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Bath or shower - how often ?

(225 Posts)
NanKate Thu 26-Feb-15 20:17:00

I shower every day but I suspect it is not too good for my dry skin.

Wheniwasyourage Thu 26-Feb-15 22:37:37

Once a year, whether I need it or not. (Like Queen Elizabeth, if memory serves, but it may have been someone else.)

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-Feb-15 22:40:43

shock She's got a bidet!!! (points down the thread) grin

jinglbellsfrocks Thu 26-Feb-15 22:41:09

Sorry!

Agus Thu 26-Feb-15 22:47:36

Beats crouching over a basin! grin

merlotgran Thu 26-Feb-15 23:10:25

Bring back bidets grin

merlotgran Thu 26-Feb-15 23:12:26

Mind you, weren't they always a bit low down? I'd need one raised on a plinth.

Galen Thu 26-Feb-15 23:12:35

Can't get in and out of bath hence shower. 2-3 weekly, more often in a warm summer. I also have very dry skin but I don't find that moisturising helps.

NanKate Fri 27-Feb-15 07:40:49

Yes I find getting out of the bath tricky as I have to exit on my hands and knees and my one bent toe is very painful when I push down on it to get out, hence I haven't had a bath for a couple of years.

I am just going through a regime to help with my eczema which requires bathing in special 'melts'. I am thinking of hiring a crane to lift me out. grin

Falconbird Fri 27-Feb-15 08:17:31

Suddenly baths and showers have become quite worrying. I used to soak fr hours in the bath but now I'm a widow I worry about not being able to get out or falling down. I have a shower but can't relax because a friend (younger than me) fell down in the shower and was badly bruised.

On other days I do bits and pits and wash my feet every other day in the shower.

Oh to be young again, jumping in and out of the bath and never thinking twice.

Jane10 Fri 27-Feb-15 09:01:13

My Dr is very clear that you shouldn't bath/shower every day. It upsets the protective layer on skin thus leading to needing artificial re moisturisation. Of course all the skin care product manufacturers have a bonanza! We're all animals and don't need to sluice ourselves down with surfactants every day. Its a 20th century habit not a necessity. 2/3 times a week is plenty with a good wash each day.

Falconbird Fri 27-Feb-15 09:22:43

Interesting Jane 10. I had come to that conclusion myself. My skin in general is pretty good for my age unless I look at my face through my specs., which is quite scary smile.

When I do shower I use nothing but water and moisturise my skin with baby cream because I have eczema. I think it's important to make sure everything is dry especially under the boobs.

I have a good wash using no soap and use a small hand towel.

Brendawymms Fri 27-Feb-15 09:38:36

Bath every other day. Used to have a bath every night without fail but as my skin has got dryer I moved to every other. I hate showers as you can't read in them!

henetha Fri 27-Feb-15 09:46:16

All over sponge wash every day. Shower every third day. Don't possess a bath, sadly.
The modern mania for daily baths or showers is completely unecessary
and a waste of the world's resources.

tanith Fri 27-Feb-15 10:33:55

But I love my shower I'd stay in there for much longer if the bathroom didn't steam up so, even with the window open.. I don't care whats proper or correct or indeed good for my skin I can't wait to jump in there every morning , we had the bath removed because with my hips it became impossible to get out and now have a marvellous, spacious, delicious walkin and as I say it may not be necessary but I'm going in there at least once every day..grin

janerowena Fri 27-Feb-15 10:39:54

If I have been doing too much digging, I use the power shower in DBH's bathroom, it's wonderful on my back and shoulders.

Charleygirl Fri 27-Feb-15 11:15:26

Falconbird I bought a shower stool when I had my bath removed and shower fitted and it has been invaluable to me. I sit on it when washing my hair and rinsing it but I stand when showering my body etc.

Buy a sturdy one, some are very flimsy.

Teetime Fri 27-Feb-15 14:57:06

Even though I have dry skin and eczema since the menopause I have to have at least one bath/shower daily to start the day and on golf days certainly another shower when I come in. I tend only to bath if I'm cold though and need warming up.

ninathenana Fri 27-Feb-15 15:14:54

There was an article about this in the DM yesterday. One lady showered one a week another 3 times a day. Each to their own.
I shower/wash hair 2-3 times a week and to 'bits and pits' (love that expression smile) other days.
DD loves a good soak in the bath, but will then shower straight after 'because she's been sitting in dirty water' !

annodomini Fri 27-Feb-15 15:21:56

As children, we had a nightly bath, though I usually had to use my sisters' water. A habit inculcated as a child, would be hard to break, though it is now a morning shower.

jinglbellsfrocks Fri 27-Feb-15 18:10:26

Yes, I do the bath followed by a shower rinse off thing. Hygienic. [halo]

roastchicken

Granoveve Fri 27-Feb-15 19:03:00

I'd rather shower at night, to wash of the grime of the day instead of leaving it on the sheets ready to get into the next night. I reckon that way I can change the sheets just once a week. My OH reckons it's better to shower in the morning to wash off the sweats of the night (and the previous day's grime).
Whatever you're happy with is good. I just wish getting out if the bath wasn't such a challenge ( hip issues).
In summer, it might be a night and morning shower anyway.

Grannyknot Fri 27-Feb-15 19:19:24

granoveve you change sheets every week shock grin

Re the OP, I do what others have said - shower some mornings and then probably bath the evening of the following day. If that's not the case, I stand in the bath and grab the hand shower for a quickie.

It also depends where you live of course, when we lived in hot SA, I would shower more than once a day, just to cool off.

Liz46 Fri 27-Feb-15 19:24:45

In my experience, people who do not shower or bath in the morning smell a bit 'unfresh'.

For me and my OH it is a shower every morning. We have an allotment and I have had to get used to going out of the house in the morning without having a shower which was very difficult. We do an hour or two on the allotment and then come home and have a shower.

Ana Fri 27-Feb-15 19:56:27

How do you know who showers every morning, Liz? Do you actually ask them, holding a hanky over your nose as you do so? hmm

loopylou Fri 27-Feb-15 19:58:14

I can't go to bed without a bath or shower, with a morning shower & hair wash and like granoveve I change the sheet/duvet/pillowcases every week..... it would seem very strange not to hmm. I love the feeling of clean, ironed bed linen and my idea of luxury would be clean, ironed sheets dried outside, everyday- you cannot beat the smell smile