Male Cleanliness

[nailit]

Some time ago I had a male friend who said that I was the only person he knew that bathed everyday. I wasnt surprised as he wasnt the cleanest person i knew at the time. I also had another male friend who bathed every second or third day but was never smelly or dirty. However I recently mentioned to a couple of (male) friends that I bath everyday (it was during a conversation about saving water on a metre) and they were both surprised that daily bathing was something I participated in. I also bought my son up to bath everyday. As a child my father only allowed me one bath a week and even when I started work as a gardener and came home stinking of sweat and dirt he still only allowed me one bath a week, believing that I could somehow wash my natural body oils away. When I left home I bathed EVERYDAY, and have done so since.

So what is it with males that we (they) think that its not normal to keep our bodies clean on a daily basis?
I'm genuinly interested to hear others views on this as I cant understand how anyone can go for more than a day without a bath, shower or at least a good washdown. Even when ive been in prison (most ABers will know Im an ex con) and not had access to showers from one week until the next, Ive strip washed every day.

Are males a dirty species?

[murraymints]

we both shower daily again at night if I have been in garden or doing heavyish work about the place..oh spends HOURS in loo with paper and mobile ! we go through 2 toilet rolls a day.only him and me...think he eats it !

[mikey4444]

Cloverjo...my dad used to say that in a house with a wife, 4 boys, and a Boxer dog, the loo was the only place that he could read a newspaper in peace !

[in a mo]

I know men who bathe or shower everyday but still wear the same clothes day in day out .maybe that is the reason for the odour.

[Peter Pedant]

Oh god you mean I am meant to change my vest and shirt ?

[andy-hughes]

phleb - "My fella will scrub his face clean, but showers three times a week, i think he smells and to be honest i don't go near him any more urghh. Its a massive put off to us women ..."

I find it odd that you apparently share a home and a bed with someone, but don't feel able to advise them that they have a hygene problem.

Who will tell us these things if not our nearest and dearest?

I would have a word - today!

To address the OP, I bathe every other day, and I shower twice a day in the summer, but I do wash myself throguhly every day and use deoderant and cologne every day.

There is no reason for anyone to have BO in modern society, if they have access to washing faclities and clean clothes.

[dave50]

A shower or bath every other day is more than enough if you are not doing a physically demanding job. I do know some people who shower twice a day, which is ridiculous and way over the top.
Moving on from this, how many people use a towel once then put it in the wash? If you have a shower twice a day and use a fresh towel every time, just think of the wasted energy and water. Again this is ridiculous, just leave it to dry until the next day

[ummmm]

BO is not always down to cleanliness. Clean people get BO. Botox is used to treat the problem....

My boys rarely miss a shower. My OH tends to bath and then shower, he has a dirty job and a hot bath helps get him clean, shower washes off the grime he's been laying in. He still gets up and and has a wash in the morning....completely pointless in my point of view.

Me...I shower everyday....I only wash my hair when I need to though.

[andy-hughes]

ummm - BO is not always down to cleanliness. Clean people get BO. Botox is used to treat the problem...."

A fair point.

Perspiration does not smell. Stale perspiration, which allows bateria to breed is what causes the odour, so a claen body in dirty clothes will smell because of the residue of stale perspiration left behind.

There are extreme cases where people do produce body odour no matter how often they shower and change - but these cases are thankfully rare.

If you pass someone who is humming, they have either failed to wash or bathe for a couple of days, of they are not changing their clothing often enough.

[jomifl]

Some peope are just sweatier than others. It is possible to shower to frequently, an ex colleague of mine had a fungus infection in her ears because she showered twice per day. Her GP recommended that she should try to give it up.

[ummmm]

I do agree in general.

[ummmm]

My OH sweats like a pig. In the summer he often comes home from work damp from sweat. He never ever smells.

[seadogg]

Some people, often those on the lean side with moderate body hair, can get away with "a lick and a promise", while others just have to shower and bathe conscientiously to avoid BO.

[jomifl]

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/how-often-do-you-really-need-to-shower

[Slapshot]

No don't think we are, Shower when I get up in the morning, often at night as well and always afetr any exercise.... don't object to sweaty, but it gets stale very quickly, that I do object to. Don't use deoderants or other smelly stuff.