AIBU for not rewearing the same trousers after one wear?

[roofusdoofus]

As the subject title suggests, I don’t rewear the same trousers or jeans after one wear unless they’re washed. This means that I end up putting on a clothes wash twice a week and I wash my bedsheets and towels separately, totalling to three washes per week. I have a new housemate who thinks that this is excessive and could easily be reduced to two washes if I just “rewore” clothes between washes.

This may be TMI but my lady area is seemingly very sweaty and even if I wear a pair of trousers once, the private area of my trousers smells slightly like stale urine and it ends up being all I can smell and I end up becoming very self concious. This is really embarrassing to admit but my private area does smell “cheesy” after a working day so I wash my bits every day.

I have gone to see my GP who advises there’s no infections or any causes for concern and that it’s just my natural body odour. I was referred for pelvic floor physiotherapy and she said I have a great, strong pelvic floor and there’s no cause for concern. I have tried every kind of underwear and even trialled wearing panty liners but nothing stops the odour. I have tried pH balancing washes but nothing helps and I shower daily.

I’m embarrassed and self concious by it, but I am more aware of the smell of my trousers or jeans after one wear and can’t bring myself to rewear them unless they’re washed. The smell, to me, is really strong and I just feel dirty and become hyper aware other people can smell it.

AIBU to not rewear trousers or jeans after one wash? I feel my reasons are valid but my new housemates attitude has me feeling guilty.

As others have said wear only cotton knickers or period pants.

You can also buy portable bidet bottles which are plastic bottle with an angled nozzle (Boots sell them). Using one of these would enable you to freshen up when away from home.

A stale urine smell isn't the same as sweat though.

Some people are sweatier - for that you should swap out synthetic fabrics for cotton & linen etc.

I'd see a gp again if it smells like urine though.

Have you considered wearing period type pants? They absorb the moisture so it's not getting through to your trousers.

Of course not. You shouldn’t rewear anything that smells. It just sounds like you are a bit of a sweaty person, as many are.

Phase out synthetic trousers asap and wear only cotton knickers - it will make a huge difference. Try using a natural deodorant like wild around your crotch area - or an anti bacterial moisturiser like Dermol - this will also make a huge difference. Try a different heavy duty moisturiser for your pits - there are lots of threads on that on here. And switch to natural fibre tops, at least in summer. If soap is ok for you it’s more effective at removing smell than shower gell.

Double check you aren’t leaking if the above doesn’t sort it. And wipe backwards to minimise urine getting on your pubes.

If you are worried about too many washes I think a light and dark wash should sort everything? you don’t really need to do towels and duvets separately. You can add napisan if you don’t want to wash at 60 degrees and are worried about killing off bacteria.

It makes sense not to wear clothes which smell - it does sound though like the clothes you are wearing might be contributing to your problem due to being non breathable.
this happened to me pre menopause when I was peri menopause and stopped after menopause started

If your trousers smell after one wear then yes, wash them after one wear. I work with people all day and I'd say a good 3 out of every 10 smell stomach turningly bad. You are aware of the smell and take steps to avoid it, I don't see the problem.

One thing I forgot to mention:

Glycolic Acid.

This is absolutely your BFF. On weekend nights after showering, don’t use antiperspirant but instead use this under your armpits, breasts, bikini area (but not on your genitalia), and if you have a muffin top, under that!

Glycolic acid kills the bacteria on your skin that makes your sweat smell.

You can also alternate nights with retinol on your face, throat and décolleté (remember the golden rule of face skincare to TITTT - take it to the titties). If you do use this and/or retinol, then you must, must, must use SPF50 every single day! Retinol and glycolic acid make your skin much more photosensitive.

@JoanOfAllTrades

why glycolic A on weekend nights only??

Because it takes antiperspirant ~6-8 hours to properly settle into the pores and block sweat from forming, you need to put it on every night after showering. A lot of the time, people aren’t using antiperspirant properly and it’s not working effectively during the day to block sweat because they might shower/wash in the morning and then apply antiperspirant, when they should just apply a light coat of deodorant. Glycolic acid needs to be directly onto the skin, with nothing under it, so it’s better to use it on weekends when you don’t have to worry about work the next day and have more options available if you sweat because you’ve applied the antiperspirant in the morning after washing off the glycolic acid.