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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wash everyday?

558 replies

Brodiebirdy · 16/04/2019 13:17

I currently wash my hair every other day and on the days in between I just have a quick wash in the shower (I’m only in there for about 2 mins). I’m staying with my sister for the week and she says it’s a lot of water to use and that you don’t really need to wash every day- she says that every other day is fine. I just wondered if other people thought that washing everyday is too much? Thanks

OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 17/04/2019 11:22

if I shower before bed and use deodorant I can smell my own armpits in the morning.

Then you either have a medical issue with sweat or a hyper sense of smell. Or perhaps simply paranoid.

That’s not a ‘normal’ experience.

Lweji · 17/04/2019 11:22

But our body smell also depends on our clothes.
IME, natural fibres and looser clothes tend to be better.

SerenDippitty · 17/04/2019 11:23

Daliah try using soap rather than shower gel, it's more effective on smell causing bacteria.

64sNewName · 17/04/2019 11:28

bodies that have been in an average UK temperature, haven't done any strenuous exercise, have clean clothes on them, but haven't been washed since yesterday do not smell.

Mine does. I don’t think you can make a blanket statement like that; everyone is different. I am a bit overweight and peri-menopausal, so perhaps that doesn’t help. Normal exercise, not particularly strenuous by most people’s standards - just the standard brisk walking around to shops and housework and stuff - can make me quite sweaty.

I’m not going to stop doing something fairly basic that helps me to get through the day with confidence and get to sleep peacefully. There are enough factors working against that already.

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 17/04/2019 11:33

OK, I havent had a shower today so haven't had one since yesterday morning (don't worry I'm not leaving the house today so I'm not inflicting my 'stench' on anyone!). I have got clean clothes on, but I'm not even sure I put deodorant on this morning (I don't use anti perspirant really anymore and that's another switch I wish I had made a long time ago as I haven't actually noticed much of a difference, at least not in the winter).

I have just given my armpit a proper good sniff and it smells of...... Nothing. Its not soapy fresh obviously, but it certainly doesn't smell of BO, it just smells of nothing at all, neutral

Pegsinarow · 17/04/2019 11:34

Fwiw, I think TheBlackDaliah's experience is quite normal actually. You don't have to have a medical condition to get warm in bed, sweat a bit, and need freshening up in the morning! Totally standard I would say!

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 17/04/2019 11:35

And I'm really not berating people for showering daily, I do sometimes, sometimes I don't.

I just take objection to the statement that anyone who doesn't shower at least once a day is 'dirty, smelly and disgusting'.

blackteasplease · 17/04/2019 11:35

Not unreasonable to shower every day but I don't think it's all that unreasonable not to.

I have a "proper" shower or bath and wash my hair at night so it's not wet when I want to leave the house. I then usually just have a "stand up wash" in the morning when I'm short on time. Hope that's not disgusting!

Lweji · 17/04/2019 11:35

This is why I always prefer to wash in the morning, unless I've been to the gym or the beach or something like that.

SerenDippitty · 17/04/2019 11:36

Yes but if you're using an effective deodorant you shouldn't be smelling....

longwayoff · 17/04/2019 11:36

Whilst receiving radiotherapy I was told to neither shower nor bath and to use only water to wash with, no products. Dust armpits with cornflour if sweaty. Worked fine. Still not resumed any products, other than shampoo. But every day wash essential.

blackteasplease · 17/04/2019 11:37

and keeping turning around to say things to people? grin

This one drives me mad fresh Grin

You imagine them spinning round and round.

SecretWitch · 17/04/2019 11:39

I prefer a daily shower. I’m struggling with depression right now and getting in the tub everyday feels overwhelming. I do wash daily and force myself to shower every other day but it can feel like a battle.

I hope I don’t get slated as minging or a soap dodger. There are circumstances where a daily bath just is not possible.

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 17/04/2019 11:43

Oh and I do know what it is to actually smell of BO because I had surgery in my armpit area a couple of years ago which meant I couldn't wash it properly or use deodorant for about 2 weeks! It stank of that properly oniony BO, despite my best efforts! But even then actually I asked my Mum, DH and best friend if they could smell me when I was just stood next to them with my arms down and they all said no (and trust me, they would tell me!)

TheBlackDaliah · 17/04/2019 12:28

I use soap to wash and mitchum deodorant and in my opinion still smell so I shower, I'm not saying everyone is like me but it's my preference. I just don't want to smell!

TheBlackDaliah · 17/04/2019 12:30

Oh and LaurieMarlow thanks for the diagnosis but I will carry on as I am!

VoteJadot · 17/04/2019 13:00

Most adults shower once a day

Actually, most adults don't have access to clean water at all.

I shower most days. Occasionally I'll give it a miss. I WFH sat on my arse at the computer all day. I don't believe that makes me a massive minger shrug

managedmis · 17/04/2019 13:04

As for the “city air” comment about clothes and sitting on your sofa, where do you live, Chernobyl?

^

There's some proper howlers on this thread Grin

Priceless

longwayoff · 17/04/2019 13:15

You have a point mis, if the air's too dirty for pp's clothes then what on earth is he/she breathing? Something cleaner than the rest of us?

RestingBitchFaced · 17/04/2019 13:30

I don't see the point of a strip wash, surely it's quicker and easier to just get in the shower. YANBU to shower every day

RestingBitchFaced · 17/04/2019 13:37

What's wrong with having hand towels in the bathroom?

VoteJadot · 17/04/2019 13:39

I think that poster is taking the piss, Resting.

MidniteScribbler · 17/04/2019 13:42

I have to shower each day, or I just don't feel clean. I've tried going to work with having a body shower without washing my hair, but I still just don't feel right. I try to just have a shower without washing my hair when I know I'm going to be home all day.

MaxNormal · 17/04/2019 13:44

Again, never mind your pits and lack of sweat/BO...
What about your arses and fannies after 48 unwashed hours?
And women in the Middle Ages used to get sootikins!

LaurieMarlow · 17/04/2019 13:44

i don't see the point of a strip wash, surely it's quicker and easier to just get in the shower.

Not for me, no.

Plus it uses a lot less water, so if that’s a concern, then it’s a preferable option.