# How often do you shower? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541 "2008-12-24T14:39:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TommyTutone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@TommyTutone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TommyTutone)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/1 "2008-12-24T14:39:42Z")
To me, there is little as refreshing and necessary as a shower first thing in the morning. I absolutely cannot function without showering immediately as I feel all grimy otherwise. The only exception to the immediate shower is when I have yard work planned, where I will shower once it is done. The wife, however, since she works from home full time, has gone into a showering every two or three days. She thinks I’m crazy to shower daily, that lots of people around the world do not (which I admit is true), and that it is unnecessary. Now here it is, on XMas Eve and we are going to her family’s house for the day without showering because her skin has dried in the cold weather. So I ask the world, how often do you shower, and where in the world are you? ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/2 "2008-12-24T14:41:51Z")
I am in the United States. I shower every day. On the weekends, if I’m not going anywhere, I take a bath instead. I cannot go more than one day without bathing. My hair gets gross otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/3 "2008-12-24T14:46:45Z")
California. I shower twice a day after working out. ---
**Author:** ![Theodore\_Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Theodore\_Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore_Striker)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/4 "2008-12-24T14:50:28Z")
Once a day if I don’t swim or work out, twice a day if I do either of those things, or something that makes me feel equally as grubby. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/5 "2008-12-24T14:51:03Z")
Once a day, sometimes twice. However, what your wife says sounds plausible (at least to me, because I have no sense of smell). Does she smell or look unclean? ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/6 "2008-12-24T14:55:10Z")
Every day first thing in the morning. However, if it’s a Saturday and I’m going to be doing some dirty task first thing that day (yard work, car repair, etc.) I’ll take a shower afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/7 "2008-12-24T14:55:16Z")
Usually once a day. Sometimes I skip a day. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/8 "2008-12-24T14:56:58Z")
Daily showering is not the norm, nor is it medically necessary for 99+% of people. In fact, it’s a major contributor to dry skin and other dermatological conditions. I end up advising a lot of patients who have skin complaints to shower less frequently. In the winter, I shower every other day, unless I have exercised in which case it’s more often. In summer, I tend to shower daily, despite it not being medically necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/9 "2008-12-24T14:58:35Z")
At least once a day, sometimes twice if I feel skanky by the end of the day or I’m going out that night. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/10 "2008-12-24T15:00:02Z")
During the summer I shower at least once and sometimes twice a day. In the winter I shower probably 5 days a week. If I shower more than that it dries out my skin to the point of cracking and bleeding. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/11 "2008-12-24T15:10:16Z")
I shower first thing in the morning if I have to get up and get going. I don’t feel awake otherwise. If I’m staying home all day, I may not shower at all. Usually it’s an at least once a day occurance though. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/12 "2008-12-24T15:15:45Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Daily showering is not the norm, nor is it medically necessary for 99+% of people. In fact, it’s a major contributor to dry skin and other dermatological conditions. I end up advising a lot of patients who have skin complaints to shower less frequently. Wearing deoderant, combing your hair, and having fresh breath isn’t medically necessary either but it is considerate 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/13 "2008-12-24T15:24:18Z")
When I was working I showered first thing every morning and then again in the evening after working out. Part of it is that I hate being sweaty and part is that I can’t comb my hair without getting it wet first. Now I work out first and then shower, but in the summer I usually swim a lot and I don’t have to wash my hair every day. ETA: I’m in California. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/14 "2008-12-24T15:31:40Z")
Twice a day on work days, once a day on off days. I hate being funky. ---
**Author:** ![lavenderviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/cdc98d/32.png) [@lavenderviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lavenderviolet)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/15 "2008-12-24T15:42:00Z")
> [@TommyTutone](#): > > To me, there is little as refreshing and necessary as a shower first thing in the morning. I absolutely cannot function without showering immediately as I feel all grimy otherwise. The only exception to the immediate shower is when I have yard work planned, where I will shower once it is done. I’m an American, and that describes my view on the matter too. Since puberty, I just feel gross if I don’t shower once a day. Even if I won’t see anyone else during the day and am just bumming around at home, I shower for my own sake. 🙂 Even if I didn’t enjoy a daily shower, though, I’d still do it daily anytime I was around other people (including family/friends) to be considerate. Unfortunately, some people have more sensitive senses of smell than others do. I think most of us have had the unfortunate experience of being around a coworker or such that has bad hygiene and has an offensive body odor without recognizing it. I would never want to unknowingly be that person. ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/16 "2008-12-24T15:58:00Z")
Once a day. If I’ve been really gross at work (sweaty, dusty, warehouse work) I will shower when I get home, too. If I don’t wash my hair every day, I get funky, then I get grumpy. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/17 "2008-12-24T16:00:35Z")
I shower every day before going to work. Weekends or other times when I’m not at work, generally every other day. I never go three days. I live in Michigan. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/18 "2008-12-24T16:06:29Z")
In summer, a couple times a day. In winter- every other day and now and then every three days. My house is basically unheated so it is about 30 degrees inside these days. Even changing my clothes sucks, much less getting full on naked. My water heater is scary as hell to light and doesn’t work great anyway. Showering is for sure the low point of my life these days. Two more months till spring… ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/19 "2008-12-24T16:07:19Z")
In the mornings before I go to work, and then when I come home if I’m commuting by bike. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2008, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541/20 "2008-12-24T16:11:46Z")
The norm is every other day (I have dry skin and hot water irritates it), unless I am sweaty or dirty, in which case I will shower regardless. The health of my hair has also improved since I stopped washing it every day. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-do-you-shower/478541.md?page=2)