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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think one bath a week for an 18 year old isn't really enough?

112 replies

Crumpetsandbutter · 26/11/2014 16:43

I don't have teenagers but I was surprised when talking with a friend about her 18 year old daughter, who she was saying got tired as she was up so early and she wished she'd lie in a bit longer.

I said 'oh well I suppose she has to dry her hair and all that' and she said that she only baths once a week on Sundays.

AIBU to think this isn't much? She only 'washes' with a makeup wipe, not even a strip wash with a flannel.

OP posts:
Lunastarfish · 26/11/2014 18:20

I shower every 2/3 days. I wash pits n bits in the morning with a flannel. I wash my clothes and being regularly, I don't smell. It's all this over washing and germ phobia that's fueling the dry skin product market/ depleting water and hiking water bills up. Unless you have a physical job I doubt you have to shower daily

Only1scoop · 26/11/2014 18:22

Yabu....minging

Ohmygrood · 26/11/2014 18:22

One of my teen ds's has some sensory issues so bathing is a battle I've decided not to fight with him over.
He doesn't smell at all. His clothes don't smell either (I wash them after each wear regardless). He has never used deodorant.

My other teen ds bathes every day. He always smells of B.O by the end of the day. Not honking, but he's definitely whiffy when he gives me a hug. His shirts/jumpers smell of B.O as well. I wouldn't be able to get away without washing them.

Is this luck or does my smellier ds overwash? I suspect that perhaps he does.

Only1scoop · 26/11/2014 18:23

Sorry should say yanbu Confused

Nomama · 26/11/2014 18:25

Which reminds me, DH does not and never ever has used a deodorant / antiperspirant. He has always had a manual job and has never ever smelled of overwork, stale sweat.

Our reliance on bottled chemicals is ridiculous... I wish I had had the nerve not to use so much of the stuff when I was a teen.

crumblebumblebee · 26/11/2014 18:26

I just know this is thread is going to end up with competitive grubbiness and I luvz it. Grin

Hatespiders · 26/11/2014 18:27

Well I lived in 'ye olden days' and we all had a bath once a week. My sister and I went in together, then mum then dad, one lot of bath water for all of us. Clean clothes after the bath and no more clean clothes until the next week.
I only have a bath every four days. I wash my face and hands on the other days, but that's all.
All this frantic washing, bathing and showering is unnecessary and damages the skin. Then you have to buy skin moisturisers (which is what the manufacturers want)
The disabled lady can decide for herself how often she has a bath. It's her business.

Ohmygrood · 26/11/2014 18:35

competitive grubbiness Grin

Gruntfuttock · 26/11/2014 18:38

Ugh. That's fo some of the replies btw, not just the OP.

LuisSuarezTeeth · 26/11/2014 18:39

Ye Gods she'll be a bit ripe downstairs if she's not even having a flannel wash. I reckon there's more to it.

Gruntfuttock · 26/11/2014 18:39

*Hatespider8 I hardly think a daily bath or shower is "frantic"!

LuisSuarezTeeth · 26/11/2014 18:40

Related, but off point, I managed to wash a client's flannel today that hasn't been changed for 3 months. I rejoiced Smile

Degustibusnonestdisputandem · 26/11/2014 18:40

Ahem. This may possibly out me, but back in Oz I decided to spend a summer living in my parents' caravan (on the farm). I didn't shower very much, and my younger sisters dubbed me "the tin can hermit" BlushGrin. Though at least I wasn't inflicting my aroma on anyone else...

Degustibusnonestdisputandem · 26/11/2014 18:41

I forgot to add, I was about 15!

Gruntfuttock · 26/11/2014 18:42

"I just know this is thread is going to end up with competitive grubbiness and I luvz it. "

You were right about the competitive grubbiness, but I think it's 'orrible.

Degustibusnonestdisputandem · 26/11/2014 18:42

On a more serious note, I hiked through thailands northern mountains and we didn't shower much at all, and to be honest, didn't really detect a smell (guess we all smelt equally bad to outsiders?) Grin

LuisSuarezTeeth · 26/11/2014 18:43

Apologies, I missed that the girl is disabled. Up to her though I guess.

WhyYouGottaBeSoRude · 26/11/2014 18:46

boke!

eyebags63 · 26/11/2014 18:50

I think YABU to judge another person's hygiene habits unless they look dirty or smell.

Theboulderhascaughtupwithme · 26/11/2014 18:51

Sorry I can't see how she can stay clean with just wet wipes when she is menstruating. You need a good wash/bath/shower at least then, of ekes you will end up getting bladder infections and all sorts!!

Sheitgeist · 26/11/2014 19:14

People need to wash once a day whether that's a quick wash at the sink, a shower or a bath.
Opinion masquerading as fact if ever I saw it. Where is the evidence for this? On the Proctor and Gambol website?

You're right, OP, it's not much, so YANBU. But it's up to her. Her mother is probably not entirely aware of her complete hygiene régime, she is an adult after all, and like the rest of us can decide these matters for herself.

I don't think daily showering is always necessary.

Hatespiders · 26/11/2014 20:13

Gruntfuttock, it seems frantic to me! My dh has a shower in the morning, a shower when he gets home, and at weekends he sometimes has a third bloody shower after his lunch! He then anoints himself with Nivea. He's like many Africans; they're always washing themselves due to the excessive heat over there, and he's never got out of the habit. He's welcome of course to have as many showers as he likes, but I certainly wouldn't be that fanatical.
I never sweat much though, even when I'm in W Africa, and I'm sure dh would tell me if I smelt!

BarbarianMum · 26/11/2014 20:16

If she is well groomed and doesn't smell the problem is what exactly?

Iggly · 26/11/2014 20:18

If you don't wash regularly, how do you know you don't smell? It is like smokers and pet owners - you get used to it and don't notice.

shampaintaste · 26/11/2014 20:19

hatespiders are you saying you only wash your nether regions every 4 days and there is no smell??????

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