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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU about DP's personal hygiene? What's 'normal'?

91 replies

user1492759984 · 21/04/2017 09:25

Genuinely not sure if I'm being U here so wondered what's normal for you and your DHs - my DP and I have a DD but don't live together, but he stays at mine about four times a week (long story, split up when I was pregnant and recently got back together). He bathes at home most evenings but will skip some days (maybe two a week), and doesn't wash before he goes to work. He works closely with a large number of people throughout the day. I would literally never go to work without having showered that morning even if I was running late. I think apart from anything else it's unprofessional not to be clean/groomed at work. Sane with teeth - he cleans them most days but I know he sometimes doesn't because I can hear him in the bathroom. He doesn't floss and I don't think he goes to the dentist unless he has toothache. His teeth aren't brilliant and he sometimes has bad breath. I wouldn't say overall that his personal hygiene is terrible, not enough to be offensive in public IYSWIM but it's less than I would be comfortable with for myself. I make an effort with my hygiene and appearance even though I'm on my own with baby DD a lot of the time and make sure my sheets are fresh etc. - I would do this for myself anyway but also feel it's respectful to your partner to be clean. He doesn't 'stink' or actually ever smell of sweat, it's just a less than fresh sort of 'manly' smell sometimes and I worry for his teeth because once they're gone, they're gone and I don't think he realises that you have to take more care of them than to just give them a brush most nights. Just wondered if this is kind of normal and I'm maybe BU by expecting him to do the same as me?

OP posts:
LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle · 21/04/2017 10:37

You know as humans we are supposed to have a natural smell?

Not bad, just a smell.

I personally love a proper human smell, it's a pheremone thing I think!

I hate it when someone I'm sleeping with smells of perfume or v v strong washing powder...it smells totally unnatural and wrong to me!

spinassienne · 21/04/2017 10:40

I have a very keen sense of smell and always know who has and hasnt showered in the morning.

How do you know you're right? Do you ask them?

FFS not having a shower before work every day is fine, as long as you're getting a good wash most days and not labouring down a mine.

LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle · 21/04/2017 10:41

I can tell when people don't floss. The bits of food that are rotting between your teeth smell. Don't kid yourselves

No I don't believe that for a second, sorry! If you brush your teeth properly then there won't be any rotting food.

Maybe the people you know are too lazy to brush correctly??
I know not one person who flosses, but I have never noticed rotting food!

NoCapes · 21/04/2017 10:41

Bathing or showering daily is unnecessary for most (if you are a labourer or something then you'll need a wash)

But teeth brushing at least once a day is absolute minimum isn't it??
Really really surprised that people don't brush their teeth every morning - don't your teeth feel a bit...furry? Envy

roundaboutthetown · 21/04/2017 10:45

Leviticus - don't kid yourself. You really can't. The majority of people only ever floss if they can feel or see something trapped between their teeth. Very few people floss daily and the majority of people do not have smelly breath.

LanaKanesLeftNippleTassle · 21/04/2017 10:45

Yeah I agree with teeth...twice a day is perfect (and don't run the tap while you do it!)

0live · 21/04/2017 10:46

If he were my partner I'd be less worried about his hygiene and more worried about the fact that he doesn't look after his daughter.

I assume he contributes half of 4/7 of the running costs of your home and half of the costs for his daughter ?

haveacupoftea · 21/04/2017 10:48

Sounds fine apart from not brushing teeth often enough. I think it would be rude and awkward to make him feel bad for not showering every single day. Why does he have to comply to your standards?

roundaboutthetown · 21/04/2017 10:49

Some of these people who think they have a keen sense of smell just have a preference for artificial smells. If, on the other hand, your keen sense of smell hates artificial chemical smells, you will be finding those people are the ones who smell repulsive...

GloriaGilbert · 21/04/2017 10:50

I couldn't tolerate the no tooth-brushing. As grim as I'd find 2 skipped weekly showers, this would put me over the edge.

I genuinely don't understand how anyone is able to get out of bed in the morning and do anything other than head straight to the toothbrush.

Judydreamsofhorses · 21/04/2017 10:53

I don't understand why showering in the morning is "horrible"? I need a shower to wake me up, as well as to get clean.

Leviticus · 21/04/2017 11:01

So how do you remove food and plaque from between two back teeth with a toothbrush?

As an experiment floss, see what comes out and smell it if you're not convinced.

Sallystyle · 21/04/2017 11:07

Clean teeth twice a day here.

I don't always shower every day. If I sweat at night I shower in the morning. If I haven't been physically active I will skip a day. I certainly don't shower every morning. I know when I need to wash and I never smell badly, no matter how many people will claim that I must do.

GloriaGilbert · 21/04/2017 11:09

Yes I tend to agree with Leviticus. Flossing is neccessary. It's less neccessary for scrupulous tooth-brushers, but prevents gum disease which is a major source of bad breath.

Where has anyone gotten the idea that it's OK to not floss?

user1492759984 · 21/04/2017 11:14

0live your comment is extremely presumptuous and rude - he does look after his daughter, he is an excellent father and pays very generous maintenance. It is my decision that he does not currently live with us. What an inappropriate and irrelevant post.

OP posts:
usernumbernine · 21/04/2017 11:14

I brush teeth twice a day, don't floss but use interdental brushes (sp?)

Shower and hair wash every other morning and quick wash at the sink the days I don't.

I used to have to leave very early for work and I didn't have time to shower and do my hair every day so 2nd day was hair up and a quick wash.

Usually 2 baths in the evenings every week, sometimes one depending on what I'm doing in the evenings.

Clean underwear every day (bra and pants) and clothes hung away as soon as home if clean and worn later in the week. If any marks on clothes, straight in the wash.

Wear jeans/joggers in the house from when I get home and they are changed twice a week.

I don't think I'm dirty?

user1492759984 · 21/04/2017 11:15

Re flossing - my dentist and dental hygienist always emphasise the importance of flossing and presumably they know best

OP posts:
NoCapes · 21/04/2017 11:15

2 baths in the evening??
What are you doing in between baths that warrants another one? Confused

user1492759984 · 21/04/2017 11:16

Flossing/interdental brushing that is

OP posts:
Believeitornot · 21/04/2017 11:17

It sounds terrible to me. He should at least brush daily and freshen up daily.

Rank.

usernumbernine · 21/04/2017 11:17

Sorry NoCapes I mean a bath on a Monday, say and again on the Wednesday. Or maybe the Tuesday. Or the Thursday. Never on a Friday though.

It depends on my weekly routine.

NoCapes · 21/04/2017 11:18

Ohhhh I thought you meant in the same night Grin ok you're normal!

AnnieAnoniMouse · 21/04/2017 11:32

I shower, wash my hair & clean my teeth every morning, I feel grim if I don't.

Quite often I shower when I come in from work. I don't work down a coal mine nor on a builders yard, but I've been rushing around & just generally on the go. I feel less than fresh.

I shower pretty much every night before bed, I like feeling clean & fresh when I go to bed, but on nights when getting in & going to bed aren't far apart I'll just have the one shower.

I shower in between if necessary.

I couldn't be in a relationship with someone who didn't at least shower daily. Bleurgh.

Washing at the sink is grim & you don't get properly clean, why not just go in the shower?

Teeth twice daily minimum, but always after a shower as I don't feel like the job is complete until my teeth are done too.

loverlybunchofcoconuts · 21/04/2017 11:34

asked if he's brushed his teeth on a couple of occasions but that made me feel like his mother

That's because you are acting like his mum! If there's not unpleasant smell, it's his business what he does, as an adult, not yours..his armpits, his teeth. If you like him as a person, then enjoy being with him; if you feel he needs moulding and improving to suit your ideals, you should probably not be with him.

ppeatfruit · 21/04/2017 11:37

I'm clean but I like to think about the environment , if we all had showers twice a day there would be more droughts. There's nothing wrong with daily washing properly at the sink or bidet.

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