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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think one bath/shower a day is perfectly adequate in the UK?

267 replies

AfraidOfMyShadow · 03/07/2017 20:15

I can even understand twice a day especially when it is hot or after exercising.
I did think DH was a bit odd for bathing at least two times a day without fail (even in winter) but DSS showers three times a day! I think it's insanity.

So a personal question to you all - how often do you bathe/shower and AIBU?

OP posts:
Ollivander84 · 03/07/2017 21:41

When I say shower I mean just body. Hair gets done about 2-3 times a week and only with conditioner (I don't use shampoo)

GreatFuckability · 03/07/2017 21:43

every other day. i only wash my hair every other shower/bath.

Scrumpernickel · 03/07/2017 21:43

DH has 3 baths a day (he doesn't like a shower) in the morning, after the gym and before work (night worker)

That just seems SO excessive. What happens between post gym bath and pre work bath to necessitate the third bath?!?

Zampa · 03/07/2017 21:44

Another infrequent washer here - I shower every other day, sometimes everyday if I have time. Not stinky - promise!

However when I lived in London I had to shower every day because of the grime. Will also shower after exercise. When going to the gym twice a day in my fit years, I was showering 3 times a day ... It was ridiculous!

HappyAxolotl · 03/07/2017 21:45

Blubberball I find it is a sign that a depressive episode is brewing when I just CBA with washing or any kind of grooming. Not that I'm high maintenance at the best of times but not being capable of the basic essentials means bad times coming.

ticketytock1 · 03/07/2017 21:45

Twice a day... sometimes 3 times, but definitely once in the morning and once before bed... otherwise I don't feel like I've washed the day away.
I'll even shower when I come in late and drunk after a night out. I can't get into bed otherwise!

sobeyondthehills · 03/07/2017 21:45

During the worse of my depression, I can't actually remember how long I went without a shower/bath, till one day my OH picked me up and dumped me in the bath.

I was fucking fuming with him, till he said at least I was starting to feel something again.

I would normally shower once a day, but our shower has broken, so now I have a bath every other day. It annoys me to fill it up for a ten minute bath, I never really got into the whole relaxing for an hour. DP can do that though

user1487175389 · 03/07/2017 21:47

It's perfectly adequate anywhere. Especially when so many people in the world are short of water to drink.

Blossomdeary · 03/07/2017 21:49

Twice a week - I use a Mitchum deodorant which is very effective. I have yards of hair and showering is a right palaver. More than twice a week is a total pain. When I was a child no-one bathed more than once a week.

No-one has cold-shouldered me for being smelly!

Waste of water and electricity/oil to be showering twice a day.

BlurryFace · 03/07/2017 21:50

Every other day with sink washes on the days I don't shower. Unless it's my period, then I shower every day until it's very light. Sometimes I smell of sweat towards the end of the day but so what? It's not generally strong, it's not toxic levels of BO. We have an electric boiler that heats water overnight when the electric is cheap and then that's it unless we press the boost button but then it costs more so it's best to conserve our use age of hot water.

ProjectGetThroughTheDay · 03/07/2017 21:51

Shower in the morning so I feel fresh to go to work and soak in th evening to wash the days grime off.

itsbetterthanabox · 03/07/2017 21:53

Blossomdeary
Do you apply a new layer of deodorant everyday?
Do your nether regions feel sore or itchy ever?

nippey · 03/07/2017 21:59

Scrumpernickel he has to sleep during the day after the gym so feels he needs to freshen up before work. It is excessive though, I agree!

40andFat · 03/07/2017 21:59

My 15 year old wants to shower every time he has a poo as he doesn't feel clean Confused

TuftyFinchy · 03/07/2017 22:00

No wonder the world's about to explode from pollution. All that water, all those chemicals. All those plastic bottles. 3 baths a day is madness.

chowmeinchick · 03/07/2017 22:03

I bath everyday. Sometimes 2ce when it's boiling. Don't have a shower tho so it's a pain. Will only wash hair a couple of times a week.

MorbidBibliomancy · 03/07/2017 22:04

Every other day here, unless it's been hot or I've been working out. I find that if I get in the shower and don't wash my hair it ends up all limp and weird. And if I wash it every day it gets greasy and out of control much quicker.

RebelandaStunner · 03/07/2017 22:06

Twice a day in hot weather or if I'm at the gym, swimming or any other sporty activity. Otherwise once is enough.

Original poster
AfraidOfMyShadow · 03/07/2017 22:06

40andFat maybe he just needs to use a bidet?

OP posts:
Lanaorana2 · 03/07/2017 22:07

Every other day, unless I'm thinking about Brad Pitt :)

Slimthistime · 03/07/2017 22:07

someone mentioned environment

I already don't drive, use public transport, and most importantly I don't have kids. As far as environment is concerned, I am most def allowed 2 showers a day! I also don't wash towels obsessively - you've just towelled off after getting clean - I know there are MNers who think towels must go in the wash after each use but I am baffled by that.

OP "And even on days after sports classes when he can shower there too." yes, but showering in a school or gym facility is grim.

Elendon · 03/07/2017 22:11

You wouldn't bathe your baby twice a day, nor your children. Do your children have a shower before they go to school or do they clean themselves at night?

It's excessive to shower twice a day. I'm itching just thinking about it. I've not showered today and probably won't until tomorrow morning. Had a lovely hot shower yesterday. I feel clean.

It's no wonder we have climate change and water shortages. It's no wonder our waterways are polluted. All that energy. And for what?

Original poster
AfraidOfMyShadow · 03/07/2017 22:13

Slim surely it is more grim not to shower straight afterwards. Anyway I'm sure DSS does both... or PE lessons just are not what they used to be!

But I'm enlightened - so many people bathe twice a day so DH isn't that odd at all.

And environmentally I don't think we are so bad as DH and DSS like cooler showers and we use an eco shower head. I still think it is excessive though.

OP posts:
Slimthistime · 03/07/2017 22:15

Elendon - are you working in a very hot office, working out in a gym, using a crowded Tube...?

I bet there are no babies doing that. Well, okay, some of them are using a crowded Tube Grin

I still find it bizarre to have this kind of thing questioned in an environmental context when there's such a huge overpopulation problem. not to mention endless consumer goods and plastic from that. I might use more shower gel than most but still overall, I am pretty sure my carbon footprint or whatever it is is way smaller than the average person in my age group.

Elendon · 03/07/2017 22:16

What are you doing to the natural flora on your skin by washing in chemicals twice a day. Water has chemicals in it too. Some water is hard and leaves scale on your body.

Love your skin and save it from obsessive cleaning. All those who wash twice a day sound like religious nuts.