MIL bathing habits

[Bitesize89]

My in laws come to stay with us pretty frequently and I've noticed over time that mil never bathes when she comes. She can be here 3-4 days without a shower or bath. It recently was revealed that she only ever uses baths and no soap in her bath. This came up after she bagged my DD and didn't use any soap on her and she said well there was bubble bath in the water, I was shocked as I don't think that's a proper way to bathe and she said when she bathes she doesn't use soap and only bubble bath. So not only does she not bathe for days on and but when she bathes she just has a bubble bath and no soap.im really grossed out.

It’s not though (the same as bar soap)
it’s similar to shower gel but if I use shower gel I put it on a flannel then on my skin, bubble bath is diluted in a huge amount of water so it’s not going to wash effectively

It's not, as already stated multiple times.

I can’t believe this is still going. It’s the most ludicrous non-sequitur

some people wash less than me
some people smell
therefore all people who wash less than me smell.

The notion that all hair should smell of artificial products, shampoo or otherwise and all hair must be washed daily, regardless of hair type is also bonkers. Unless you’re all working in McDonalds.

That generation don’t see the need for constant baths and showers. A “strip wash” at the basin with a flannel, hot water and soap is what a lot of that generation are used to. Perhaps she has mobility issues and finds it difficult getting into and out of a bath. If she doesn’t look unkempt or smell is it really any of your business?

The hair/scalp doesn't have to smell of shampoo etc., but hair/scalp that isn't washed enough will have an unpleasant odour.

I agree but (for those at the back) how often is ‘enough’ will be different for everyone

Clearly - folk also become accustomed to their own smell though, so if it gets to the point where they can smell it then others undoubtedly already have.

If it’s greasy it’s probably dirty and therefore smelly. I’m talking about hair that is clean but doesn’t smell like shampoo fragrance because it hasn’t been washed in a few days; then it just smells like hair, which, again, is a completely normal and neutral smell. The whole point of this entire thread is that you don’t need to wash every single day to avoid smelly. You’re being ridiculous.

Again, it's not a normal and neutral smell, it appears that way because you are used to it.

I’m now mainly worried about you wandering around town sniffing people’a heads.

How close are you getting that you can smell what shampoo they use!

I have family members with eczema who can't use soap to wash, only water. As long as they don't stink, it's fine. It's actually better for your skin to not use soap

It's perhaps better for some people not to use soap, but it's also better/cleaner for many to use soap. The chemical structure of soap helps to more effectively clean dirt and debris from the skin.

My autistic 7 year old won't let me actually wash him so he has a bath with lots of bubbles but no soap

Yuck I’m disgusted at all the people saying you don’t need to use soap when there’s bubble bath 🤢 You need to lather up soap on an along and scrub your body to be clean ffs. Eugh

What do you use in the shower then? Shower gel?

You clearly have a problem. Your attitude to cleanliness is extreme, and it's not good for your body if you scrub it every day. You're getting rid of the good bacteria that promote skin health.

Soap to wash.
Showergel for a nice smell.

Bubble bath isn't good for skin.
Soap is fine.

Yes! Anything that isn't specifically "soap" is a detergent and bad for your skin. All these hand washes, bubblebaths and shower gels will clean you as well if not better than soap but they are all detergents. Like Fairy Liquid!

I can't believe the length of this thread!!! 😅

They clean but they can also be irritating. Soap is generally milder (not carbolic, of course!).

Yuk! In our house I call it "the scalpy smell" ! It's like old mutton!
People blow drying their unwashed hair in my swimming pool makes me wretch.

I’m “that generation”. Daily bath or shower for me, same for my mum who was born in 1918. I’m quite offended by the implication that my date of birth means I’m filthy.

I love the smell of carbolic soap! Am
i weird? In fact when my latest posh bar of soap runs out I will hunt out some coal tar soap. Love that too!

You must have been pretty well off, especially your mum, if you could have a bath every day. And showers didn't exist in domestic households until the 70s or 80s