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Original poster

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:
MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 21:34

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.

Lean over the kitchen sink?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 21:35

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

It's bollox, I've tried it, some people really do need to wash their hair a lot.

TroysMammy · 31/08/2023 21:51

During the pandemic I only washed for 3 days every week when I went to work. The other 4 days I created my own variation of social distancing by not washing.

I don't wash if I'm really ill with a virus because I know when I'm getting better as I can smell myself and know I can manage a shower.

Wexone · 31/08/2023 21:56

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 21:35

It's bollox, I've tried it, some people really do need to wash their hair a lot.

Show quote history

what did you do ? how long did you percerver with it or did you just give up after one week ? takes about 3 to 4 weeks of washing every second day (keeping to that) then move to every 3 day for a few weeks and so on. invest in dry shampoo for in between. just because it "didnt" work for you it's not bollix!

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 21:59

Wexone · 31/08/2023 21:56

what did you do ? how long did you percerver with it or did you just give up after one week ? takes about 3 to 4 weeks of washing every second day (keeping to that) then move to every 3 day for a few weeks and so on. invest in dry shampoo for in between. just because it "didnt" work for you it's not bollix!

Show quote history

I know the theory, it doesn't work for everyone. After 6 weeks I had had enough.

Wexone · 31/08/2023 22:02

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 21:59

I know the theory, it doesn't work for everyone. After 6 weeks I had had enough.

Show quote history

It's not bollix then just didn't work for you

XenoBitch · 31/08/2023 22:03

Weeks. I could blame poor MH, and when I am low, I don't even do the absolute basics. But normally, I probably shower twice a week tops. I hate the feel of being naked and wet. I really need to wash my hair, but I can't bring myself to do it. It does take a long time to get greasy though.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 31/08/2023 22:04

Training your hair is bollocks, some people just need to wash their hair every day

I am agreeing with this statement. SOME people need to wash their hair everyday therefore it's bollox for THEM.

Itsjustafly · 31/08/2023 22:04

@Wexone sounds like I did a very similar thing to your sister over lockdown. I don't doubt it works for some but definitely not everyone. If it doesn't suit your hair, there's no amount of training in the world that will help it.

I'd rather take the 15 minutes every day to wash and blow dry it and have lovely clean bouncy hair rather than nice hair one day and flat greasy hair the next.

InTheFutilityRoomEatingBiscuits · 31/08/2023 22:14

Months. When I was an abused child I wasn’t allowed to wash or use the bathroom safely.

And then when I was an adult there was a period of 14 months duration where I didn’t have a home with a functional bathroom or clean hot water. I did manage to shower occasionally during that at the leisure centre.

BabyShaark · 31/08/2023 22:24

About half a year I think.

Before the ‘urgh, disgusting’ comments come in, I did wash every day. In front of the sink. There’s nothing you can clean with a shower that you couldn’t clean with a cloth, soap and a bowl of water. Some people may find it inconvenient but it’s absolutely fine. Hair also washed over the sink.

That said, I’m high functioning autistic and hate the sensation of running water on my skin. Baths are fine, but we didn’t have a bath back then.

Hollyppp · 31/08/2023 22:26

6 days at glastonbury

4 days after a c section

sadaboutmycat · 31/08/2023 22:41

Mischance · 30/08/2023 10:48

I shower twice a week.

In between I wash my "pits and bits" daily and use a good deodorant (Mitchum). I also use wet wipes after loo.

I only wash my hair once a week as it does not get greasy.

A lot of water and electricity/gas/oil is wasted on daily showers.

Same. It's very dependent on your body type and genetics. I have dry skin and hair, so do not get greasy or smelly. I wash but only shower twice a week and hair once a week to put some moisture back in it. My DD skin is so very dry that moisturising after a shower can take up to an hour.

EBearhug · 01/09/2023 02:33

I did manage to shower occasionally during that at the leisure centre.

Yes, when I worked at a council-run leisure centre, we had a handful of people who's come in for a shower. Cost £1 or something low. And when a friendwas having plumbing work at home, her gym usage went up a lot, partly so she could shower.

chocciecake · 01/09/2023 02:40

I have a shower every 2-3 days. My children have 2 baths/showers a week.
I don't know how long I have gone, probably a week or more. I could go ages with just body wash but my hair is gross after 3 days.

BonnyLassie99 · 01/09/2023 02:46

When I was depressed during the first lockdown then I didn’t bath or shower for 10 days!! I brushed my teeth and that’s it!! I only went to shops for milk and cigarettes too so it didn’t really matter but I felt yucky!!

Jackienory · 01/09/2023 02:58

Three days, when I was j hospital having my daughter. Apart from that I shower every day, twice if I come off shift sweating like a navvy. 😥

Ghost92 · 01/09/2023 04:09

It’s only really been if I’ve been ill, I didn’t shower for 3 days once but I felt really gross. I shower every day usually.

Frances0911 · 01/09/2023 04:14

In the 70's as a child I had a bath and hair wash once a week.

junbean · 01/09/2023 04:18

When I was about 18 I went on a weeklong trip across the US to California for a music festival. I rode the bus there, hitchhiked, camped out the whole week, was outdoors the whole time, wore the same clothes, just changed my undies but otherwise didn’t clean up at all. When I got back I took a bath, thinking there would be a dirt ring in the tub after. The water stayed clear and there was no evidence of being dirty at all. I was so disappointed, lol.
Since then I’ve had 4 kids and my hormones changed a lot, so I do get stinky, especially because I use natural deodorant. A lot of times I wash my armpits and use a bidet, so a full shower isn’t needed as often. I really think we overdo it, especially with water shortages. Most likely future generations will have to cut back because of that.

illiterato · 01/09/2023 06:12

8 days when I did a 7 day desert trail running race. Had to carry everything so I literally had one wet wipe a day. Only clothes I changed were my pants. Wasn’t actually as disgusting as I expected. My hair was completely stiff with sand but my body was kind of ok.

Joystir59 · 01/09/2023 06:44

Only had one bath a week as a child.

Surely2023IsTheYearForMyRainbowBaby · 01/09/2023 10:53

9 days whilst in hospital. I couldn't have showered even if I had wanted to because I couldn't move my head from the pillow without vomming everywhere. I was still mega weak when I was discharged. My first post hospital shower took me 90 mins due to having to keep kneeling down due to dizziness

LuckySantangelo35 · 01/09/2023 11:33

TroysMammy · 31/08/2023 21:51

During the pandemic I only washed for 3 days every week when I went to work. The other 4 days I created my own variation of social distancing by not washing.

I don't wash if I'm really ill with a virus because I know when I'm getting better as I can smell myself and know I can manage a shower.

Edited

@TroysMammy

during the pandemic why didn’t you just wash as normal?

Tribute219 · 01/09/2023 12:04

I would feel pretty grim after a couple of days not showering but also would not go near my partner sexually if he wasn't showering regularly.

I feel quite resentful if I'm stuck in a queue or in public transport with someone who smells bad. It feels like an intrusion.