Page 6 | How long have you gone without a shower/bath?

Inthebathagain · 2023-08-30T08:43:16+00:00

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?

wwyd2021medicine · 30/08/2023 15:05

Moonshine5 · 30/08/2023 13:10

Having clients who suffer from a Mental Health diagnosis' I frequently encounter individuals who shower once maybe twice a month. Self neglect manifests in many ways. They rarely smell and are good at putting on a show for the outside 'world'.

I have similar experience working in MH. I sometimes have to have very frank conversations with patients. It's up to them how often they wash obviously but if someone is out and about malodorous and with dirty/shabby clothes, they could become a target in the community and it's a real risk for some.

Scaryghost · 30/08/2023 15:08

About 2 weeks after slipping several discs in a car accident. I washed and cleaned my teeth and used a flannel under my pits and between my legs. But actual shower and hair wash was about 14 days. I couldn’t even sit on the toilet without someone supporting me! Asking me to climb into the bath for a shower, well, you might as well have been asking me to claim Everest.

Now I was my hair twice a week, and shower after the gym, or every other day if I’m not at the gym. I’ve noticed though that when I was showing daily as I was at the gym 7 days a week throughout the summer, my skin was getting really dry and itchy. Went through loads of different shower gels trying to find one suitable.

heartofglass23 · 30/08/2023 18:55

I'm autistic so washing is sensory hell.

I go as long as I can.

In recent years hardly ever go more than 2 weeks. Aim for once a week.

The longest must be several weeks- I didnt keep count.

At that time I wasn't working, no DCs or DP. Sedentary life, hardly left the house. I didn't get dirty/sweaty.

I've gone a year without shampooing my hair.

TickyTacky · 31/08/2023 11:38

I usually shower in the morning, bath the next evening, so every day/ every other day. As an adult the most I've gone without a shower is 3 days, but usually through illness not choice. During the summer I shower every day, often more than once after a hot/ busy day.

TheBerry · 31/08/2023 11:45

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

Was @Robbiesraft your guest 😅

BadLad · 31/08/2023 11:48

Nine days. I was camping in the Gobi Dese rt.

Ordinarily I have one or two every day.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 31/08/2023 11:50

Apart from when I was in hospital recently, 3 days has been my rare max, but on those days I’d invariably have a ‘pits and bits’ wash, or I really would feel horrible.
Every other day is my usual shower/hair wash - skin gets too dry if more frequent.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 11:51

Even in hospital they bring you a bowl for a wash.

Recent flu knocked me side ways for a week and all I managed was a face wash while sitting on the loo. First shower and hair wash was amazing !

BlueRabbitYellow · 31/08/2023 12:08

TropicalTrama · 30/08/2023 14:59

Personally I find the humid conditions of a shower cap combined with a tight bun achieve a fantastic wavy swish that revitalises a 1/2 day old blow dry. Hair is every 3 days for me but I don’t think I’ve missed a daily shower since I hit puberty. Such is my commitment I once showered with a toddler in the BA lounge at Heathrow whilst awaiting a connecting flight rather than miss a day. Hair didn’t look so good after that though.

Wow, I have serious hair envy. Mine is so fine, any hint of moisture and it clings to my head in fright.

ChocolateTea · 31/08/2023 12:19

When I had covid I think it was about a week? Wasn’t allowed to be unsupervised in the hot water and didn’t fancy my teenage boys watching me. Tbh I was on bed rest. That first shower was incredible though.

normally I’m an every other day shower. So is DP. Unless I exercise, then it’s an extra.

Tabitha1960 · 31/08/2023 12:50

A male friend recently stayed with me for a week, sleeping on the sofa. My shower screen was broken so he did not take a shower for a week. What surprised me was that he did not smell AT ALL. Made me wonder about my own daily shower routine!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 12:53

Tabitha1960 · 31/08/2023 12:50

A male friend recently stayed with me for a week, sleeping on the sofa. My shower screen was broken so he did not take a shower for a week. What surprised me was that he did not smell AT ALL. Made me wonder about my own daily shower routine!

He probably had daily washes. Surely you wouldn't just not wash at all if your shower was broken.

Tribute219 · 31/08/2023 13:24

Daily showerer here, twice if it's hot or I've excercised. I wash my hair every three days.

Anyone who believes they can go days between showering and not smell is deluding themselves.

Theoldwoman · 31/08/2023 13:28

I honestly do not remember the last time I missed having a shower or a bath at some point in the day.

Ponderingwindow · 31/08/2023 13:28

When I had allergy patch testing, I wasn’t allowed to bathe or shower for 5 days. I also wasn’t allowed to sweat so had to keep my activity to a minimum. It was still awful, especially since large portions of your body are covered in plastic, tape, and substances giving you rashes.

Moonshine5 · 31/08/2023 13:35

Tribute219 · 31/08/2023 13:24

Daily showerer here, twice if it's hot or I've excercised. I wash my hair every three days.

Anyone who believes they can go days between showering and not smell is deluding themselves.

Honestly the clients don't smell and some of them can go weeks without washing. It must depend on your body chemistry.

Samlewis96 · 31/08/2023 14:21

StopThatBloodyNoise · 30/08/2023 12:04

5 weeks without a shower when I was in hospital - because of being bedridden. Same for having my hair washed. I felt disgusting.

It's horrid isn't it. I was also bedridden I hospital for nearly 3 weeks and could just manage a wash once I got up. Wasn't allowed to get scars on abdomen wet either.

Doone21 · 31/08/2023 17:19

People in older times and myself as a kid, didn't bathe more than once a week unless they had a very dirty occupation. It's not even good for you. I go as long as possible between baths and do a strip wash instead of an evening. So probably 2 or 3 a week. I'd make it fewer but my hair gets really manky.

Fizbosshoes · 31/08/2023 18:22

Doone21 · 31/08/2023 17:19

People in older times and myself as a kid, didn't bathe more than once a week unless they had a very dirty occupation. It's not even good for you. I go as long as possible between baths and do a strip wash instead of an evening. So probably 2 or 3 a week. I'd make it fewer but my hair gets really manky.

I grew up in the 1980s/90s we didn't have a shower at home and we had baths maybe twice a week (3 times max) and a wash the rest of the time. As a teen with waist length hair I begged my parents to get a shower but I didn't get to regularly use a shower until I moved out in 2000. I'm pretty sure we didn't all smell awful but I look at pics from my teens and my hair could have done with washing more frequently

I have a shower now and I shower once, sometimes twice a day, but don't think it would be so unbearable to miss a day (exercise, period, hot weather permitting) I wash my hair twice a week, more if it looks greasy. When I've been trekking or camping without access to washing facilities, the first shower and hairwash afterwards has been amazing but that's usually after several days!

Mummapenguin20 · 31/08/2023 18:33

8 days when I sat by my mums bed when she was dying. Did not leave her side for more than 60 seconds x

ladeluge · 31/08/2023 18:51

I can't stop laughing here. I am staying with my friend in her lovely little house while I have new bathrooms fitted. On day 2 her shower broke. Plumber says a Big Job (don't they all!). So no water to bathroom. We are taking turns having head to toe washes at the kitchen sink. But we'll manage. Sense of humour essential.

I can't go home because there's neither water nor electricity there. Haven't thought about hair washing yet but dry shampoo bought.

fleetingpier · 31/08/2023 18:55

Five days once, without bath or shower, though I did wash. I had been very unwell.

I only wash my hair approx once a week anyway, so no bother there. Very long hair!

Purpleavocado · 31/08/2023 18:57

3 days in hospital and I hated it.
I just was really sick with covid but still propped myself up in the shower every day.

Itsjustafly · 31/08/2023 19:07

4 days following surgery. A hairdresser came in to wash my hair after day 3 and it was joyful. I did have a thorough sink wash each day but nothing compares to the shower for me.
I have short, fine hair and I can't go more than 24 hours without washing it. Training your hair is bollocks, some people just need to wash their hair every day.

Wexone · 31/08/2023 20:31

@Itsjustafly how do you know its bolicks ? have you tried it ? sister was like you couldn't believe it I didn't wash hair every day..she fine hair that used to get grease quickly. siad she had hair taht needed washing evey day.also quite short. then during lockdown trying to look after the children aswell as work from home didn't have time to wash hair every day and noticed then after a while she didn't need to wash it every day. she slowly got used to not washing it evey day and her hair wasn't getting as greasy. when hairdressers finally opened and she wnet back hairdresser commented on such good condition hair was