people who are dirty themselves do this? I know people like this and they are firstly blind to their own filth and secondly, feel the need to insult people who are cleaner than them.

GigiAnnna · 30/08/2023 11:17

1 day, when I've had to stay overnight in hospital with a child. A family member brought me up a change of clothes and I was able to use the parent's showers later on. I feel gross if I don't bathe daily. Not that I'm particularly dirty but I hate feeling sticky and unclean.

BansheeofInisherin · 30/08/2023 11:18

Fizbosshoes · 30/08/2023 11:16

I imagine the super sniffers will be along soon to confidently proclaim they can tell how frequently everyone within a half mile radius of them, showers

As will the environmental activists.

Iliketulips · 30/08/2023 11:20

Four days due to the fact I'd been feeling really ill. The only reason I had a bath then was I knew I needed to see a doctor and morally I felt I couldn't go in case I smelt/looked dirty (I'd had a temperate on/off all week to got quite sticky at times) . DH ran a bath for me, literally helped me in, shampooed my hair and rinse, then helped me out.

ManchesterLu · 30/08/2023 11:21

I'm purposefully trying to cut down.
I used to shower every single day and wash my hair, and sometimes twice a day in the summer.
The cost of electric and gas mean I just have to try and save pennies wherever I can, and this means going a day or two between showers.
As others have said, I don't smell. My clothes are clean and I use deodorant.
Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely love to take a 20 minute luxurious shower every morning and an hour long bath in the evening, but I just cannot afford the hot water at the moment. It's sad, I know.

skinnycrumpet · 30/08/2023 11:28

Sometimes twice a day, I work out a lot

Squiblet · 30/08/2023 11:28

FoodCentre · 30/08/2023 11:16

Why do people who are dirty themselves do this? I know people like this and they are firstly blind to their own filth and secondly, feel the need to insult people who are cleaner than them.

...and whoosh there goes the joke 😄

AdoraBell · 30/08/2023 11:30

When I was depressed about a week.

foolishone · 30/08/2023 11:30

As an adult, 5 days at a festival. Wet wipes and bucket washes only. Day to day the absolute max between showers is every other day.

No idea as a kid, I'm sure I went through some scuzzy phases but I can't remember them.

lastminutewednesday · 30/08/2023 11:33

A week or so when I shattered my arm. I was so it if it on morphine that I didn't care at all!
And then about the same when I had covid and couldn't get out of bed

lightinthebox · 30/08/2023 11:40

I only shower every 7-10 days. Everyone is different but I find this works for me. My hair and scalp are really healthy with this routine too as it means using fewer products regularly.

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