# Let's ponder what's up with people who don't bathe regularly. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 10, 2011, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843 "2011-04-10T05:26:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/121 "2013-01-09T16:06:07Z")
You guys are missing the bloody obvious explanation: There are witches among us! And your little dog, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/122 "2013-01-09T16:12:10Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I had an uncle (my mother’s brother) who bathed daily but _refused_ to use deodorant. I don’t really know why he refused, but he always smelled like B.O. in spite of his daily baths. I know there are people who don’t use deodorant and it’s not heinous, but in his case, it definitely _was_. One time, when he was hospitalized on an emergency basis, we had to assemble a hospital bag for him. My mother decided to throw a stick of deodorant in there, and I took it to him in the hospital. He went through everything with me standing there, and when he got to the deodorant, he said “Huh. Someone must have accidentally packed this” and tossed it aside! Oh well, we tried! > > Fortunately, my husband and I have the kind of relationship where if one of us is, uh, malodorous, we think nothing of saying (not maliciously) “Hey, babe, you need to shower before you come to bed!” There is a guy I work with that gets really gamey during the summer. Once I said something to him ( the guy has lots of direct customer contact, after all )and he said “talk to my wife, she likes me this way.” And other coworkers have told me his wife will snuggle up in his underarm and inhale deeply. They’re European. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/123 "2013-01-09T16:29:44Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > You guys are missing the bloody obvious explanation: There are witches among us! > > And your little dog, too. That explains it: my dog’s nickname is Stinky! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/124 "2013-01-09T18:04:36Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > There is a guy I work with that gets really gamey during the summer. Once I said something to him ( the guy has lots of direct customer contact, after all )and he said “talk to my wife, she likes me this way.” And other coworkers have told me his wife will snuggle up in his underarm and inhale deeply. > > They’re European. _puke_ If anything needs a barfing smiley, this is it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/125 "2013-01-09T18:40:14Z")
I know some people don’t use deoderant out of fear the aluminum in it may lead to Alzheimers. While that may or may not be a legitimate concern, it’s immaterial because the fear is already deeply set. I really only recall three people who’s odor was deeply offensive. One was decades back, an older, very obese next door neighbor when I was a poor college student. Whether from poverty, obesity or just not caring he never bathed nor brushed his teeth. I’d stand outside and talk to him but always had to position myself upwind. It was stale, gamey, sweaty stink and it made you resolve to succeed in life, stay mentally alert and never spiral to such a dismal state. The next two were just a couple of years ago and co-workers of mine. That’s what made it so infuriating, it’s not just that should they know better but seriously, for the life of me I couldn’t understand how they weren’t overcome themselves. We’re well educated, motivated, well compensated professionals in a very international, competative environment, yet both of them had the worst breath and BO. You literally couldn’t be in a room with them. Once I walked into an office where Victor was helping someone and the smell was just awful. Then the client turned to look at me and his eyes were red and the look on his face anquished as if silently pleading with me to get Victor or him out of there. At a conference I saw people sitting next to him casually move further back or reach for candies on the table to combat the smell. I finally had a friend tell him, then had to do the same thing for a countrywoman of his because her personal hygine was just as offensive. She’d stand at the door of my office and fifteen feet away I’d have to casually cover my nose with my hand. So with them I think it was cultural as they were from the same African country but, again, how on God’s green Earth do you not know when in fact it hits everyone else like a frikkin’ brick wall. Why should I have to embarass you or me by saying something when you’re supposed to be a professional? Ugh, yes, I was very frustrated by the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2013, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/126 "2013-01-09T21:25:54Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > I had an uncle (my mother’s brother) who bathed daily but _refused_ to use deodorant. I don’t really know why he refused, but he always smelled like B.O. in spite of his daily baths. I know there are people who don’t use deodorant and it’s not heinous, but in his case, it definitely _was_. One time, when he was hospitalized on an emergency basis, we had to assemble a hospital bag for him. My mother decided to throw a stick of deodorant in there, and I took it to him in the hospital. He went through everything with me standing there, and when he got to the deodorant, he said “Huh. Someone must have accidentally packed this” and tossed it aside! Oh well, we tried! I knew a guy like this when I lived in Europe. He thought that using a deodorant meant a man was gay, he was homophobic, and refused to use any. He showered every day, and thought that took care of it. It was hard for him to believe it when I said that the morning shower had given way to underarm stink by evening. The stink was noticable, in spite of the daily wash. ---
**Author:** ![sunshine2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@sunshine2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunshine2013)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/127 "2013-01-30T19:11:11Z")
I stumbled onto this site by way of DepressionForums. There was a thread similar to this one. I do know that not showering/bathing is related to clinical depression and other mental illnesses. However, I don’t believe mental illness alone causes a person not to keep themselves clean. I suffer from bi-polar depression, anxiety attacks, agoraphobia and borderline personality disorder and I shower every morning and every night before bed. I enjoy it. Not only that, I was raised to believe that showering/bathing was NOT optional. No matter how “unmotivated” I may feel on any given day, daily showering is non-negotiable! Also, the very few times I have let it slide for a few days–my depression got WORSE! And yea, it would stand to reason that if you are dirty you’ll be depressed. I have sweet-smelling body washes and lotions to use afterward. I keep my bathroom clean and comfortable. I have a scented candle in there also. My bathroom is like a spa! So I can’t understand why anyone would not clean themselves daily. There must be something else going on besides mental illness. If a person wants to have any kind of a life then showering/bathing is NOT OPTIONAL! ---
**Author:** ![bauble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@bauble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bauble)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/128 "2013-01-30T22:16:57Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > I know some people don’t use deoderant out of fear the aluminum in it may lead to Alzheimers. Are you sure about that? I thought it was anti-perspirants that had aluminum. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/129 "2013-01-30T22:26:52Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I haven’t bathed in years. I do shower though. Grin! Me too… I live in a small apartment without a tub. Sigh! I really miss a long, hot, lazy soak! A grand-uncle of mine, way back in the 19-teens, had a family who believed that not bathing would be fatal. They actually thought it would kill you if you didn’t bathe regularly. So, to prove the point, he went for over a month without bating. Didn’t die! (Became moderately unpopular, but didn’t die!) ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/130 "2013-01-30T23:08:53Z")
I had a roommate in the Army who would not shower. We finally had to drag him into the shower strip him down and scrub him.\* All the while he struggled and cried. I felt horrible participating in what felt like a rape. Every few days after that we would have to threaten to do it again before he would shower. Even then we would have to have someone watch to make sure he didn’t just let the water run for a while and get his hair wet. After a few months he would start showering on his own every other day or so once he realized we weren’t going to let up. \*We were advised by the First Sargent that this was better than him bringing up charges before the Commander. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2013, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/131 "2013-01-30T23:54:36Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It’s a classic symptom of chronic depression. I skip a day now and then, when my anti-depressant isn’t working well. What’s wrong with skipping a day every now and then, though? I shower probably 3 times a week at most, and I definitely don’t stink – friends and family would tell me, probably in very X-rated terms. I just don’t like being wet (some places excepted – I’m male, so it’s often OK when…you get the idea) – it’s a hassle, and uncomfortable when it’s cold and humid outside. Sure, it’s nice to feel all fresh and clean, but as long as I’m immaculately groomed, well-dressed, and clean shaven (on the face), I look good, feel fine, and nobody says shit to me. For the Henri IV in the OP – probably just lazy or crazy, I agree with everyone else. Heed the advice to Jack T Ripper – “Have a little wash and brush up. Always does wonders for a man, that.” So have him watch _Dr Strangelove_, or _Once Upon A Time in the West_ (scene where what’s-her-name says something like “some hot water and I’ll be good as new”). ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/132 "2013-01-31T01:01:59Z")
> [@bauble](#): > > Are you sure about that? I thought it was antiperspirants that had aluminum. You are correct. The problem is that it seems the vast majority of people mistake antiperspirant for deodorant - because it usually includes a deodorant too - and don’t seem to know that deodorant exists on its own and can be had without the aluminum. I hang with a fairly crunchy crowd, and they don’t stink. Some shower daily, some shower every other day, all use at least deodorant and wear clean clothes - most stay away from antiperspirant because they want to be natural about how they sweat. Soaps are generally of the Castile sort, and some don’t even use shampoo. I would even venture to say they’re some of the most neutral-smelling people because they don’t use perfumed and strongly scented soaps/shampoos/antiperspirants/hair products and such. Naturally scented stuff doesn’t linger and throw off scent for 5 feet for hours after using it. Still, some sort of at least every other day bathing and non-aluminum deodorant seems to do the trick, aside from someone occasionally overdoing the patchouli. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/133 "2013-01-31T01:24:53Z")
Two words that probably apply to some of the people who have been mentioned: [olfactory fatigue](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olfactory_fatigue). Regarding the correlation/lack of correlation between obesity and odors, it isn’t how much extra weight you’re carrying, it’s how deep the folds are and whether you can keep them relatively clean and dry. I know one person who had no problem until she had her bariatric surgery and lost a lot of weight, because until then she had no folds. She and her doctor fought with her insurance company for years before they relented and covered surgery to take in the slack. They documented many infections and kept pushing the danger of Septicemia. The location of the folds that needed to go? Her ankles. ---
**Author:** ![IaMoDiNaRy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@IaMoDiNaRy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IaMoDiNaRy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/134 "2013-01-31T03:52:16Z")
I just can NOT imagine going without a bath! I have a very sensitive sense of smell and I can’t stand the smell of an unwashed body. There are so many areas of the body that can emit odors if they aren’t washed daily. The feet, the crotch, armpits, the scalp… I think the people that say they don’t stink must have a very poor sense of smell or they’ve just gotten used to the smell of their own unwashed body. For those that have said they don’t bath and they’ve heard no complaints, don’t kid yourself! As you’ve read here, most people are reluctant to tell someone else they stink! So you probably do but your friends, family and co-workers are afraid they’ll hurt your feelings… take a bath for all our sakes! Thank you! Ick! ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/135 "2013-01-31T04:48:26Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > For those that have said they don’t bath and they’ve heard no complaints, don’t kid yourself! As you’ve read here, most people are reluctant to tell someone else they stink! Probably true for most. I shower twice a week, maybe thrice. I tell my friends all kinds of vile, disgusting true things about themselves, and they do the same for me. Just not about stench. If I haven’t been brushing teeth lately and drinking lots of tea – “Har har your teeth look like you ate a big bunch of ass-crotch.” Stains on my pants? “Stop thinking about your sister and get laid, you fucking pussy.” Trust me, twice a week is just fine for me. I think that’s a pretty normal average for Europeans. I’ve read that the average West German (in those days) changed their underpants once every five days. And the French? Famous for their “baths.” Showering/having a bath per day seems incredibly useless, pointless, and obsessive – like the kind of people who have their cars detailed even if they’re not selling it. Look good, look sharp, smell good, dress good – showering daily is just some relic from an ancient menstruation cleansing ritual taken to great extremes. Unless, of course, you stink. Then you should wash, and don’t forget to use the soap. That’s just common sense. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/136 "2013-01-31T04:59:51Z")
Laziness, mild depression and lacking in social awareness. Severe mental illness also (psychosis). Also being male in your 20s or 30s helps. Ask me how I know these things. Even now with better hygiene I only brush my teeth once a day and bathe every 2 or 3 days. FWIW, if you do only bathe every other day I recommend a deodorant soap, not a moisturizing soap. I tried the latter and it didn’t really deal with underarm odor even if I bathed daily. Is it bad that I just figured that out recently? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/137 "2013-01-31T05:08:36Z")
> [@IaMoDiNaRy](#): > > There are so many areas of the body that can emit odors if they aren’t washed daily. The feet, the crotch, armpits, the scalp… I think the people that say they don’t stink must have a very poor sense of smell or they’ve just gotten used to the smell of their own unwashed body. Many people who don’t bathe/shower daily nonetheless wash the crotch and pits - you can still wash the stinky bits without washing everything. There’s a difference between “skip the shower” and “don’t wash anything at all”. ---
**Author:** ![jack\_tardiff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/43a26b/32.png) [@jack\_tardiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jack_tardiff)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/138 "2013-01-31T05:09:55Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Even now with better hygiene I only brush my teeth once a day and bathe every 2 or 3 days. > > FWIW, if you do only bathe every other day I recommend a deodorant soap, not a moisturizing soap. I tried the latter and it didn’t really deal with underarm odor even if I bathed daily. Is it bad that I just figured that out recently? Yeah, that’s kind of bad that you didn’t realize that until after you went over the hill (I’m assuming given your assessment of 20-30-somethings). I don’t know what moisturizing soap is except something some women have in their showers, but a good soap is critical. Can take a lot of scrubbing with the regular kind of soap to get out the stench if you have a “lost week” (er, I mean, really busy). Can’t stop until the blood starts to flow from the pits – kind of like wiping your ass for a porn shoot, I guess. Good to know I’m not the only “freak” who is on a two or three day schedule for showering. I also brush once qd – never had a cavity in my life, and my teeth are remarkably white for someone who drinks a LOT of tea and visits a dentist and hygienist once a year at most. Takes all sorts, I guess. > [@Broomstick](#): > > Many people who don’t bathe/shower daily nonetheless wash the crotch and pits - you can still wash the stinky bits without washing everything. There’s a difference between “skip the shower” and “don’t wash anything at all”. French bath, baby! AKA whore’s bath, but damned if it doesn’t do the trick sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/139 "2013-01-31T05:26:08Z")
Musicians don’t always bathe either, nor do some bikers. In Motley Crue Tommy Lee and Nikki Sixx had a bet to determine who could go the longest without bathing before a groupie got sick or refused to perform sexual acts on them. Nikki Sixx won after a woman who was giving him fellatio vomited spaghetti all over his stomach due to his BO. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/140 "2013-01-31T05:32:41Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > Grin! Me too… I live in a small apartment without a tub. Sigh! I really miss a long, hot, lazy soak! > > A grand-uncle of mine, way back in the 19-teens, had a family who believed that not bathing would be fatal. They actually thought it would kill you if you didn’t bathe regularly. So, to prove the point, he went for over a month without bating. Didn’t die! (Became moderately unpopular, but didn’t die!) I think showering counts as bathing. Most people use the word “bathing” to mean “washing”, not just taking an actual tub bath. I rarely take a tub bath – I prefer a shower. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843.md?page=8)