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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you to tell me your dirty secrets?

33 replies

Cruelstepmother · 19/05/2019 01:15

No, no, not those! I'm just asking - how often do you actually bath/shower? And what's the absolute longest you think someone should go without bathing/showering, assuming not particularly hot weather and not heavy manual labour?

OP posts:
SpoonBlender · 19/05/2019 01:45

Daily, unless I'm too ill (physical or mental) and can't manage it, in which case I'll manage up to four days or until I first need to leave the house (at which point I'll have the bedding changed too, ick).

Zofloramummy · 19/05/2019 01:58

My boiler is broke so I last had a bath 10 days ago!! Managing with strip washes, washing hair in the sink and dry shampoo.

DioneTheDiabolist · 19/05/2019 02:01

3 days.

soulrunner · 19/05/2019 02:07

I’d say I shower 6 days out of 7 in winter and every day in summer. Because it’s so hot and humid in summer where I live, in winter when it cools down I really don’t sweat. If I didn’t exercise every day I’d probably be down to 5 days out of 7 in winter.

MissMoan · 19/05/2019 02:31

Daily shower if possible, although I only wash my hair twice a week (it's long and takes an age to dry! Plus I found that going from washing it daily to twice a week has seriously improved the condition of my hair and scalp)

aatwi · 19/05/2019 02:33

I wash every day but not always shower -- will do a sink wash with a flannel if I'm in a rush. Most I would go without an actual shower/bath is two days.

Aquamarine1029 · 19/05/2019 02:33

Daily, unless I skip my usual workout.

Original poster
Cruelstepmother · 19/05/2019 02:36

Still struggling to get my depressed stepson to wash... I just don't want to be unreasonable. I'm only asking him to shower once a week. To be fair our bathroom and shower are horrible, but we hope to get a new shower room next year.

OP posts:
UnicornBrexit · 19/05/2019 03:07

It is difficult, this will all change at the girlfriend stage, then you will be forever wafting through a cloud of lynx.

In seriousness I do empathise. Youngest DS is just sitting A Levels, been under CAMHs (useless) and has a pt job, and whilst he is actually very popular at school, he's still quite isolated. His hygiene isn't what it might be either. Every 3 to 4 days he hops in the shower.

BonAccordSpur · 19/05/2019 03:13

Currently coming into winter here&love sitting on deck in jacuzzi most nights followed by shower when im done stargazing..

PurpleFlower1983 · 19/05/2019 03:51

I shower every morning and wash my hair.

BoomBoomsCousin · 19/05/2019 04:18

I used to shower daily but earlier this year I cut back to roughly 3 times a week as part of an attempt to lower my resource use. DH said he hadn't noticed when I asked him if it made any difference!

Tattybear16 · 19/05/2019 04:20

Daily, even when I had pneumonia I was dragging myself into the shower.

Slacksandblouse · 19/05/2019 04:21

Sometimes (mostly) twice a day I shower.

k1233 · 19/05/2019 05:08

Daily, more often if I've been covered in sunscreen or out being sweaty.

GirlRaisedInTheSouth · 19/05/2019 05:08

Oh, that’s sad OP 😞. Have you tried taking him out and buying him some nice body wash? Maybe from one of the fragrance brands? He might find if he likes the smell that encourages him to shower.

k1233 · 19/05/2019 05:10

Absolute longest without a shower, again I'd say once a day. I'd be too concerned about oil, dead skin cell etc build up and associated issues from that eg bad skin / breakouts, fungal infections from areas not being cleaned regularly.

Decormad38 · 19/05/2019 05:13

Daily shower and sometimes twice daily. I like being clean. My DH will go 3 days and thinks he doesn’t smell. Maybe I’ve got a heightened sense of smell but I can definitely whiff people who only shower every 3 days.

Trebla · 19/05/2019 05:34

Daily. Without fail. I feel sticky if not.

WhiteDust · 19/05/2019 05:43

Ah OP. That's a common problem and frustrating. I feel for you.
Once a week minimum in that case.
Clean clothes every day/ every other day will help. I have been know to physically whip clothes away as soon as they are off dumped on the floor at night and swop them for clean ones.
Insist on deodorant too.

Teacher22 · 19/05/2019 05:44

I have a bath every day, partly because it is the only time my feet get warmed up. Otherwise I would shower every day. I wash my hair every day too.

I cannot stand the thought of not being clean.

WhiteDust · 19/05/2019 05:45

Changing bed sheets more regularly will help too. Futile in a way but it helps stop the 'smell' building up.

pineapplebryanbrown · 19/05/2019 05:56

Difficult, a very common symptom of depression. I'm not sure I'd mention hygiene and would invest in a clothes peg.

Mothership4two · 19/05/2019 05:59

Sorry to hear that OP. I would say encourage him to shower as often as possible and make sure his bedroom is tidy and bedding and clothes are clean. Once a week is not a lot.

Teenage boys can be quite smelly and my ds showers daily but he is active.

Good luck

Mummyoflittledragon · 19/05/2019 06:00

Chronically ill here. When I’m feeling okish I shower daily. Otherwise every other. Those are the times when I can hardly get out of bed and struggle to get to the fridge for food. Showering for me can literally be the choice of getting clean or picking dd up from school. I choose the latter.