# 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:** 8
**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, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/141 "2013-01-31T12:49:23Z")
I prefer the tub myself but, alas, I’m in the same situation as **Trinopus**. When I go visit relatives “a long, hot soak” is always on the activities list. ---
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/142 "2013-01-31T14:22:08Z")
> [@jack\_tardiff](#): > > Trust me, twice a week is just fine for me. I think that’s a pretty normal average for Europeans. I actually believe you when you say it is fine for you. But not that it’s a normal average for Europeans. Or maybe it’s an age thing. But most people my age (I’m 35) that I know shower daily. I’ve lived in the Netherlands, England, Ireland and Italy and this was true for all of those countries. Myself, I only skip maybe a lazy Sunday. In actual fact, try not showering daily in an Italian summer… ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/143 "2013-02-05T14:07:06Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > It’s a classic symptom of chronic depression. I skip a day now and then, when my anti-depressant isn’t working well. But he shaves and grooms his hair. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/144 "2013-02-05T14:11:41Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > But he shaves and grooms his hair. Speaking from experience, depression doesn’t automatically mean you throw all grooming out the window, especially if you still have enough energy to go out and do mostly normal things. ---
**Author:** ![midnight-dreary](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@midnight-dreary](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/midnight-dreary)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/145 "2013-02-05T14:25:26Z")
I don’t bath everyday. I don’t even brush my hair everyday. _However_, I bathe, brush my hair, etc etc etc before I leave the house/backyard. and I will not go more than 3 days without bathing, if I’m NOT running around, sweating etc. If I do something that causes me to get sweaty, I’ll go have a shower. It’s a mixture between depression and the fact that showering brings out a rash on my skin. ---
**Author:** ![ironsheik7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ac91a4/32.png) [@ironsheik7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ironsheik7)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/146 "2013-06-20T21:55:29Z")
Not bathing travels in my family. My grandma doesn’t bathe, she refuses to bathe, she says she might fall getting in the tub. The last time she had a bath was probably when she was in the hospital when she fell and broke her leg and wrist, I’m 34 yrs old now, I was 15 yrs old at the time of her fall, so that has been probably a good 19 yrs ago since she has bathed. Her bath tub is full of junk, she attends a church,and recently got extremely mad when the pastor suggested she get baptized. Sounds to me that there is more going on than her claiming she is scared of falling in the bath tub when she’s alone, if she’s scared to be baptized in a tub full of water with 50 people around. But she doesn’t smell nowhere near as bad as my sister does. The worst though is my sister, my sister is overweight probably weighs around 350 lbs, and extremely lazy she just lives with my parents and lays in bed all day on her laptop, she refuses to get a job and work and they support her, she is probably around 25 yrs old. My dad says she has not bathed for at least a yr. Her hair is so greasy and nasty she actually bought 2 wigs to wear, a blond colored and a pink colored one, because she doesn’t want anyone to see how nasty and greasy her hair is. And you’re probably thinking as you read this why doesn’t she just wash it ? I guess because she is lazy and doesn’t wanna get it wet. She lays around all day in a pair of black sweats with holes in it, every single day she is wearing the same shirt and black sweats so apparently they are not getting washed in the washing machine. When she leaves and goes somewhere she changes clothes, when she comes home shes back into her black sweats and black shirt again. She smells like foot,a$$,and arm pits. Going to the bathroom after her will make you gag and your eyes water. Though I’ve never thrown up,I have gagged so bad I’ve came close a few times, and if I get air freshener or family gets air freshener to spray after she leaves the bathroom she yells and gets mad. The onion armpit smell is one of the worse, it’s even worse than the a$$ smell. Beyond that she is a burden to my poor mother and father who work their butts off daily. She yells at my mom constantly and over anything,she is to lazy to fix her own food and has my parents wait on her hand and foot bringing her food. She also refuses to bring the dishes out of her room and she constantly loses forks,spoons,bowls and glasses. And check this out folks she graduated from college my parents paid to put her through college for yrs, she was going to be a teacher. And now she claims she would have been one if my parents weren’t holding her back :smack: How are they holding her back ? It’s her own fault she’s to fat and lazy and wants to lay around all day and eat and not bathe, then she blames others for why shes fat,stinks, and her life sucks. Laziness folks, pure and utter laziness. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/147 "2013-06-20T22:25:25Z")
My BO is delightful. The women smell testosterone. The men they bristle as I strut. I bathe not, but effluviate the essence you desire. God’s own gift to the human race, you wish you could be me. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/148 "2013-06-20T22:35:20Z")
Thank goodness this thread is brought out for an airing every year or two. ---
**Author:** ![expectopatronum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/expectopatronum/32/173_2.png) [@expectopatronum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/expectopatronum)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/149 "2013-06-22T02:19:52Z")
> [@ironsheik7](#): > > The worst though is my sister, my sister is overweight probably weighs around 350 lbs, > and extremely lazy she just lives with my parents and lays in bed all day on her laptop, she refuses to get a job and work and they support her, she is probably around 25 yrs old. you don’t know how old your sister is? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/150 "2013-06-22T03:05:24Z")
zombie or no i like taters. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/151 "2013-06-22T04:19:17Z")
> [@ironsheik7](#): > > It’s her own fault she’s to fat and lazy and wants to lay around all day and eat and not bathe, then she blames others for why shes fat,stinks, and her life sucks. Laziness folks, pure and utter laziness. It’s not laziness, you are describing a seriously depressed person who may have other issues as well. And your parents are terrible enablers of her behavior. The fact that they not only endure but assist in this behavior probably doesn’t feel very loving to your sister, although I doubt she could articulate it. There’s a whole lot of unhealthy behavior going around in your family and if there’s any way you can persuade everybody to participate in family counseling, I think it would be the surest path to a happier future for all concerned. And I would encourage you to do your best to bring it up from a sympathetic, non-judgmental place, as you stand a better chance of getting through. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/152 "2013-06-22T04:32:15Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > You know some people can bathe regularly and still have horrible body odor. It could be because of bad diet (some diets, especially if heavy in fatty foods) can in some people cause strong body odor that regular bathing and deodorant won’t entirely mask. Some people just have issues that regardless of diet they’re going to stink. If you’re ever in a pharmacy you may notice there are usually some OTC deodorants that cost like $10.00 or more for a small container (where regularly they cost $3.00-4.00 around here), these are “prescription strength” and are marketed for people with this problem. My understanding is dermatologists can even prescribe actual prescription deodorant for people with more serious problems along this line. > > So hey, the co-worker you were laughing at very well could have been bathing every day. I dispensed Drysol, a prescription antiperspirant (which is not the same as deodorant) several times when I worked in retail pharmacy, and recommended it to people who inquired. They were usually embarrassed about their sweaty palms and soles, but it can be used any place on the body where excessive drenching sweat is a concern. It can be prescribed by any physician, or even a PA-C or ARNP, and I never encountered an insurance company that didn’t pay for it. Even so, it wasn’t all that expensive, and people generally didn’t use it every day either. And I used to know a very sweet elderly woman who was clean, but she had a very peculiar odor that was a combination of BO, cooking odors, and God knows what else. :eek: I was at the library one time and got on the elevator, and knew she was in the building…and I was right. I told my parents about her, and my mother said that when she was a kid, Grandma had a friend who was like that. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2013, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/153 "2013-06-22T04:41:31Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > 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. Maybe they use baking soda. I’ve done that and it really does work! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/154 "2013-06-23T01:01:58Z")
> [@ironsheik7](#): > > \ And now she claims she would have been one if my parents weren’t holding her back :smack: How are they holding her back ? It’s her own fault she’s to fat and lazy and wants to lay around all day and eat and not bathe, then she blames others for why shes fat,stinks, and her life sucks. Laziness folks, pure and utter laziness. I agree with **Stoid** ; they are enabling her. Your sister and your parents sound like they have a complicated, dysfunctional dance going on that is benefitting no one. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/155 "2013-06-23T02:18:54Z")
I had a co-worker who bathed once or twice a week, and washed her hair never, ever more than once a week. The job involved enough physical labor to break a sweat every day, though I don’t think she exercised outside of that. And she smelled… perfectly fine. Honestly. Some people can do it. I am not one of those people-- I bathe daily, sometimes more. I have absolutely met people who didn’t bathe who desperately needed to. But there is that occasional person who can get away with one or two showers a week. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/156 "2013-07-11T14:53:48Z")
I posted earlier in this thread about the large Cruncho-American community in the town where I live, and how they often make this place quite aromatic. The Independent Day weekend seemed to overlap No Bathing Week, from the smell of things. It was absolutely rank everywhere in town. At one coffee house, a man walked in, and left a trail of stink so bad other patrons started coughing and gagging. His _girlfriend_ (or maybe wife? They were kissy-kissy, though) joined him a couple of minutes later, which amazed me; I never encountered anyone who reeked so bad, and yet he had a partner. I’m gagging just thinking about the smell. Folks here are very much into being “natural”, and I think many know the stink to high heaven. Many avoid manmade chemicals and animal-based products, which means no effective deodorant, and soaps limited to those that are vegetable-based. I think they view their aroma as “natural”, and therefore good. They don’t see their intrusion onto others’ personal space in the same way as “unnatural” smoking. As others, I wonder how they find employment. The only thing I can think of is that they have their own businesses, or work for other crunchy types, who are as immune to the smell of rank body odor as 1960s/1970s office workers to cigarette smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/157 "2013-07-11T15:49:31Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > It’s not laziness, you are describing a seriously depressed person who may have other issues as well. Why are you so sure of that? I know \*lots \*of lazy people who are not depressed. They’re just… lazy. ---
**Author:** ![jessie21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/cc9497/32.png) [@jessie21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jessie21)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/158 "2017-03-21T23:43:37Z")
You know it is coming up to that time of year again, summer. If anyone doesn’t clean that smell is amplified because of the heat and sweat. Some people you can make allowances for, but if you’re perfectly healthy and able bodied there really is no excuse. For one it’s not like staying clean is expensive. Go to a 99p store and you can get all the toiletries you need for under £5. If you’re on a very tight budget you should still wash, staying clean is a necessity. If regular products irritate your skin or you don’t like the ingredients go to a herbal store. They sell toiletries without all the chemicals. You’d be surprised at the range of products they do sell. For homeless people there are men’s and women’s hostels that give you bundles of food and cleaning products for free, as well as somewhere to stay. There are donation baskets from churches and local charities too. There are even places that will take in families. Also something else to consider. How do you think that poor hygiene will affect other people? Not just yourself but others. I can tell you that its not pleasant to get on a bus and sit near someone with terrible BO, or talk to someone with rancid breath. How do you think it comes across when going for interviews or on dates? Being completely honest it can prevent you from achieving a lot of things, simply because its offensive to others. As for people who allow their children to smell too, don’t even get me started… ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/159 "2017-03-22T00:39:31Z")
> [@jessie21](#): > > …As for people who allow their children to smell too, don’t even get me started… Looks like it took almost 4 years to get you started. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843/160 "2017-03-22T02:11:59Z")
> [@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_. " I have a close relative (older than me, so I’ve known him all my life) who believes this. However, he’s actually right. Amazing. He’s the only person I’ve ever known who doesn’t use deodorant and doesn’t smell. He’s quite clean – showers and shaves every day, his clothes are always clean, etc. I don’t think there’s any issue of depression, and he’s not some kind of health nut. His diet is varied, and pretty ordinary for an older American man. He just doesn’t need deodorant. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-ponder-whats-up-with-people-who-dont-bathe-regularly/577843.md?page=9)