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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How often should I shower?

999 replies

grosstonotshower · 12/01/2022 10:36

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 😂)

OP posts:
LemonMuffins · 12/01/2022 11:05

Every day. Always every day.

NoNameHere12 · 12/01/2022 11:05

Shower 3-4 times a week after gym. I work from home and don’t see anyone so it does no harm.

I’m not a massive fan of showering though, especially in the winter

Roominmyhouse · 12/01/2022 11:05

I don’t feel properly awake with a shower first thing! I can just about cope with not washing my hair every day but I couldn’t not shower my body.

Wafflesnsniffles · 12/01/2022 11:05

Actually sometimes twice a week............ Because if Im not stinky sweaty or have been rolling in mud theres really no need!

Justkeeppedaling · 12/01/2022 11:06

I shower everyday because it's quicker than doing my face, feet, pits and bits by the sink with a flannel, as per the olden days.
I'm in the shower less than 5 mins, unless I'm washing my hair (once a week).

I presume, OP, that you are having a "proper wash", as DM used to say, even if you're not showering daily.

crossstitchingnana · 12/01/2022 11:07

I shower every other day, strip wash in between. I grew up with no shower in house and a weekly bath. We all did. Nobody smelled.

sunnybunnyy · 12/01/2022 11:07

Yep everyday,

  1. Wakes me up
  2. Feel fresh and clean
  3. Personally if I didn't I'd smell whereas DH (must be to do with the bacteria on our bodies)
ABCDEF1234 · 12/01/2022 11:07

I thought everyone showered daily / twice daily

Sakura7 · 12/01/2022 11:07

Generations before us didn't have showers including my parents.

Generations before us didn't have plumbing, central heating, modern medicine, electricity. Do we want to go backwards on those life improvements too?

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 12/01/2022 11:08

I shower twice a day. Feel gross otherwise.

Hemingwayzcatz · 12/01/2022 11:09

Three times a week is gross. I shower daily and always have, in fact I used to bath daily a few years ago but don’t have time now so shower.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 12/01/2022 11:10

I don't shower every day. I sometimes don't leave the house for days on end. It's not in the least bit gross. People on MN need to get a grip.

DirectionToPerfection · 12/01/2022 11:10

unless you exist without friends/colleagues/aquaintances you will be "close" in some sense to someone who doesnt shower every day on a regular basis I should think.

The vast majority of people shower every day. Someone who only washes two or three times a week would obvious up close.

fdgdfgdfgdfg · 12/01/2022 11:10

I shower every single morning, before doing absolutely anything else. I feel utterly grim if I don't, kind of sticky. I think I'm a slightly sweaty sleeper though and sleep in the nude, maybe if you're in pajamas they wick away the sweat a bit.

My DP showers every other day, and obviously has a wash on the days she doesn't shower. She doesn't smell, and generally I wouldn't be able to tell if she'd showered or not that day.

mummatobeat33 · 12/01/2022 11:10

I shower 3 times a week too but I have bad skin and was told by my doctor that daily baths/showers would make my skin worse. Bits and pits are washed daily. Netter for the environment too as uses less water and gas for the hot water.

WeaningNewbiiee · 12/01/2022 11:10

Twice a day. Once on the morning and before bed and a bonus one if I work out.

ILoveAllRainbowsx · 12/01/2022 11:11

If it doesn't bother you then, it is fine. It saves water and time.

I have to have a shower every day as otherwise I feel dirty.

Staryflight445 · 12/01/2022 11:11

I struggle with underarm odour so shower daily sometimes twice.
I absolutely stink if I don’t though.

Mummyoflittledragon · 12/01/2022 11:12

Shower every day if my health allows. Every other if not as I need to wash my hair. Every other day for a well, able-bodied person is not much at all!

thevassal · 12/01/2022 11:12

@thecapitalsunited

The only time I don’t shower every day is when I’m depressed. Then I can’t find the energy for it. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t shower every day.
How on earth do you know the showering habits of absolutely everyone you know??? I don't even know/care how often my closest friends shower, let alone my work colleagues, gym acquaintances, local shopkeepers etc....

OP this is mumsnet where people shower 3 times a day and don't see anything wrong with it, and wash their towels after each use, yet supposedly also care about the environment and are worried about the rising cost of gas/electric prices, and don't seem to see the disconnect between the two.

Like you I don't shower every day - I work from home and unless I'm exercising don't get particularly smelly. I also get dry skin and hair if I wash too often. Obviously if I've been in the gym,or it's warm weather, or I'm going out I shower, but if I'm going the ten steps from bed to desk then is it really necessary?

Skeumorph · 12/01/2022 11:13

Every day, mostly twice (love a shower before bed).

I don't think that not showering every day is actively unclean but you're definitely sweatier and less clean, iyswim. For most people I think it's a cleansing healthy part of the morning routine rather than 'I smell'. It's quicker than washing, allows you to get rid of overnight sweat and keeps clothes fresher, and wakes you up and refreshes. Hard to see why you wouldn't, why it even takes any longer than getting dressed really - I have two minute showers.

I wouldn't think you smelled but I'd definitely think it grubby. And less good for clothes and bedclothes etc.

BobMortimersTrout · 12/01/2022 11:13

Showering every day is awful for my skin - it gets so dry. I'm not disgusting thanks, I don't smell, I just protect my skin. So much judgement!

TheGoogleMum · 12/01/2022 11:13

I do about 3 days a week too or more often as needed (in summer it's usually daily as sweatier weather). I found showing with newborn hard to find time for and probably showered once a week sometimes (especially before I was leaving the house regularly). I found the newborn phase hard!

BobMortimersTrout · 12/01/2022 11:14

@DirectionToPerfection

unless you exist without friends/colleagues/aquaintances you will be "close" in some sense to someone who doesnt shower every day on a regular basis I should think.

The vast majority of people shower every day. Someone who only washes two or three times a week would obvious up close.

Ha, no it isn't obvious I don't shower every day. My DH didn't even realise until I told him (we wake up at different times)
Skeumorph · 12/01/2022 11:16

OP this is mumsnet where people shower 3 times a day and don't see anything wrong with it, and wash their towels after each use, yet supposedly also care about the environment and are worried about the rising cost of gas/electric prices, and don't seem to see the disconnect between the two.

Because I have a two (often one!) minute shower every day/twice a day, my clothes are less sweaty and last longer and don't need such frequent washing. Ditto bedclothes. We have our own towels and there's a towel wash once a fortnight, when there are enough to wash. No, the two don't go hand in hand here, I think.