Do I Have to Wash Every Time I Have a Bath?

November 17, 2024 8:33 AM

Now that it's pretty cold in these parts, I've taken to having a bath in the late afternoon, primarily to warm up my core - vs getting clean (I shower in the morning) - and I just soak and read a book. Out of habit, I've also been washing when I take these afternoon baths, and then yesterday it struck me that maybe I don't have to. If I don't wash during my afternoon bath, will the hygiene police: (a) arrest me, (b) let me off with a warning, or (c) turn a blind eye?
posted by 4th Matryoshka Doll to Grab Bag (13 answers total)

It’s very hot where I live so I hop in the pool to cool down in the afternoon. I have yet to bring soap and shampoo with me and the hygiene police have not come for me yet.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 8:42 AM on November 17

What? No.
posted by mochapickle at 8:44 AM on November 17 [10 favorites]

I mean, you're already washing once a day, and I've never heard of a rule that you have to wash yourself off every time you get wet.

As a frequent enjoyer of scalding hot baths, I would suggest washing off gently if your bath is hot enough to get you sweaty. Sweat contains oils that are not necessarily going to rinse off with just water. That's how you can actually get 'dirtier' by taking a bath than by just not taking one.

But otherwise? No. It's fine.

(I say 'gently' because washing too much can be hard on your skin if it's sensitive.)
posted by Kutsuwamushi at 8:46 AM on November 17 [1 favorite]

In Japan it is common to shower off before you get in a bath so you’re not soaking in dirty water, which I’ve always thought made sense.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 9:14 AM on November 17 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: @ Tell Me No Lies - I thought about that, but my shower isn't separate from my tub, so I'd have to shower and then wait for the tub to fill (which ain't fast).
posted by 4th Matryoshka Doll at 9:22 AM on November 17

I am in the hot tub twice a day over here at my house and shower (wash) only once a week to get my hair clean. No sign of the hygiene police.
posted by hilaryjade at 9:50 AM on November 17

Unless you do something sweaty I’d be inclined to skip the morning shower and just carry out your ablutions as part of your afternoon bath.
posted by koahiatamadl at 9:53 AM on November 17 [2 favorites]

I'd wash up at the end of the bath and not shower daily. But just because you're used to soaping up in the tub doesn't mean you have to.
posted by theora55 at 10:29 AM on November 17

In Japan people shower before bathing because the hot bath water is shared amongst multiple people; the tub is large, water is annoying to fetch/expensive, and heating a lot of water is expensive. The tub is covered when not in use to retain heat. It's the height of rudeness to not thoroughly clean your body before getting in a shared bath.

You're not sharing your bath though.

I do suggest putting some soap in the bathwater even if you're just soaking; it will capture the skin oils and help prevent them from making your tub totally disgusting. Also be sure to wash down the sides of the tub after it's drained.
posted by seanmpuckett at 11:03 AM on November 17 [1 favorite]

You can split the difference and just wash pits and bits.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 2:37 PM on November 17 [1 favorite]

You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I absolve you for whatever imagined bath-time transgressions you may commit.
posted by mumkin at 4:37 PM on November 17 [3 favorites]

I take a daily bath partly just to warm up, and I use a dab of Dr Teals bubble bath cuz it comes in lots of flavors and I always grew up with 'bubble bath keeps the tub clean' (no idea if true). I will usually wash my pits if I can smell them, but for the rest of me, soaking in the bubble bath water seems adequate-- maybe once a week or two I'll wash my hair and on that day the body gets a good scrub down all over, but especially in winter I don't sweat as much and my skin is dryer and seems to appreciate less serious washing and more moisturizing ALA bubble bath.
posted by The otter lady at 9:51 PM on November 17

No,but if you don't wash, more oils may get on your towels than otherwise. If that's an issue just change them more often!
posted by metasarah at 9:56 AM on November 18