# Why do people bathe naked? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 2, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653 "2011-11-02T17:04:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/1 "2011-11-02T17:04:14Z")
I thought of this the other day, and while I’m sure the answer’s obvious, I’m curious. I’m especially curious because it seems to be the only PG-rated activity people universally do naked. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/2 "2011-11-02T17:09:14Z")
Because they don’t want to have to wait for their clothes to dry before they wear them? ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/3 "2011-11-02T17:09:39Z")
Bathe naked? Um, because if you’re wearing clothes you can’t reach your skin to wash it? What an odd question. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/4 "2011-11-02T17:18:06Z")
Perhaps the OP is a [nevernude](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=nevernude)? But, yes, the reason for bathing naked is so that you can get to all of the bits that might get dirty. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/5 "2011-11-02T17:26:09Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I thought of this the other day, and while I’m sure the answer’s obvious, I’m curious. I’m especially curious because it seems to be the only PG-rated activity people universally do naked. What _is there_ to be curious about? It’s a matter of sheer practicality. This is like asking why people only wear hats on their heads. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/6 "2011-11-02T17:27:00Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I thought of this the other day, and while I’m sure the answer’s obvious, I’m curious. I’m especially curious because it seems to be the only PG-rated activity people universally do naked. Your thought process is reversed. You should be asking why people do X, Y or Z clothed. Like, if your home alone posting this question, why wear clothes to do it? . ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/7 "2011-11-02T17:28:57Z")
[moderating] Moved from GQ to IMHO. [/moderating] ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/8 "2011-11-02T18:09:09Z")
Well, I can only speak for myself, but I bathe without clothes so I can thoroughly clean myself in the most efficient manner possible. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/9 "2011-11-02T18:14:14Z")
Because its not my clothes that needs cleaning. Changing clothes is another “PG activity” I do naked. And sometimes bathing isn’t PG. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/10 "2011-11-02T18:15:11Z")
Personally I throw myself into the laundry machine. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/11 "2011-11-02T18:19:14Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > Like, if your home alone posting this question, why wear clothes to do it? > > . Why do you assume I am? ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/12 "2011-11-02T18:20:59Z")
I bathe naked because I like to touch myself. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/13 "2011-11-02T18:36:46Z")
Color me among the confused as well. How else are you supposed to wash all of your skin? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/14 "2011-11-02T18:40:00Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > What _is there_ to be curious about? It’s a matter of sheer practicality. > > This is like asking why people only wear hats on their heads. You forgot the ass hat. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/15 "2011-11-02T18:52:25Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > You forgot the ass hat. Ass hats are not worn on the ass, they are made of ass. They are still worn on the head. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/16 "2011-11-02T20:32:46Z")
I don’t wash all of my skin, just the parts that tend to get dirty or smelly. And those are the parts I need to remove clothing to get to. I would sleep naked but when I do, I tend to have more “OMG I’m naked” dreams. I don’t wander the house naked because the thermostat isn’t optimized for nudity; it’s optimized for saving money on the gas and electric bills. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/17 "2011-11-02T20:41:47Z")
If there’s nudity, sexual or not it wouldn’t qualify for a ‘PG’ rating. Personally, I am naked for reasons not involving anything sexual many times more often than I am for sex. That includes sleeping, bathing, time spent grooming after bathing, during hot weather when in my home, when I am organizing my closet, etc. Maybe I’m unusual… ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/18 "2011-11-02T20:46:39Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > I thought of this the other day, Have you been pondering the question this whole time? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/19 "2011-11-02T20:47:40Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Why do people bathe naked? How the hell do you bathe? Tris ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653/20 "2011-11-02T20:59:41Z")
The question (which I’m quite curious for the OP to answer) is “Why would you bathe any other way?” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-bathe-naked/601653.md?page=2)