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How often should you bathe/shower?
Replies
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I'm flex-schedule, especially in pandemic isolation. I shower more often, up to multiple times a day, if there's sweating alternated with socializing. Less than daily, sometimes (with some washcloth scrubs in there) if neither of those triggers.
Though I have more modern habits (like daily when no pandemic), my parents (b. 1912, 1917) grew up in the erar of mostly weekly baths, and "sponge baths" from a basin/sink in between as needed: Heating the water on the woodstove, in some cases even drawing it from a well or by hand-pump first, to fill the tin tub . . . that tends to make the baths happen less often. Less stink than you might imagine.
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Norms change. The modern habits of daily bath/shower are pretty new, I think, in the general population . . . maybe around the last century-ish? (Running water, electricity, is a big deal.) Yeah, people have fewer lice, bedbugs, etc., than in the distant past. Bathing isn't the only reason.7 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
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Norms change. The modern habits of daily bath/shower are pretty new, I think, in the general population . . . maybe around the last century-ish? (Running water, electricity, is a big deal.) Yeah, people have fewer lice, bedbugs, etc., than in the distant past. Bathing isn't the only reason.
Weird trivia I actually know, LOL. First thing is, daily showering is very regional. Over half of Americans shower daily. But in Japan, 5 days a week is more common. British, last I recall, shower about every 2-3 days.
And Brazilians shower around 2 times a day, on average.
From what I've read, WHY we shower/bathe as much as we do actually seems to have less to do with running water, electricity, or anything you'd think it might, and more with a variety of other reasons.
In the USA, our bathing habit changes correlate very specifically with two things.
One, the Civil War. Disease was the main cause of death for all soldiers in the war, and was often caused by unsanitary living conditions and poor hygiene practices. It was such a problem that in 1861, the U.S. Sanitary Commission was made to help ensure good hygiene and sanitation practices. After the war ended, the increased hygiene practices stayed.
And two, advertising. Soap companies ran with the whole hygiene concept and quickly started campaigns to convince Americans that using lots of soap, daily, would make them successful and attractive (pretty much like commercials today) and there was a huge bump in how frequently we showered due to that as well, it seems.12 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
I'm sorry that your child struggles with that - that sounds very difficult.
At the same time, in Ironwood in around 1925 or so, before central heating and cooling among other things, I think someone with such sensitivities would've shown rather dramatic signs quite apart from hair-washing.
One of the benefits of modern life and modern conveniences is - I think - an opportunity for people with a wider range of health conditions or sensitivities to live and thrive. Life in those other places and times was pretty harsh.1 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
Interesting. Two centuries, perhaps, then, in the US? I still think things like REA would've had a meaningful impact.1 -
For about 10 years, 4 showers a day for shingles pain. Now, during pandemic, every 2-3 days.
ALWAYS scrub feet thoroughly immediately after mowing barefoot or in flip flops! I hate green feet!
(A shower, too)1 -
Anecdote, speaking of folkaronies: My dad told a story about a woman in Ironwood, MI, where he was born, a bit of rough'n'ready mining town at the time. He recounted her saying she couldn't understant how anyone could wash their hair every week, because she only did it once a year, and it always gave her *such* a headache. 😆🤣
Just to add to that story, while she could be just kind of hilariously quirky, at the same time, could be one of those poor suckers who have reactions to water or heat.
My kid has a rare disorder and through support groups for her, I've gotten to meet a lot of folks who have some oddball reactions. Some folks who get headaches or rashes from heat and/or cold, so showering can be a nightmare (especially because getting cold because of lukewarm water was still enough to set off a reaction). Some folks who react to some additive in their city's water supply.
My kid has problems with showering herself. I can say that for her, and most I know like this, they find other ways to clean themselves, like dry shampoos used on the hair (like you often see for bed bound elderly), because taking a shower is so awful for them.
excuse me for interrupting and i don't mean to be rude, but does your child have severe cold or heat related urticaria? i have CU - that's why i'm asking...1 -
Though I have more modern habits (like daily when no pandemic), my parents (b. 1912, 1917) grew up in the era of mostly weekly baths, and "sponge baths" from a basin/sink in between as needed: Heating the water on the woodstove, in some cases even drawing it from a well or by hand-pump first, to fill the tin tub . . . that tends to make the baths happen less often. Less stink than you might imagine.
Norms change. The modern habits of daily bath/shower are pretty new, I think, in the general population . . . maybe around the last century-ish? (Running water, electricity, is a big deal.) Yeah, people have fewer lice, bedbugs, etc., than in the distant past. Bathing isn't the only reason.
I was raised on 'one bath a week' and I'm only 37 (but not from the US). I've seen the shift to (nearly) daily showers in society, though not as 'bad' as in the US. There seems to be a tendency in western society (led by North America) to consider any bodily smell as a bad smell.
Anyway, I refrain from telling people how much (little) I bathe/shower/wash, knowing the judgment will be instantaneous, even though they don't think I stink.
Reading this thread, I'm mostly shocked at the (IMO) excessive water consumption. Living in Belgium, you would think water isn't an issue, but climate change combined with too much urban land cover is wreaking havoc on our water table and water is getting more expensive too.
I'm fully convinced that showering (more than) daily is just cultural and not necessary for our health (or even detrimental). But this is a difficult topic to discuss, since most people will just go 'oh yuck' at the mere idea of showering less than daily.
But even if you feel the need to wash yourself once or several times a day, I'm a big fan of going old-school and just using a washcloth (I hate showering anyway, I much prefer taking a bath
) 22 -
How often should you bathe/shower is not going to be universal.
Older people whose skin tends to dry out and who may not be very mobile or active or go outside much ( like the ones I used to visit doing community nursing ) - 2 or 3 times a week was fine. Basic hand basin wash in between.
Young active sports players in hot climates - more often.
Me personally - every morning with very few exceptions. Once in a blue moon, stay at home pyjamas all day, skip the shower.
Occasionally 2 showers if going out to dinner after a hot day or suchlike.0 -
Twice a day in the summer, but you can hardly call them all showers, they are mostly just a minute or two to rinse the sweat off with a hasty go-over with a bath poof and soap. Every other day or so in the winter. I don't work out yet, but if I were to work up a sweat, I would at least hop in long enough to rinse down.2
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I shower daily. I may shower twice depending on the situation. I remember basic training when we were lucky to get two minutes to shower a day. I felt disgusting the entire time. I can't go to sleep without showering. My Fiancee's son will go days without showering, and he stinks, but she acts like she doesn't care.5
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stevehenderson776 wrote: »"You should shower every day." -- your coworkers
“You should shower every day. Maybe more than once.” —Mother to teen/ preteen sports playing boys
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I shower/bathe @4x per week. I tend to have dry skin and prefer to not dry it out further. I tend to also not soap my less dirty places unless necessary but am a firm believer in exfoliating.
While we're on the topic, I don't use shampoo either. I quit using it over two years ago. My hair has always been thin. My hair is actually thicker now and generally looks better than before. (I do hand scrub my hair and scalp a couple times a week. )4 -
Get in there and take a shower. Blow the stink off.
Or
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MiNinaLisa wrote: »excuse me for interrupting and i don't mean to be rude, but does your child have severe cold or heat related urticaria? i have CU - that's why i'm asking...
Heya - sympathy hug on the CU, urticaria in general is such a pain, yeah?
My kid has mild heat urticaria, but also something called POTS that causes her some bad heat intolerance on top of that, plus Raynaud's which causes some serious issues with cold. So she's just hit from numerous places.5 -
Diatonic12 wrote: »Get in there and take a shower. Blow the stink off.
Or
He doesn't always shower. But when he does, he showers in Dos Equis.8 -
L1zardQueen wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »L1zardQueen wrote: »The $600 water bill dictates how many showers I and family get a day or for how many minutes they are. It sucks.
A month?
Where are you and how many people in the place for a $600 water bill?
Two month bill, sorry I should’ve stated. It’s still a lot of money. There are only three of us in the house. Our new house came with a bunch of well established citrus trees. We are trying to keep the trees alive, but they ain’t looking too happy right now.
San Diego. The price of water keeps going up.
Water conservation is a real problem.
I happened across that article posted in the OP a few days ago and thought, “Oh hell yeah”, I have an excuse for not taking regular showers. Lol
If you have a sump pump, you can turn it off for 2 days and then turn it back on and point the hose towards the trees. Or if you can get a rain barrel or grey water system? Might helpnyou save money in the long run.3 -
I shower daily. I may shower twice depending on the situation. I remember basic training when we were lucky to get two minutes to shower a day. I felt disgusting the entire time. I can't go to sleep without showering. My Fiancee's son will go days without showering, and he stinks, but she acts like she doesn't care.
Thank you for your service!0 -
L1zardQueen wrote: »Theoldguy1 wrote: »L1zardQueen wrote: »The $600 water bill dictates how many showers I and family get a day or for how many minutes they are. It sucks.
A month?
Where are you and how many people in the place for a $600 water bill?
Two month bill, sorry I should’ve stated. It’s still a lot of money. There are only three of us in the house. Our new house came with a bunch of well established citrus trees. We are trying to keep the trees alive, but they ain’t looking too happy right now.
San Diego. The price of water keeps going up.
Water conservation is a real problem.
I happened across that article posted in the OP a few days ago and thought, “Oh hell yeah”, I have an excuse for not taking regular showers. Lol
If you have a sump pump, you can turn it off for 2 days and then turn it back on and point the hose towards the trees. Or if you can get a rain barrel or grey water system? Might helpnyou save money in the long run.
Part of the issue is drought. The main problem is the water rights here in CA. Google it—you’ll get an eyeful. People have literally choked off the water supply to entire towns so they can grow almonds. 😞6 -
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