To ask how often you shower / wash?

[springthorn]

This came up in a conversation with friends the other day. Some shower morning and night, some just once a day, others only once every couple of days and then others only when they have to leave the house, so potentially less than that! Just wondered what was "normal" for you?

[Twattyzombiebollocks]

Depends. In the summer or on holiday I shower daily. At home in the winter, every other day, sometimes 2 days. I do wash face pits and bits twice daily though. The rest of me is under cover and I can't imagine that it gets so dirty that I'd need to wash it daily/twice daily. I do have very dry skin in places though, so don't like dousing myself in soap more than I actually have to as it makes me itchy and flaky.
I will probably be called out as a slattern/minger but it works for me.

[goodasitgets]

Depends. I bathed this afternoon so I won't shower in the morning. Will shower after gym tomorrow
Usually works out as every other day with a quick strip wash in between
Hair can go weeks but I do it every 2/3 days (incredibly dry!)

[ADishBestEatenCold]

Once.

[VerySmallSqueak]

Depends on what I'm doing.
If I'm camping or doing 'great outdoorsy' stuff it can be significantly less than when I'm doing every day stuff.
I have no problem with being dirty,but also enjoy the feeling of being clean.
So,could be once a week or twice a day.

[fridayfridayfriday]

every payday.

[whois]

Oh, I also shower sometimes in the evening as a relaxation thing. If I've been working late a dose of hot water can clear my mind.

[whois]

Some of you must have enormous water bills

Yes! My DP has very long showers and our water bills are huge for 2 people I think.

[Sparrowlegs248]

I used to shower twice a day. Until we moved to a house with no shower. I now bath every other day and wash at the sink morning and night in between. Hair is washed when i bath.

Its amazing how you get used to it and fed up of waiting for the damn bath to run

[whois]

People's skin, hair, environment, propensity to sweet etc all play a part in how often you need to wash.

In summer in the heat I was showering 3x a day which got a bit annoying (on waking up, after biking to work, after biking home from work).

Generally once or twice a day depending on level of exercise. Sometimes not during the day eg Tuesday night then Thursday morning.

[FreshLeticia]

it's very hard to do Beast, I really don't envy that job at all.

My DH reckons that people just make it worse by washing more as it makes their scent hormones/skin sebum (lubricant) work harder to compensate for their extra washing.
I disagree a bit but I also think that smelling sweaty is definitely gene-linked. Me, my DD1 and DS all need to wash every day properly, otherwise we smell. DH can get away with several days if I let him and he never smells at all. MIL has terribly dry skin, so she only bathes her whole body once a week. She washes her face, underarms, bits and feet daily once or twice of course.
I can do the same, even though I am sweaty. I find that it is those bits which smell, so washing them properly once or twice a day is the key, whether that is in a basin, shower or bath.
I have perfected the art of washing in a bowl of warm water in a tent at festivals etc.

Hair is another thing. My family have greasy fair hair which needs daily washing and DH's do not. I have found that as I have got older my hair is more dry, but still looks dull if not washed. Again, a very little shampoo goes a long way, and even just cold water if camping.

I do agree that city/office life makes you need more washing. I work outside mostly, but find that being in the the office is sweatier because there is always too much heating on and no fresh air. Yuk.

[Beastofburden]

Argy not at all. There are a lot of people that I can smell, who dont disturb anybody else, so that is for me to put up with.

What I was trying to ask is, where we have someone at work who loads of people find smelly, but some poor sod (such as me) is delegated to tell them-

How do you do it? is there any kind, respectful, acceptable way?

and why is it so much more offensive to be told that you smell, than to be told that your work is not good enough? Both are pretty personal things, but one clearly far more than the other.

[ArgyMargy]

*an

[ArgyMargy]

So, Beast, you want other people to wash more often because you have on overdeveloped sense of smell?

[Heymacarena]

At least once per day.

If I am going running first thing, then obviously I wait until I get back home. but other than that I find it icky to leave the house without clean body and hair.

[ILoveAFullFridge]

old back their opinions on that!

BTW, there is a gene which controls whether ot not your sweat becomes smelly. Apparently 90% of Europeans have that gene, whereas 90% of Jspanese do not.

[ILoveAFullFridge]

Since going fragrance-free (I am allergic) I've developed an even more sensitive sense of smell. The amount of fragrances, and the number of different fragrances, that people sometimes use all at one time is overwhelming! I'm with you on that one, Pollywollydoodle. I know that I pong horribly if I don't wash, I certainly do not lack that gene! And I know that I do not pong if I wash but do not use any fragrances. My family do not h

[MackerelOfFact]

I have a friend who has just has his genome mapped and apparently there is a gene which means you are unable to smell your own sweat, which it found he has! So perhaps that's why some soap-dodgers don't realise they whiff.

I agree there is a big difference between someone who just hasn't washed for a day or so and someone that hasn't washed for a week or more. I love the natural soft (but not funky) smell of my DCs and DP, even my parents' actually. I think it also makes a big difference whether you put your dirty clothes back on after washing or fresh clean ones.

[pollywollydoodle]

equally, is there a way to raise the issue of the cloying smell of cleaning products ...these have me breathing through my nose
honey and vanilla product users, i'm looking at you....

[filee777]

I agree with the ecological argument, there is also no need to live in such fear of your own (clean) smell. People actually smell quite nice until they are dirty!

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I wonder if the reason water rates are so eye-wateringly high is that so many ratespayers have eleventy showers a week.

[expatinscotland]

Some of you must have enormous water bills.

[HeadsDownThumbsUp]

Agree with other posters who say that future generations will probably look back on our showering 2/3 times a day will bewilderment and anger. It's totally ecologically irresponsible, and probably very bad for our skin too.

[Ifancyashandy]

Once a day - every morning - unless I've been to the gym. Then twice. And wash hair every day, else I look bananas. And often have a bath to relax in the evening whether I've been to the gym of not.

I love a bubble bath, glass of wine and general candle inspired pampering! That, followed by Strictly & X Factor is my perfect Saturday night in.

I also watch Newsnight & Question Time

[expatinscotland]

Daily shower.

[DrDre]

If I exercise (gym or run) I shower and wash my body all over. Otherwise I have a really quick shower and only wash my hair, face, armpits and privates. I usually exercise five days a week, so five days a week I wash my whole body, but the other two days only the "smelly" bits!
I am sure I read somewhere that dermatologists think we wash way too much now, and it is detrimental to the natural oils that keep our skin healthy. However, on a hot day I have to shower otherwise I feel too smelly!