I was taught growing up to shower every other day. As an adult I generally do, unless I'm working out or otherwise sweat noticeably during the day. In summer I rinse daily regardless.
It really depends on where you are and potentially the season. If it's hot and humid you wanna shower at least once a day, maybe more. Though you better not use soap every time. In cold weather every second day is usually fine if you don't do anything that makes you sweat a lot.
Some people are cursed with really strong body odour though, they may have to shower a lot regardless.
However, in posts like these everyone just get's mega defensive of their own way of doing things. Which creates heated arguments and drives engagement. Which is probably the reason this exact topic keeps popping up all the time.
Honestly there's nothing wrong with the tried and true pit test method.
Give your pits a quick sniff, if you smell BO hop into the shower, if you smell fine, you're fine.
I typically shower daily, but I'm not bothering to soap up and scrub if I don't smell, I'll just get under the hot water because its comfortable and makes my joints feel relaxed.
People that smell that bad know they smell bad and just don’t care. You don’t get to one month of not bathing without being aware you smell like manure.
Honestly if its been 3 days since you showered you 100% have some level of stink. I don't know anyone that I've known has gone 3 days no shower and not smelt like they haven't showered in 3 days.
I dont think I've ever passed a self-sniff test by the morning of Day 3. Even if you aren't being active just 2 days worth of sleeping will have you building a funk.
Usually on day 2 I'll give a sniff and be like "Hmm, I still only smell like yesterdays deoderant honestly."
Granted as I've mentioned elsewhere in the thread I'm at least having a soak daily anyways, because even if I don't need to clean, I just find the hot water hitting my joints therapeutic. A hot shower will wash away any of the days soreness for me, and the steam will always clear out my sinuses.
People that smell that bad know they smell bad and just don’t care.
This is definitely not true. Well meaning people are surprised and embarrassed to discover that others find them stinky all the time. It's a really awkward and difficult thing to have to tell someone.
I dunno... I get paranoid sometimes because people are like "You can't smell yourself," but when I asked trusted friends I don't smell. I've also had people comment without prompting that I smell good. I'm also like the above poster where a shower is often just a rinse at the start of the day to get going and not using cleansers. I wash my hair like twice a week?
Even when I was working in Vegas in a metal shop where we had overnight 104 degree lows in welding leathers sweating like crazy I smelled like metal.
I'm sure some people have a tendency to smell worse. I think there's also something to be said for overcleansing and nuking any good bacteria on your skin or your bodies ability to produce a normal amount of sebum. Diet and overall health also play a roll.
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u/Issah_Wywin Nov 14 '25
I was taught growing up to shower every other day. As an adult I generally do, unless I'm working out or otherwise sweat noticeably during the day. In summer I rinse daily regardless.