How often should I shower?

[grosstonotshower]

Ok so I'm having a few drinks with friends last night. We are all female a mix of parents and non parents. One friend mentions she is struggling to find time for o shower every day since she had her baby. I said "well I don't shower every day without a young baby," All of my friends looked at me in horror. Apparently even the ones with kids shower daily. Full disclosure I have two dd one under five and I work part time. I shower on work days plus one extra day so usually three times a week my days off usually consist of playing at home, walking dog, school run and maybe park. I would shower extra if exercising/having sex/on period etc. I bath my dc three times a week. My oh works out every week day so he does shower more than me. AIBD? (Disgusting 😂)

@ravenmum

I get the bus daily and there are often smelly people on it Some people will be on their way home from work. Some people will just have been out jogging. Some people have problems washing due to their health/finances/being homeless etc. Some people sweat a lot. Some people couldn't give a shit whether you can tell if they have had a shower that morning. Isn't diversity great?

I doubt people would smell that much that they stink the whole bus out after a day at work or having a jog

I’ve started not doing full showers everyday but I do wash. The Vivienne Westwood approach (but not for ‘staying young purposes’).

www.vogue.com/article/vivienne-westwood-staying-young-wash-less

I have worked with people, mainly men, who come into work showered and smell by the end of the day. Some people do smell more quickly.

Yep, I shower pretty much every day. There might be an odd pj day where I don't (like during the holidays....) But even then, I like to freshen up, if I can. My very curly hair is in much better condition since I moved to washing it only 2-3 times per week; I used to wash and straighten it every day!

I have had some major surgeries over the past few years, and had to get my then partner to help me with hygiene at home for a good few weeks after, and it was easier to buy a wee stool, and sit in our big shower, than it was to have to try and negotiate washing over the sink. BUT, I fully appreciate it that I was lucky to have that help - and that it was a temporary situation.

I will say that I have a good friend who often smells sour and stale, and she told me a while ago that she only showers x3 per week. She also runs most days. It all makes sense now... I've gently hinted, but she is happy with her routine.

@Brindle88

I meant I shower daily as it’s less faff than a sink wash.

Yes, I don't understand why people think it's easier to wash at a sink rather than jump in the shower for 5 minutes

Depending on what I'm doing, I can shower every other day - if I'm WFH all week, not going anywhere etc.

If I'd showered on the Monday and was going somewhere on the Tuesday, I'd shower, but if I'm just noodling about the house and haven't been doing exercise/having sex/whatever, no - makes my skin dry and is a waste of water. When I lived by myself and WFH too, it could even be every third day (shock horro ).

@Fraternaltwin 😂 thing is when PA said he didn’t sweat so many people said it was rubbish, but it’s always so common in these threads 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think part of the issue too is that we are so used to perfumed soaps, fragrances, deodorants, scented everything that we forget what a normal human smell is and think it's 'dirty' when it's just what people are meant to smell like.

I'm the same as you OP. I'm autistic with sensory issues where showers are concerned though.
I don't shower, I have a bath because I don't like the feeling of not being completely submerged by the water.

(And I don't mean sweat or BO but just general 'human' smell)

@Hugasauras I totally agree, Most people dont smell clean, they just smell of artificial smells.

I doubt people would smell that much that they stink the whole bus out after a day at work or having a jog
You didn't menton that there were multiple people smelling so strongly that it filled the entire bus. I live in Germany so have never experienced that myself; perhaps it's more common where you live. I have shared a tram with individual people that smelt very bad, but they have always appeared to be either homeless or possibly suffering from dementia.

I always showered every morning when my children were tiny because it motivated me to get on with the day..it was important for my MH .Baby left in moses basket for 2 mins that's how fast I was.
Nowadays I shower most days but if I don't it's not end of the world!

People who take three showers a day are ridiculous and also should go to a doctor if they smell so bad they need to do this.

I agree with the ableist comments, not aimed at OP bit the posters who say no excuses, or it's grim.

@ravenmum I think people exaggerate a lot on here.

@Hugasauras yes I agree with this! I even noticed when washing with baby clothes I was using dri pak soap, soda crystals and vinegar and the clothes smelt like nothing, they were clean but they didn’t smell “clean”, it took some real adjusting but I’ve gone back to method and must admit I prefer the scent.

At least once a day, more if I’ve done exercise or it’s hot.

@AllThingsServeTheBeam

You have no idea about me or my life or if I am able bodied so well done for your sweeping generalisations.

I spent a long time with a significant leg injury and on crutches. I still showered every day.

I was going to pop a "it's not difficult for the majority of people who have no disabilities" to circumnavigate the usual Mumsnet excuses being trotted out but was in a rush actually.

@AryaStarkWolf you don't understand people who have disabilities would find it easier??

I usually shower twice a day, and did so even with a newborn This is a bit excessive, but I find it hard to understand how people struggle to find time to shower once a day, since it can be accomplished in less than 5 minutes.

I recall that a lot of people did smell awful in the 1970s.

[quote Inmypjsagain]@Fraternaltwin 😂 thing is when PA said he didn’t sweat so many people said it was rubbish, but it’s always so common in these threads 🤷🏼‍♀️[/quote]
There's a difference between claiming to not sweat at ALL and saying you don't really get BO, BO is body odour caused by sweat and bacteria, sweat is moisture that I'm pretty everyone gets but doesn't necessarily lead to BO.

I don't understand why people think it's easier to wash at a sink rather than jump in the shower for 5 minutes
Sink:
Take off clothes, walk to sink, add water to correct heat, wet flannel, wash body, put flannel in the wash, dry body with towel.
Shower:
Take off clothes, get in shower, wait for water to be correct heat, wet flannel, wash body, put flannel in the wash, dry body with towel.

I shower every day. It’s quicker than having a wash at the sink. Wash my hair every other day.

I don’t feel properly awake without a shower.

There is no need to shower every day unless you want to. It is not grim or dirty. Constant showering is modern day habit and a waste of resources as is putting on clean clothes constantly.

If you are happy with your current routine then I think stick to that. I am sure you know if you have dirty backside or smelly pits.....