Smelly people first thing in the morning making me cross

[Wherecanitbe]

I completely understand in the UK we are currently experiencing extremely high temperatures, however......

why is it so many people smell really strongly of B.O first thing in the morning? I was on the bus Saturday morning around 9am and their were one or two people who smelled really strongly, not just slightly. This morning I was in my local shop around 10am and the man in front of me smelled that strongly that when he left, the smell even lingered.

I can understand if it was towards the end of the day, then it would be more reasonable that people would have B.O. I am just really irritated how these people think it's acceptable that other people have to put up with their offensive smell.

I've noticed that people are a lot smellier nowadays.

I was on the bus to work and the woman sitting behind me had such bad breath that I had to move seats.

Lots of B.O too and that rank dirty hair smell

Also they have dogs/pets which also has an impact on the environment in addition to what you’ve listed .

Noone is not showering due to climate concerns. Let’s be real here.

I’ve WFH still the last 4 years and it does make a difference to when I wash. I wouldn’t go outside without having one tho

before lockdown I did have someone reporting into me that was funky. It turned out she washed her clothes in the bath with her then left to dry
a
l resolved witn a chat

That is so bizarre and gross.

Do you know why she was doing that? Was she having financial issues? Mental health issues?

Apart from the absolute faff that is I’d be amazed that any grown adult would think that’s a good idea.

I may expect it from a drunk hard up 18 year old student living away from home for the first time and desperately trying to save money or something, but I’d think even they’d wise up when they’re sober that it’s not really an effective way to clean themselves or their clothes.

It’s good that you had a chat with her though.

Well there’s the answer. We should always wash with dog shampoo. 🐶

Yep, agree!
I've woken up hot and sweaty this morning so another shower it is! 😄

Combo of low washing temperatures and short washes and people not drying their washing properly outside. Drying washing indoors stinks as it takes too long to dry out so bacteria starts to grow. Even tumble-dried clothes don't smell clean and properly aired like line-dried washing does.

There definitely are people who smell more than others regardless of hygiene. My oldest really struggles with this despite daily showers, using deodorant, sprays etc and I always wash all her tops daily. My two other kids (they’re all teenagers) are completely different. My oldest started getting BO really young as well - just bad luck for her it’s not laziness or intentional.

Bar soap is so much better.

The people op is talking about are washing very infrequently.

The stink op is talking about is not that. It’s a particular unwashed stink that probably takes many days of not washing to create. I smell it on the tube most days. Unwashed crotch, pits, breath, hair- very fetid, ingrained and not fresh sweat.

Oh yes, the teenage smell 😒 DD12 is no shower dodger, always wears deodorant and has a collection of body sprays that she could set up a shop with. She is constantly spraying herself (even before bed, no idea why!)

I noticed that horrible dirty clothes smell the other day when we were clothes shopping, despite the fact that I know her clothes are washed properly, properly dried and clean on. Walked in her bedroom that morning to wake her up and the smell of musty teenager whacked me in the face 🥴

Smelly, grubby people are gross if you have to go anywhere near them. 🤮

Indeed. It is disgusting.

I always notice this when I use my local bus. Men and women who stink of sweat, tobacco and smelly food.

It is just laziness and a lack of basic hygiene.

It does not surprise me though because you often have threads on this forum about showering daily where many posters will insist it is unnecessary and that they don't smell...denial is not uncommon.

Why is it dirty to shower before you go to bed?

I do a heavy tiring manual job and I often don’t finish until late. I’m covered in dirt, germs from cleaning toilets, soil and god knows what else. I cannot imagine jumping into lovely clean sheets and lying in my own filth all night just so I can have a shower in the morning somehow. And I’m not showering again in the morning just to waste water and to have my skin reacting.

I mean I might have a quick shower before I start my shift at 2 if I’ve been down the allotment or garden or if it’s boiling hot but that’s not all the time.

This thread is really interesting. There must be some biological difference in people that makes some smell more than others as I don't do anything fancy - wash clothes at 40 degrees with bio powder (no fabric conditioner though) and line or tumble dry depending on weather, we all shower once a day with showergel. Normal deodorant - just Aldi own brand like the detergent. Nobody smells. My two teenage kids definitely got smellier when the hormones kicked in but that was solved by showering daily (they preferred baths when little) and deodorant. My son loves showering so regularly has two a day. Shower after the gym/exercise as well obvs. It's never struck me as rocket science. I guess some people either can't smell themselves or just don't really care - which is bizarre to me but we're all different I suppose!

@Mangelwurzelfortea yep, I have never really had BO but a few months after dc1 I would wake up with it & my clothes armpits smelt of it. I had to use soap & vinegar on the armpits in the wash. It went away after a few weeks but I really had to battle it. I assume it was hormonal? Never had after dc 2.

I think there's a few factors.

Firstly there's obviously frequency of washing, in particular some people with long hair seem to take pride in not washing their heads for days and days. If you don't want to use shampoo on your hair because it's 'drying' then just use water or do a co-wash to remove the sweat and dead skin. Also, dying hair and using product and heat on it is far more damaging than cleaning it.

Secondly, the popularity of shower gel over soap. Shower gel (particularly ones that claim to be 'moisturising') leave a residue on the skin that bacteria love and can lead to body odour. Soap reduces body odour.

Thirdly, clothes made from synthetic material retain body odour even after washing. And line drying clothes outside is great for removing odours that accumulate by other drying methods.

There must be some biological difference in people that makes some smell more than others

While this is true regular cleaning means those who are more inclined to smell don't build up bad smelling BO. There is an obvious difference between the smell of someone who has 'end of a hot day' or 'just done a vigorous sport' fresh BO and 'hasn't washed for several days' stale BO.

The reason for the lack of a sweaty smell there is usually down to a mutation in the ABCC11 gene which is common across those populations.

@Aspoonofsolver she really didn’t see how it could be an issue washing her clothes with her in the bath

the flat she lived in had a bath and dodgy shower attachment that didn’t work. she didn’t want to see the bath water go to waste and thought you could just leave clothes to dry inside naturally with no heat

she was early 20s and would have been earning around £25k. Think she left home very early and just didn’t know.

I told her to speak to landlord about shower fitting and get an airer for the balcony on sunny days

My ex was always a bit of a soap dodger (most chefs are) but we broke up and I didnt see him for a few years (we have a ds and I had to get friends to drop ds off/pick up as what the courts told us to do due to his new girlfriend)

He broke up with her and started meeting me for pick ups/drop offs

My God,the smell-he could go 5/6 months without touching a drop of water and then he might rub a wet flannel round his pits and bits (no soap) and he never washed his hair/clothes (both where thick with grease and dirt)

It was a mix of bo,vinegar,poo,urine and sweat and very strong

I once watched him walk down a busy high street and people moved out of his way rather than 'every man for himself' as you moved down that street

I tried hinting ('the showers free if you want one ex,there is lynx and shampoo in there') but that fell on deaf ears,and he laughed when our ds asked him why he smelt so bad

He suddenly disappeared (normal for him) and I joke with my dp that 'if hes in the area,you'll smell him before you see him'

Honest to god,it stripped the lining from the back of your lungs from 10 feet away

There's no way he didnt know he honked,he just didnt care

@Stardancerintheskye Jesus that is foul! No wonder you both split up with him. There is no way I could have stood for that!
I didn't know chefs were unhygienic? I've known two, both blokes, both showered and smelt fresh!

It's revolting.
Catching the tube early morning and it is clear that some people have not washed. In this heat. Just disgusting.

Which is bollocks as can get cheap soap in home bargains! And cheap deodorant and cheap shower gel.

Some people are just disgusting. Glad I don't have to get the bus anymore since I learned to drive.

So you just like smelly people?

I think it would be the smelly people not fun at parties.