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AIBU?

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Original poster

To reduce the number of showers I have each week

370 replies

Lov · 07/07/2022 18:53

Let's be honest here. During lockdown probably most of us that worked from home rolled out of bed to their laptop and started the work day (in pjs)

I believe my need for showers daily took a nose dive. Don't get me wrong I went old school and did a daily clean with a flannel and yes still brush my teeth twice a day. I was showering twice a week.

Now back into the swing of things, working face to face (twice a week) I find my routine has stayed the same and the need for daily showers has gone. Obviously if I go work out I will do but I'm talking daily no.

What's other people's experience? Has everyone resumed normal life or are there people out there like me who are now content doing a flannel wash instead of a daily shower????

I am waiting for the gross comments but honestly I don't feel worse for it and my water bill has dropped!

OP posts:
JiminyGlick · 07/07/2022 19:38

A flannel wash to me seems archaic and harks back to decades ago when the water had to be heated on a stove.

Just jump into the shower for 5mins. I can't fathom why this is not the norm. But it is the norm, apart from in the competitive under washing on MN.

I have been in London at a meeting today. I felt grubby. And yes, shockers, I have just had my second shower of the day.

I think that showering less than once a day is a bit minging.

Steelesauce · 07/07/2022 19:39

I have a bath most nights, a shower if I want a quick wash. Hair washed weekly as its very long and thick. I miss a day if I'm feeling unwell but I've found not washing is the first sign I'm becoming depressed for me so I always push myself to do it.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 07/07/2022 19:40

JiminyGlick · 07/07/2022 19:38

A flannel wash to me seems archaic and harks back to decades ago when the water had to be heated on a stove.

Just jump into the shower for 5mins. I can't fathom why this is not the norm. But it is the norm, apart from in the competitive under washing on MN.

I have been in London at a meeting today. I felt grubby. And yes, shockers, I have just had my second shower of the day.

I think that showering less than once a day is a bit minging.

And there we go. Knew they wouldn't be long

craftsupplyhoarder · 07/07/2022 19:40

I feel like crap if I don't have a daily shower, so I voted YABU, but if it works for someone else and they feel clean enough, it's none of my concern.

camdenl · 07/07/2022 19:40

I shower every day, twice a day at that (before/after bed). I love showering, I never grew up with baths being the default. I have a skincare routine which is best to carry out on clean skin, and also use products in the shower which smell/feel great so it doesn’t feel like a chore.

I find showers exhilarating and a good thinking space, and love the feeling of being fresh.

Sesimbra · 07/07/2022 19:41

I don't sweat very much not Prince Andrew, honest and during lockdown I got used to showering less often, probably every other day.

Now we are back in the office every now and then, I wouldn't think of going into office without having showered, but if I am wfh then it's just not worth it. Got to save resources!!!

Dannn · 07/07/2022 19:43

i shower daily but I really enjoy and feel relaxed by having a shower. Totally fine to shower less if you feel clean

Sunshineandflipflops · 07/07/2022 19:43

Every day, twice sometimes if I exercise later in the day.

I don’t feel awake if I don’t shower first thing and I also feel like I have that ‘sleep’ smell.

it takes me a few minutes to shower though if I’m not washing my hair, and even when washing it I’m in and out in minutes.
whenever I’ve flannel washed in the past, it’s taken longer and made the bathroom floor and most of me wet so really don’t see the point in that over a shower.

I also never worked in my pj’s over lockdown or changed my personal hygiene routine.

Original poster
Lov · 07/07/2022 19:43

I didn't mean to cause a stir and not here to say any which way is best. This is just what now works for me.

The flannel I don't find a faff. Or gross in any way. As another poster has said already my skin has improved as well

I guess my life is quite sedentary, which is why I don't smell, imo.

I have 2 dc who keep me so busy that I am on the go from 6 until about 9 then half asleep on the sofa at the end of the day.

Each to their own ❤️

OP posts:
ColettesEarrings · 07/07/2022 19:43

Every other day shower, and all showers are 'navy' style - turn on for only as long as to wet the skin, turn off, do face/shampoo/body, turn on again to rinse, turn off to put conditioner on, wait thirty secs, turn on to rinse. Usually 3 mins or less water use. All our family use the same basic technique. Our water bills are less than half the national average.

We also use all the dish washing water on the garden plants, and leave the bowl in to collect any hand washing/cup rinsing etc water and use that. It's astonishing how much is harvested every day.

Bodice · 07/07/2022 19:44

Morning shower everyday whatever. Could never do less. Even when I was in the depths of newborn and toddler hell I took a daily shower.

saveforthat · 07/07/2022 19:45

Yes I poo at pretty much the same time every morning. Occasionally I have to go again in the day but not very often. In the summer I often shower again before bed. Showered and clean sheets straight off the line. Bliss.

Discovereads · 07/07/2022 19:45

I shower every evening. Keeps my bed fresh and clean all week.
I perfected a 2min shower habit when living in a very hot, dry country. So it literally uses as much water as flushing the loo once for me to shower.

TheChocotastic · 07/07/2022 19:46

this. I don't believe half the amount of people who say they shower every day.

It's completely normal. I had no idea people skipped days so much. One shower a day is fine unfathomable here, and using no soap because it dries out skin. These are normal... once a day is shocking...

toooldtocarewhoknows · 07/07/2022 19:48

I must be skanky by todays standards. I've strip washed with hot soapy water since the 1970's.

A throwback from when it was too expensive to heat water for a bath and having a shower in the house wasn't common.

I share bath water with my husband a couple of times a week. We are all very clean.

As long as you are clean does it matter how you reached cleanliness?

maddiemookins16mum · 07/07/2022 19:49

I never rolled out of bed to my desk in pj’s.
WFH 95% of the time, daily shower/hairwash and dress properly (albeit my bottom half is shorts or leggings and my top half is a nice simple summery top (the same I’d wear to the office).

Tabbouleh · 07/07/2022 19:51

toooldtocarewhoknows · 07/07/2022 19:48

I must be skanky by todays standards. I've strip washed with hot soapy water since the 1970's.

A throwback from when it was too expensive to heat water for a bath and having a shower in the house wasn't common.

I share bath water with my husband a couple of times a week. We are all very clean.

As long as you are clean does it matter how you reached cleanliness?

I want to sing Gwen Stefani now! " I love to wash in your old bathwater..makes me think I couldn't love another"..😉

Discovereads · 07/07/2022 19:54

TheChocotastic · 07/07/2022 19:46

this. I don't believe half the amount of people who say they shower every day.

It's completely normal. I had no idea people skipped days so much. One shower a day is fine unfathomable here, and using no soap because it dries out skin. These are normal... once a day is shocking...

And probably why we have an international reputation for being “the ponging English” So many people desensitised to their own BO.

Isaidnoalready · 07/07/2022 19:55

Every other day showers my electric bill has dropped dramatically it woukd drop lower but when my teen boy goes in (WHEN) he tries to drown himself I swear

antelopevalley · 07/07/2022 19:55

During lockdown I started showering every other day. My skin improved and was much softer. I am back to showering every day now though, especially in this hot weather.

Veryverycalmnow · 07/07/2022 19:57

I have a bath about 3 x a week and about 2 showers a week. I used to feel wrong if o hadn't showered. I try and leave my hair a few days between washes. When I have my period or have exercised i have to shower more. Some days 2 showers in a day! I think you know when you need it.

loopyfruit · 07/07/2022 19:59

Ah, at last! A normal post about showering. Yes, sounds great, helping your purse and the planet. What's not to like.

user1471459761 · 07/07/2022 20:00

I have never showered every day. Every 2 or 3 days for me on average so your are not being unreasonable. I do not smell!

Tabbouleh · 07/07/2022 20:02

What is unreasonable is not believing daily showerers. That is the only unreasonable part.

WeAllHaveWings · 07/07/2022 20:05

Similar to how some people are with coffee, I just can't function without my morning shower, a wash just doesn't do it for me. I partly WFH and if I, very rarely, sleep in and don't shower I just don't feel with it at all and I jump in for a shower as soon as I have a free 10 mins.

But, if it works for you and you don't pong then why not, with the added bonus you save money too!