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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:
Original poster
Brodiebirdy · 16/04/2019 13:36

@serendippitty what’s a strip wash?

OP posts:
PlasmaRain · 16/04/2019 13:38

Thank your lucky stars it’s only for a week, OP! I had to stay with my mum for a month last year and my daily showers were of great concern to her given her mindset that a weekly bath (water shared by an entire family) is quite sufficient to keep oneself clean with a visit to the hairdresser midweek for a shampoo and blow dry. I gave her money towards the water bill. A daily shower is not unreasonable. Yep, bung your sis a few quid towards water usage and just agree to disagree when she’s telling you how to eat/wash etc.

Blobby10 · 16/04/2019 13:38

In the olden days ie I grew up in the 70s - my mum was considered weird for bathing us kids every day. We shared the bath water! She said it cut down on the need to wash bedclothes more often if we went to bed clean!! I usually have a quick shower before bed and only in the morning if I've been to the gym before work.

I thought it was a generation thing and the 'youth of today' were clean freaks however my daughter (18) will often go 2 or 3 days without a shower or bath or anything! Especially if she isn't training. Shock

Ellenborough · 16/04/2019 13:39

Some people are naturally sweatier or smellier than others. It's perfectly possible to only shower/bath every other day, not smell and still be pleasant to be around.

But if you want to shower daily then you should. There is no such thing as too clean or too fresh. It's nonsense for one person to tell another that they don't 'need' to wash every day. Only the person themselves really knows the answer to that.

SerenDippitty · 16/04/2019 13:39

When you stand at the wash basin and wash your face and smelly bits (pits bits and feet).

EarlyWarning · 16/04/2019 13:51

I shower at least once a day. Twice a day if I've been exercising or it's hot, or I'm changing to go out. I don't think that's U at all

PregnantSea · 16/04/2019 13:54

This is really personal preference. I shower every day because I can't use antiperspirant and I sweat a lot, so I really do need to. Someone who doesn't sweat much and uses an antiperspirant maybe could skip a day, but it depends on the person.

Just different strokes for different folks.

greenelephantscarf · 16/04/2019 13:54

washing everyday is normal and reasonable.
showering/full bath might not be for everyone but not even having a flannel wash inbetween is minging.

resultswithintwoweeks · 16/04/2019 13:55

I shower every day, but then I am a bit of a sweaty-betty Smile I sweat through the night and there's nothing like getting a good soaking under the shower. I need it to get me going in the morning too. I have dry(ish) skin but Cidal soap seems to suit me very well.

Poloshot · 16/04/2019 13:55

What a tramp. Please continue to wash at least daily.

krustykittens · 16/04/2019 13:55

I shower every day but I work outside with animals and I can get pretty grubby and smelly!

OneofPansPeople · 16/04/2019 13:58

Is it not quicker to dive in the shower than have a strip wash?

diddl · 16/04/2019 13:59

I also shower every day-get up, get showered & dressed.

Occasionally I've had a quick wash when I know I'll shower later, but I don't feel as clean.

Showering seems just as quick & easy.

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 16/04/2019 14:00

Oh God, the strip washers are out!

IncrediblySadToo · 16/04/2019 14:00

It’s perfectly normal to shower every day.

Ignore your daft sister.

Or ask her why she’s suddenly so concerned about your washing habits and breakfast choices.

IncrediblySadToo · 16/04/2019 14:01

Strip washing is absolutely ridiculous (and grim) when you have a fully functioning shower.

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 16/04/2019 14:01

Showering every day is totally normal. I actually don't think it's necessary to shower every single day and it's not great for the environment and every other day is absolutely fine. Contrary to what people on here say you cannot smell someone from across the room if they had a shower yesterday rather than this morning.

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 16/04/2019 14:02

i shower twice a day most days, feel grubby otherwise. Hair wash every third day.

each to their own.

Aimily · 16/04/2019 14:02

I see nothing wrong with showering every other day and a strip wash on alternate, you're still getting clean. My hair is washed twice a week, just doesn't need the frequency. But on the other hand I have been conditioned to not be able to function without having a shower in the morning over the past 15 or so years, it's like a coffee or tea to other people. I'm a brat if I haven't had a shower in the morning 😂

Cosmos45 · 16/04/2019 14:03

I personally can't leave the house until I have had a shower, in fact even if I am not going anywhere, its just as much part of my daily routine as getting dressed. I feel yucky without a shower, regardless of exercise and whether I have had a shower the night before. I know we are all different but I could never really fathom how people couldn't not have a shower on a daily basis to be honest.

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 16/04/2019 14:03

Honestly I can't see how strip washing is easier than jumping in the shower for 30 seconds.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 16/04/2019 14:05

I shower every morning, then sometimes again at night, particularly when I have my period. I can't imagine filling a sink with water and using a flannel. Our shower broke last year and while we waited on the part I was having a shallow bath in the morning and washing my hair with a jug like a Victorian person.

BarbieJellyBabyBrain · 16/04/2019 14:06

I know we are all different but I could never really fathom how people couldn't not have a shower on a daily basis to be honest.

Really? It's probably a very small proportion of the world's population who have the luxury of being able to shower every day, or who even bother showering twice a day even if they can, and the human race seems to survive!

Maryann1975 · 16/04/2019 14:06

I probably have a shower 5 times a week. So sometimes every day, sometimes every other. Depends how I feel and if I can be bothered. Obviously if I’ve been really sweaty I will shower at the end of the day, but i am quite lazy, so sometimes I just can’t be bothered and will just my pjs on. I’d ignore my brother if he commented on my showering habits!

TwinsTrollsAndHunz · 16/04/2019 14:07

Strip washing is absolutely ridiculous (and grim) when you have a fully functioning shower.

Assuming you are mobile enough to use the shower, of course. A shower can be just as quick and easy as a ‘strip wash’ but it does depend on the user being able to use it safely and easily. Plenty of people can’t.

As for all of those people horrified at every other day washing, it isn’t that terrible. The OP isn’t unusual or unreasonable to shower daily but her sister choosing to have a full wash every other day isn’t that unusual either.

There is a lot of silly snobbery on MN about this sort of thing.