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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:
YemenRoadYemen · 18/04/2019 21:08

You don't even have to 'do a shower' all that well for it to be more effective than a strip wash (which does rest on the proviso of being done properly - and if 'done properly, surely must be more time-consuming than a shower).

Honestly - if you're able-bodied, and living in 2019 (as opposed to the 70s, or post-war), just step into the shower. If you're worried about water, make it quick!

The pure faffing with strip washing + its relative ineffectiveness, is just... 🤷🏻‍♀️

DappledThings · 18/04/2019 21:35

They're simply not as effective as a hot (warm) shower

But effective enough as far as I'm concerned for every other day. Nothing on this thread's changed my mind.

reallyanotherone · 18/04/2019 21:55

I’d agree that a shower or bath is a pleasanter experience, but others may not, who knows? I also don’t think too many people are strip washing all the time (if perfectly able bodied) it’s more an occasional thing

I hate showers. I hate taking my clothes off and feeling cold, getting into the shower- the water may be warm but unless the bathroom is very warm too it’s a miserable time trying to keep warm under the water. Then the worst bit, when you’re barely warm getting out and freezing before you can get your towel wrapped around you. Then having to get dressed slightly damp in an attempt to get warm again.

Strip washes, for me, are preferable as i can leave my top half dry and warm while i wash the bottom, then dry off properly and get my other half warm before taking off the too half.

Unless a bathroom is very warm- as in peak summer temps, i just can’t stand getting naked, wet and cold for a shower. Although i am lucky recently to have a steam shower which is a game changer as the whole shower cabinet heats up properly. It’s still not as simple as “jumping in the shower” though, it takes 20 mins to warm up so when i start work at 6am no way am i faffing with that.

Sidalee7 · 18/04/2019 22:00

I shower in the morning and have a bath most evenings.
Shower to wake up and bath to wind down.
I would feel yuck leaving in the morning without showering, it’s so wrong!

Sarahlou63 · 18/04/2019 22:10

Just stepped out of the shower. T'was lovely. I'll do it again on Sunday Grin

Closetbeanmuncher · 18/04/2019 22:36

Shower twice a day everyday (sometimes evening one replaced with a bath).

I can't leave the house without having a shower and hate getting into bed unwashed.

LaurieMarlow · 18/04/2019 22:48

The pure faffing with strip washing + its relative ineffectiveness, is just

But why do you give a shit what other people do

No one’s making you strip wash

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 18/04/2019 23:06

I hate showers. I hate taking my clothes off and feeling cold, getting into the shower- the water may be warm but unless the bathroom is very warm too it’s a miserable time trying to keep warm under the water. Then the worst bit, when you’re barely warm getting out and freezing before you can get your towel wrapped around you. Then having to get dressed slightly damp in an attempt to get warm again.

Fucking you get it!! You actually get it!! 😍

englishdictionary · 18/04/2019 23:13

It's not cold in my house 🤷🏻‍♀️

YourSarcasmIsDripping · 18/04/2019 23:20

The thing is pits is not even that hard or time consuming especially if you just need to freshen up a bit.I need to,I fucking stink I rarely do it tho,mostly in the summer if un a rush.

Top off, water and soap one armpit,second armpit,under boobs, rinse,dry done. I use hands (just like in a shower) .

YouBumder · 18/04/2019 23:56

I find standing doing a strip wash colder than having a shower.

queenscot · 19/04/2019 00:02

@deadwife how insulting! I actually run a large beauty business for 25 years and I'm not a prostitute. I am also skilled and a qualified teacher albeit further education.

If you think it's ok not to wash and wear make up, fine your choice! I personally wouldn't.

queenscot · 19/04/2019 00:14

I find a shower warms me up before bed in the winter. I gave it really hot and I even have to open my windows as it heats me up so much. Don't understand the cold argument. Turn the temperature up make sure towel are dry warm and cosy.

64sNewName · 19/04/2019 00:21

Showers warm me up too, get my blood circulating and sort of melt the tension away. Whereas if I’m strip washing I stand and shiver, and it’s miserable (had to do it for a week last summer when the boiler broke and it was miserable even in July).

Each to their own but clearly it’s a different experience for different people.

HollaHolla · 19/04/2019 00:40

Oh I hate not having a shower every day. I’ve skipped it when poorly, or wild camping, but that’s exceptional circumstances. I can begin to smell myself by lunchtime the second day. I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week though.
Interestingly, to those saying no-one knows when you don’t shower every day, I have a good friend who often smells a bit like sour milk. For years I couldn’t work out why. Then a couple years ago she said she only showers every 2-3 days. Now I know how long it’s been, as peri-menopause has heightened my sense of smell. I feel terrible for her, as she regularly says no-one would know, as she doesn’t smell, etc. I’ve kindly tried to steer her to wash more, but she’s insistent.
Anyway. Yes. It’s absolutely normal to shower every day!

YemenRoadYemen · 19/04/2019 04:00

But why do you give a shit what other people do

Because it's the topic being discussed on a discussion forum...? It's kinda how it works, no?

I have an opinion on many, many important / innocuous / irrelevant things, as it goes!

No one’s making you strip wash

Thank goodness.

llewellyn25 · 19/04/2019 04:10

I wash my hair daily so YANBU in my opinion.

DeadWife · 19/04/2019 04:11

No insult meant queenscot, as I don't judge prostitutes.

I was trying to work out in which job make up was a necessity. And if it applied to men also.

And, um, where did I say I don't wash?

LaurieMarlow · 19/04/2019 07:42

Because it's the topic being discussed on a discussion forum...? It's kinda how it works, no?

Well yes and no.

The thing I find objectionable about your posts is that you’re trying to shame others out of perfectly reasonably and environmentally ‘more sound’ behaviour. As I said earlier, that strikes me as a brainless, pointless position.

YemenRoadYemen · 19/04/2019 08:18

OK.

OneStepSideways · 20/04/2019 08:05

Even in hospitals, patients are encouraged to take daily showers. I've worked on wards where it's the norm for non-mobile patients to be wheeled into the wet room on a shower chair and helped to shower by the HCP. They are then dried and dressed in the wet room then wheeled back to their bed on the same shower chair. Obviously if someone is too unwell or doesn't want to shower, they will be helped to strip wash at their bedside instead. But IME most people opt for the shower, it's far more dignified than washing from a bowl in a cubicle with just curtains. Most wards have built in shower seats as well, for patients who can walk, and sponges on sticks etc to increase independence. Some of the shower chairs have a cut out seat like a commode, so the patient can wash their bottom/genitals without standing up. Much more dignified than staff asking them to stand and hold their walking frame while staff wash them with a flannel.

I think it's really important to wash with running water where possible, especially for people who are incontinent or suffering infections or are at risk of developing sores.

When I was in hospital a few years ago (pregnancy related condition) the nurses asked me each morning if I'd showered yet! The first morning I hadn't so the nice HCP took me to the shower and waited in the bathroom with her back turned (I was feeling dizzy so she stayed there while I showered). They also supplied all the patients with packs of Clinell antibacterial body wipes to use in between showers and reminded us about hand gel routines. It makes sense for patients to be as clean as possible, to reduce the spread of infections.

Prequelle · 20/04/2019 08:27

I've worked in hospitals all over the country and I've never come across a ward that encourages daily showers. They all have showers available, but a strip wash was the done thing. It certainly is on my current ward too.

And unless those showers are being completely sterilised after use they really aren't the cleaner option for patients.

lifetothefull · 20/04/2019 08:44

Face,neck & armpits - every day.
Shower - every other day
Hair - every other shower, so once every 4 days

Shadycorner · 20/04/2019 08:46

I live in Europe Zone 1 and was recently in hospital for an operation. The nurses were constantly checking whether I had showered (each room had it's own wet room ) and I was supplied with a disinfectant shower scrub. The nurses were asking morning, noon and night. Basically, they wanted you up, mobile and scrubbed to within an inch of your life! We were even given a leaflet, a lot of it about cleanliness, both in hospital and when we got home. I was v impressed tbh!

Lweji · 20/04/2019 09:35

I'm having great fun imagining where Europe zone 1 might be. I'd guess France and Germany, but that might be too wide. Maybe a narrower elipse having Berlin and Paris at the tips.
Grin

Or could it be between Brussels and Strasbourg?