Never mind bath v shower, how about not washing at all?

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/aug/05/i-dont-smell-meet-the-people-who-have-stopped-washing?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Goodness me, I couldn't do that. I won't be joining either.

I read that article with interest. I have already begun by washing my hair this AM with hot water only. Last night I cleaned my face with olive oil. I used soap only on armpits.

I'd love to be a horse and roll in dust but that not possible unless there were attendants to roll me and help me to stand up afterwards.

According to medical and societal studies across continents, we wash far too frequently - bodies, hair, clothes, to the exclusion of our own skin regulatory processes, the self cleaning properties of wool, degradation of other clothing materials and harm to the environment.

It makes sense to me.
These people are washing specific areas if they smell, and no more.
I can't see anything wrong with that, our bodies are very good at self regulation.

I couldn't cope with not washing. It's like a ritual every morning as I either shower or stripwash but to go without either would drive me insane.
It's whatever you're used to doing I suppose, or not doing.

When I was young and at boarding school, we bathed once a week, we had a roll of clean clothes on our bed every Friday and that too had to last a week. I cannot remember any of us having an odour problem, although I can remember the rank smell of some people on public transport.

We bathed once a week, and my mum was the most fastidious person ever, throughout her life.
So I'm very sure we never ponged.
Again, we have shelves upon shelves available - clean? Not enough anymore; germ free, hygienic, antibacterial, you name it, we 'fight it' (with the help of Johnson and Johnson et al)

I think we all grew up a lot dirtier baths once a week. That was confirmed to me when I was in Australia in the early '80s and became acquainted with the "clean as a pommie's bath towel" comment the natives liked to throw in the direction of Brits. No excuse now with the proliferation of power showers.

I've stumbled across some rank smelling individuals in shops of late, their odour preceding them. I suppose we all smelt that bad once

I remember the weekly bath as well. Clean underwear afterwards. There were certainly no wipes, intimate sprays or other non essentials. Soap and water and maybe some bath salts if you were lucky. They were very gritty.

I've never been able to drive, so have used public transport for years and years, but I'm always amazed by the amount of smelly people that others encounter (always on buses, it seems)
It has been very, very rare that I've ever met a real stinker.

I'd love to be a horse and roll in dust

Horses are very smelly, Alexa

I remember the weekly bath but we did top and tail every day. And the not very frequently changed underwear. I don't think we smelled too bad. I can only recall one child at primary school who really smelled bad.

Of course, it's companies that want to sell their products that have led the obsession with hyper cleanliness. Lots of businesses, and jobs, would be lost if we reverted to 1950s standards...

I really can't stand standing behind or near people who smoke or have recently smoked. Their clothes (and breath) often stink although they don't appear to be aware of it.
I have to walk away. Some people's clothes and hair smell of food/cooking. Not so much nowadsys but

Pressed send too soon.

...nowadays but still smell it now and then. Ugh! ?

Few years ago I decided to use a natural deodorant as I understood there are harmful chemicals in the usual brands. After a few days, despite regular showers, I was emitting a distinct pong! Apparently this is to be expected, but I couldn't bear it and went back to chemicals. I think back in the day when bathing was a weekly affair we all smelt so it was normal so not offensiy. During the war appaithe Americans thought we stank too.

Offensive and apparently should be in there somewhere. Predictive text seems to be making up its own language!

Yes the weekly Luke warm bath!

We had clean clothes once a week, we must surely have smelt, but I can’t say I was ever aware of it, there were a couple of girls who really did smell awful, presumably they only had a monthly bath!

I’m afraid I’m now a clean freak.

Thinking about deodorants. When I was around four or five years old I remember my mother using pads to soak up sweat from under her arm pits. They were fixed to the dress in some way. Then along came Arid deodorant and Odorono. I suspect she used the pads as she was allergic to a lot is chemicals.

We had clean clothes every day, and had our necks scrubbed with a flannel in case of a 'tide mark'.

This sounds like me. I've always washed my 'pennies and tuppences' daily, but only with water.
Same with underarms.
Occasionally I sweat a lot during the night then have a warm shower in the morning. I used to enjoy a hot bath, but it doesn't do any good to your skin.
I think I've got the aversion to soap from my Mum, so many years ago. She had lovely skin, even in old age, and never used soap.

Liase I remember those underarm sweat pads. Can't remember how they were attached though. Something like velcro?
And Odorono!

Like others, only had a bath once a week when small. Hair washed same time.
Certainly didn’t have clean clothes every day, and I don’t imagine my friends did either, but I honestly cannot remember anyone smelled.
When the advert came out where a woman whispered in someone’s ear - “B.O.” my sister and I didn’t know what the initials meant!
Can remember having ‘grufty’ hands if you didn’t wash them properly.

Yerrrssss. I well remember the dreaded 'tide mark'.
Weekly bath in a tin bath by the fire and clothes airing on the fire-guard well back from the grate.

We were scrubbed till we were red and the towels were less than luxurious but did the job.
It was dad who combed our wet hair to help it dry while we children drank Horlicks or Ovaltine and ate supper of bread spread with butter and 'G'berry jam, cut into quarters and stiff from the heat of the fender.
Very happy family times.

We moved to our own home when I was 9 but those first years sharing a house with dad's mum and sister were wonderful, despite certain privations.