to be shocked that SIL and her kids only bath / shower once a week?

[emilytankengine]

I have a shower every day, before work, sometimes twice if I've been to the gym or if we're on holiday / going out. I probably make sure the younger kids get a bath about 5 times a week and my teenage daughter has a shower every day.

SIL was outraged at this and says that she only typically has a bath or a shower once a week! She says that she has a wash every day with a face cloth (including her bottom :O - with a face cloth!!).

Maybe it's me who's odd but I was staggered at this

bleeeeeeeeeeee filthy skank

are they ill? got bits dropping off? otherwise fit and healthy?

Horses for courses I guess - although i can't see how washing with a cloth can be any quicker than showering.

Are they stinky? Flaking off into your tea? Greasy and scummy? If not, than YABU

Once a week isn't a lot but it's not necessary to shower daily, it's a personal choice. I love your shocked face by the way Her bottom? With a face cloth? Whatever next!

I'm more disturbed by the fact she uses a face cloth for her face AND arse!

maybe not quicker but probably cheaper/better for the environment. i couldn't possibly wash my hair other than while having a bath/shower though - drives me insane trying to do it at a sink, and it needs washed more than once a week.

Hmm, I would fall somewhere in the middle on this. I shower every other day, dh everyday (he's smellier and cycles to work!), but kids only have baths twice a week..! Sometimes more in the summer when they get dirtier playing outside. I have 3 and it's just easier. Also I think too much hot water and soap dries out their skin. Of course they regularly wash their hands and faces.

She was actually outraged? Does she have huge issues regarding possible water wastage?

Tis a bit gross....i can't get going in the morning without a shower...and as for the kids mine would be black if i didn't bath them as often as i do!

Just make sure you don't ever wash your face with a face cloth if you go round to her house! :)

Staggered? Really?

My DC (8 and 10m) get one bath a week tho' hands face and arses get washed daily.

I like to have a couple of baths a week - its an hour in a room with nobody saying 'mummy' and if I've been doing anything minging like the sheep's feet then a shower after that. But daily washing is generally OTT in my esteemed opinion.

a) whats it got to do with you
b) it was normal to have one bath a week even just 25 years ago

That's grossburgers. Apart from the fact that everybody knows you don't get minty fresh from just having a "good all-over wash" with a face cloth, they must only get their hair washed once a week, presumably? They must be greasy as well as slightly whiffy.

I find you having one twice a day odder.

Why shouldn't she use a face cloth on her arse? When you're in your (first or second) shower of the day do you have an array of different cloths for each body part? I don't. Same sponge. All over.

We all shower on the hour every hour

That's how I was brought up - a flannel to wash face, pits, bum and feet each day and a bath at the weekend. As a teen (with periods) I insisted on a separate flannel for bum, and then decided that having a daily bath was probably easier. We had no shower at home, and knowing my Dad I imagine a lot of the motivation for flannel wash rather than bath would have been to save water, save heating, save money.

These days I still choose bath over shower, but if I'm in a hurry will have a flannel wash.

I certainly wouldn't be staggered at the idea of using this approach all the time. Horses for courses indeed.

I don't know why people care about how often people (they don't have to share a house with) wash! Unless they are stinking up your office or personal space in some way then why give a shit?

What would you suggest she wash her bottom with then? Hopefully she does her face first then nether regions then puts it for the wash. What's so shocking?

i shower 32 times a day before lunch, and 32 times a day after tea

you cant be too careful

Ewwwwww.
Strip washing is gross, and takes far longer than having a shower.

Mingers! We all bath every day here.

Yet you hadn't guessed until she said

Swap the word 'facecloth' for 'flannel'...she may not actually be washing her face then arse with the same cloth and in that order. She may use 2 separate flannels!
I think a good wash of the important bits can be fine if you are not especially sweaty, muddy, dusty etc.
I shower every day, but that's because my hair needs to look not squashed. If i was going to the gym I would wait and shower afterwards - you use a hell of a lot of water showering twice a day!

Well she is rather eco friendly! For example, she has a dishwasher but never uses it as she thinks it's bad for the environment and ditto for the tumble dryer.

She really was astonished at the frequency with which I take a bath or a shower. SHe called over her daughter and started trying to make out it was normal to only shower once a week. What worries me is that our neice has just started puberty and is running the risk of being picked on at school if her friends find out!

We tandem shower in our household one in, one out, one in, one out, and so on...

YABU! Growing up in the 70's we all used to bath once or perhaps twice a week. We didn't smell and weren't ill more than normal. It's only the manufacturers of soap products that have convinced us to shower every day to sell more products. Your SIL has reduced her water consumption - which given todays' news on droughts can only be a good thing!

Bet she changes her face cloth every day :-)