To ask you to tell me your dirty secrets?

[Cruelstepmother]

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?

Oh poor lad. Has he seen the GP?

The pps suggestions of changing clothes and bedding often is a good idea.

Is there any way you can move the bathroom reno forwards?

Sorry I posted too soon. Depression is awful. I had it when I was early 20’s. I struggled to do anything. I just wanted to stay in bed. Is your dss getting any support? I had very good therapy at the time and antidepressants.

Every day. Sometimes twice if I go to the gym. I try to restrict my time in there to about 5 minutes. Get in shower - shampoo- rinse-conditioner on-wash body-conditioner off-out.

Depression is hard though. Can he agree to a set amount to keep you happy?
Just tell him “I know you don’t want to and it’s hard but 1-2 a week at the very least”. He may have had something painful happen to him if he doesn’t mind smelling. It’s a way of keeping people at bay.
I would say he needs anti-depressants and a counsellor. He first needs help with his mental state, and the bathing and self care will follow.

Two showers a day (very quick though, less than 2 minutes each).

I don't know if it's just my imagination but my skin just feels sticky and itchy if I go any longer without a shower.

shower at least 4 days out of 7 with good strip wash the other days or a good soak in the bath

For me, daily. I think two sleeps is the most that’s acceptable without washing.

He's not a teenager, he's 37.

He has been diagnosed with depression, had the NHS's pitiful short term counselling, has antidepressants.

@WhiteDust I dream of him dumping his clothes on the floor - he sleeps in them and only changes about 2 or 3 times a week.