According to Harvard Medical School, two-thirds of Americans bathe daily. In Australia, that number is higher, as 80 percent of people bathe daily. However, in China, only about 50 percent of people bathe twice a week.
So why do we bathe so often? We smell? It helps us wake up in the morning or relax in the evening? Is it because we sweat during exercise routines? Well, sure, but bathing every day might actually not be so good for you.
Harvard Medical School warns against bathing every day, saying that it can dry out your skin, making it irritated or itchy. In addition, washing and scrubbing your skin every day removes layers of oil and “good” bacteria and other microorganisms, which help improve your immune system.
So, what’s the verdict? How often do you bathe?
A lot of “older rv’s” don’t have air conditioners designed to drop temps 20 to 25 degrees. For older units 15 degrees was the number.
What’s that got to do with how often you bathe?
When it’s that hot, people sweat more and, therefore, stink worse!
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday Night unless it is hot & sticky out or I have been doung some work getting me dirty. Then I get in the shower no matter the time of day. When on the road and using the campground showers, i try and wait until the warmest time of day, I hate getting chilled.
That’s always a complaint from people at tourist attractions. They say older people smell funny. We do. If we don’t bathe everyday you sweat and your hair sours not to mention all the other body odor. As we get older we shrink and tall people always stand behind short people in a crowd. So their noses are directly in your head. It stinks. It’s a healthy routine to bathe daily, it gets you up and out of bed or the chair.
Its disgusting to think people don’t bath everyday.
Not a boondocker, eh ron?
The question could be interpreted in more than 1way: do I bathe daily, or do I “wash up” every morning (you know..all the vital parts get hit with soap & water) and then just fully bathe every few days. My response reflects the latter😂
George Carlin explained the finer points of when and what to wash in one of his ‘rants’. Great stuff, but not for the easily offended . . .
That’s what my dermatologist told me to do.
At least once a day. Warm temperatures or activity can require 2 or more.
I’ve worked with the elderly my entire life. They are wonderful & have taught me more in life than I could ever repay…….but one thing I’ve always known, it’s just fact, old people have a foul body odor. Period. It’s natural, so don’t think you’re (or me) the exception. Younger people have a better sense of smell….while older people don’t shed dead skin as well as they once did & they retain more odors . I’ve always tried to keep this in mind as I’m getting older. Bathe daily if you don’t want others to think you smell…….that’s the only way to contain it.
Oh, Renee! You brought a smile to my face with your comment. My two grandmothers had a distinct smell that I can still sense to this day. Thanks for the memories.
Every other day when wintering in the southwest desert & daily when summering in Michigan.
I figure I’m good in 2020 without bathing as often. I doubt that I smell bad enough that anyone 6′ away and wearing a mask can smell me!
If they’re closer than that, it’s a deterrent…
;<)
Funny!
I put every few days but it actually depends. If I am working and getting more than just my hands dirty, I shower. If it’s a particularly hot day and I sweat a lot, I shower. But I have been saying for years that, as a whole, our society is too clean for our own good.
I shower and wash my hair every day. To protect my skin I use sensitive-skin body wash and baby shampoo. Then, after that, I also apply lotion all over.
This boondocker with limited water supply says every few days.
I shower every evening “before” I go to bed. For the life of me, I never have understood how people can go to bed with a dirty body, day after day. Even those who shower in the morning, they are still going to bed dirty. Can you imagine how much more (and quicker) your bed sheets get filthy?
12 years ago I moved from Caladan to Arrakis to care for my elderly parents and when my caregiving days end I will move back.
In the NW I showered every day but when I moved to the SW I started conserving water by showering every other day and I adopted the philosophy of “if it’s yellow let it mellow” and flush only after 2-3 toilet uses which saves maybe 5,000 gallons a year.
In the time I’ve been here this part of the world has become more uninhabitable with Nevada just recording the hottest, driest summer since record keeping began. In August we had 2 solid weeks over 110 degrees with Death Valley registering the hottest day ever at 130! The SW was never suitable for large-scale human settlement so when Mom is gone I’ll return to where it is more responsible to live and water is more plentiful.
Every few days but not by choice, would shower every day but my water supply is limited. I do take a “sponge bath” daily.
Every few days by choice. I read a report a couple years back that said that bathing every day can cause dry skin because the soap strips away your skins natural oils. They recommended bathing only 2-3 times a week. I worked in a job that was so dirty I had to shower every day but since I retired I only do it 2-3 times a week and my dry skin has vastly improved.
I could have written this comment. Ditto on all counts except working in a dirty job. I was corporate America. Maybe that means I just felt dirty enough to have to shower everyday. 😁
If your odor offends others or yourself, it’s time.
Baby wipes in the pits and crotch works almost as good as a navy shower.
Wow! It sounds like many of you grew up with running water, heat and electricity.
Good God!
Some Just can’t seem to get away from politics and others won’t let whatever just go by without having to make a comment. Come on can’t we have a politics free zone here.
Geez!
When boondocking, usually every other day, otherwise everyday. It is an invigorating way to start the day.