Do you need one every day?

[GladAllOver]

I was told off at the weekend by someone who said it was wasteful and environmentally irresponsible to have a bath or shower every day. I said she was wrong. AIBU?

not read the whole thread.
on the one hand i can well believe that hot water on your skin every day is bad for it and strips the oils and makes it very dry. I have experienced it myself.
Having said all that, and admittedly not having looked into the science of it, the physiological effect of having hot water at the exact temperature you like pouring on your skin (or bathing in it) very obviously releases dopamine or serotonin or something like that as it literally feels like a big warm hug to have a hot shower or a warm bath. if you are single and live on your own it feels like an absolute luxury and whatever the argument I would be reluctant to give it up.

Love it - competitive under washing on Mumsnet. I did not think that possible

This is misleading?
The page I found is this one

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/practical-tips-if-you-care-for-someone/how-to-help-someone-you-care-for-keep-clean/

A lot of people wouldn't need one every day if they're not very active.

Personally I shower most days but don't wash my hair every time, so I'm in and out within a minute or two (I'm not one of these mumsnetters who scrubs the back of my legs/in between each toe)

My mum didn't have central heating or gas-powered hot water or a shower after my parents' divorce, only an immersion heater and a bathtub. There was a six month period when she was on JSA when she encouraged us to take a bath and wash our hair at dad's house before we came over to her for the week and didn't put the immersion heater on at all. We washed in cold water with flannels and she took a cold bath once per week to wash her own hair.

Being able to afford a warm shower even once per week is a privilege that not everyone has.

You should scrub between your toes sometimes, that's prime fungus territory.

She sounds like an opinionated a-hole.

I need a shower every single day.
Greasy skin and greasy hair; it needs washed in warm soapy water each day to stop me looking like an oil slick.

Bath every morning, with oliverum (spelling) or other bath oil, then moisturiser.

It is usually possible to wash adequately with a flannel and water in the sink. It is usually possible to wash adequately in a shower in a couple of minutes. Not everyone needs to wash every part of their body or their hair everyday.

I would say a bath or long shower everyday is wasteful and unnecessary for most people.

Some people may have medical condition or job (I used to know someone who unblocked sewage outlets for a living!) that needs more.

I've accepted that I'm absolutely disgusting in MN standards. Don't change my sheets often enough, don't shower daily, don't change towels all the time and don't have bazillion pyjamas to change several times a week. So I'll just embrace my own grossness 😁

Since losing several stone my greatest joy is finding that I can now get in and out of the bath! I think it has been the best part of becoming slim! I also have a dodgy painful shoulder and the bath water really helps. I have always loved a nice warm bath

Shower every morning, wakes me up and sets me up for the day

I exercise every day so I need to shower every day - I can’t be the only one?!

I shower every morning, I like to feel shower fresh in the morning before work, or whatever else I'm doing. I'm going to have a hot bubble bath tonight to relax with my book. Clean pyjamas, fresh sheets. I'm not even sorry.

I'm going to have a hot bubble bath tonight to relax with my book. Clean pyjamas, fresh sheets.

Surely you don't change your pyjamas and your bedsheets every day ?

No I don't

I used to go to the gym every day and showered there every day without fail! I think showering after exercise is to be expected. Obvs now lifestyle is different but I feel confident you're not alone!

A shower every morning otherwise my bits would smell terribly.

I’m the same.

It's absolutely none of her business. Of course we can all do more to save the planet, but being a scold about something as basic as having a shower every day, which as far as she knows could be 2 minutes and just 25 litres of tepid water, is incredibly rude. I bet if you went round to her house you could find a dozen ways she consumes more energy or water than you, but you won't, because you're not an awful person.

(And even if your daily shower is piping hot and lasts 15 minutes, I don't care. It's your water and gas bill. Environmental awareness is great, Maoism not so much.)

I shower every other day but have a daily wipe with baby wipes on my underarms, privates and underboobs. I'm not a sweaty person, don't do any exercise and don't have an active job. I wear clean clothes every day.

Hmm bottoms is an interesting point. We have a bidet that I use several times a day so I think that helps. Weirdly I feel grubby if I have a quick shower, I always have a proper scrub if I go in the shower even if it is the second one in a day. I've never understood how people can pop in just for 5 mins! I should add to my earlier post that summer also makes me feel more sweaty so I shower more often, my hair still doesn't tend to get washed more though.

I shower twice a week - Sunday one is longer and I also shave certain bits. Mid week on a Wednesday or Thursday just a quicker hair wash. I work from home and I'm not very active at all apart from when I go carriage driving, this is either Thursday or Saturday.

I shower daily but unless I’m washing my hair it’s a few minutes. I wash my hair 2/3 times a week.

No, the recommendation is at least twice a week.