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How dirty are you?

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Jambalaya

Ideal_Rock
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Oct 2, 2014
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Bouncing off an exchange with Missy about daily laundry, I feel the need for a new thread instead of threadjacking the one about soap!

I am completely dirty compared to most Americans, whom I feel are over-clean. Too much cleanliness is not a good thing. Our skin benefits from oils and our immune system benefits from an environment that's not TOO clean.

I shower most days but I do skip days occasionally. It's not THAT unusual for me to go 2-3 days without a shower, when I'll do a Navy wash (all relevant bits).

I wash my bedlinen and pajamas once a week.

I wash my hair every 3-5 days.

I wear clean underpants, socks, and top every day.

I change my bra every 3-4 days if I haven't become hot, but get a clean one out if I've become sweaty.

Jeans get washed about every two weeks.

What about you? I'm sure most people here are cleaner than me.

But here's my question: I suffer no skin conditions or ailments from not washing everything I wear or sleep in every day, or from skipping showers, or from changing bedlinen and pajamas only once a week. I never get sick, and I put that down to good handwashing habits and the fact that my environment isn't over-cleaned, nor am I exposing my skin to too many detergents, whether applied directly or in the cloth of things that are washed daily. If there is no difference in sickness or skin conditions between me and someone who washes themselves and everything their skin touches daily, then what is the point of all that daily washing? Surely it only serves to waste water and wash away essential oils and the good germs? In my opinion, if you are too clean, you go full circle and start experiencing negatives.

Of course, we all think our own way is best!
 
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I don’t think any one way is superior. I think what works for the individual is best.

As for my individual preferences:
I am very clean :)
Having four filthy kitties is enough dirt for a lifetime :lol:

I shower after my morning workout and shower after our cycling each day. Sometimes on really hot days I might even take a quick cool shower before bed. My showers are quick. One to two minutes and if I wash my hair five minutes.

I wash (and condition) my hair every other day but when I was younger I washed my hair daily.

As you know jambalaya I enjoy doing laundry. I just do. It relaxes me. And I love freshly laundered linens, towels, clothes etc. I use no fragrance no fabric softener. I use free and clear detergent from Kirkland. I can’t do fragrances and use a minimum of ingredients all hypoallergenic.

We’re all different. I always say do as you please as long as you don’t affect me negatively in any way. And that goes for your cleaning and cleanliness preferences. Do what works for you. No judgment here. I don’t think one way is better or worse. You do you and I’ll do me and let’s live in harmony. ❤️

PS I don’t usually wear a bra (so you beat me there re washing your bra haha)
 
HI:

I couldn't skip showering daily. I also used to have a hot tub bath every night, but I developed eczema so I don't tub bath often anymore.

I brush and floss my teeth a lot everyday.

Since the pandemic and wearing a mask to work, I don't wash my hair EOD as before. If I put my hair up for work it doesn't need to be squeaky clean.

I do not wash my jeans after every use. Luckily I have 10 pair so they get rotated. Same with my winter sweaters---I have so many that the same sweater doesn't get much wear. But I always wear a clean tee-shirt under my sweater to protect the cashmere or wool.

cheers--Sharon
 
Hmmm, I read the title prepared for a different discussion ;)

As far as this topic, I’m pretty clean, since I work with the public, I make sure to shower regularly. Sheets get changed weekly. The only article I don’t wash every wear are my jeans because by the second or third wear they actually fit comfortably lol!
 
missy said:
As you know jambalaya I enjoy doing laundry. I just do. It relaxes me.
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Feel free to do mine anytime if you like it that much, @missy! :lol: I hate it - have to go down five floors. There's an elevator between me and the first floor, but fifteen steep stairs from first floor down to the basement. Ugh! And I have fallen up them before, because each riser is too high, and really bruised my knee, chest, and leg - and hit my head too. In fact, I bought one of those tabletop washing machines to do smaller things in, it's such a pain going down to the basement. I'm sure those risers are against code.
 
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canuk-gal said:
I couldn't skip showering daily. I also used to have a hot tub bath every night, but I developed eczema so I don't tub bath often anymore.

I brush and floss my teeth a lot everyday.

But I always wear a clean tee-shirt under my sweater to protect the cashmere or wool.
Click to expand...

I'm not surprised you developed eczema after a shower and a bath every day, because water is actually very drying on skin and hair. I use one of those filters on my shower head that takes out the harmful and drying minerals.

You know that brushing and flossing a lot can wear away your gums? I brush twice a day and I floss at bedtime, because I figure there's been all day for food to get in there. I think dentists recommend once a day for flossing...I had to have some of my gums replaced due to wear, and it was NOT pleasant!

Don't you get hot with a T-shirt and a sweater? Like when you go into stores in winter and they have the heating up high?

Please can at least one person admit to being not-totally-squeaky-clean like me??
 
Jambalaya said:
I'm not surprised you developed eczema after a shower and a bath every day, because water is actually very drying on skin and hair. I use one of those filters on my shower head that takes out the harmful and drying minerals.

You know that brushing and flossing a lot can wear away your gums? I brush twice a day and I floss at bedtime, because I figure there's been all day for food to get in there. I think dentists recommend once a day for flossing...I had to have some of my gums replaced due to wear, and it was NOT pleasant!

Don't you get hot with a T-shirt and a sweater? Like when you go into stores in winter and they have the heating up high?

Please can at least one person admit to being not-totally-squeaky-clean like me??
Click to expand...

I'm cold MOST of the time. I layer up and am still cold!!!!

Oh yes the hot bath did my skin in. But I miss soaking so much.

I have to floss cuz of the spaces between my teeth. Technically I should have worn my (post braces) retainer for the rest of my life. Who knew? My dentist always says it looks like I've just had my teeth cleaned (a year later). And my gums are in good shape.

You know us PS'ers--mind clean is everything!!!!! :saint: :P2 :wavey:
 
my hair would break off and fall out if i washed it every day - so i go for every two days but if i can handle holding out an extra day it is so worth it !

usually change beding (including cat blankies) once a week but pillowcases twice a week if i remember
but to be honest and im not happy about it - i have a very sick washing machine and i dont want to buy a new one for another couple of months (and now i urgently need a new phone) so over the winter ive stretched the bed washing out to 10 days (but still changing the pillowcases more often)
its winter and its just really hard to get the sheets dry right now because its the spin cycle that is sick and i dont like to put sheets in the drier anyway
so yes yuck -we are gross right now
ive been nappyanning the tea towels in the bath then hanging on the line in the sunny rain
i use at least 10 tee towels a day
our tea towles are sooooooooo clean as are our towels
new towels every day no exception


but you know the shower still works so i dont consider us too gross
although every now and then i have a work shirt emergency and cant find matched sox
:lol-2:
 
I am rather OCD about cleaning. My grandmother always told me ‘cleanliness was next to Godliness’ and that if something was worth having, it was worth taking care of it and keeping it clean. That really didn’t mean that much to me growing up but as I now clean everything, I get a chuckle out of the memory. My mother used to say I ruined things trying to keep them clean - ha!
I shower and wash my hair every day. I don’t like the feeling of dirty skin. I do use lotions and moisturizers though. I do lots of laundry - not a fan of clothes that have been worn and worn. I too am cold natured so sweaters and sometimes dress pants might be the exception. I do think frequent laundering - and I iron almost everything - will wear your clothes out. My washer does not have an agitator but still… I can gather up a load of laundry almost anytime I want one!! Lol!
I am rather anal about cleaning my house too - I find it very therapeutic and satisfying. I love clean and shiny but honestly am only concerned about my house. Everyone doesn’t live like I do and I by no means hold them to the same standard. Live and let live!!
 
I can skip a shower for a day if I need to because its very late or whatever. But unless I'm dead tired or sick, my hair gets washed every day. I can't stand for my hair not to be squeaky clean. No hair spray, gel, mousse - nothing in it.
 
I live in a very hot, humid location and run outside at least 4 times a week and sweat a LOT. So I shower at least once a day sometimes twice. No dry skin or other issues, a lot of times I’m already sweating when I’m getting dry LOL!
 
I shower every day in the summer, and wash my hair every third day. Now that I'm older my hair doesn't get oily like when I was younger.
I wash clothes and sheets once a week.
 
I shower every other day in winter but always after exercising or if I’ve gotten sweaty and I’ve reduced how much I use soap or if I even use soap at all (particularly on my face). My skin very much prefers that as does my hair. Since I went pastel pink, I’ve had to push washing my hair out to at least every other day as it dries out too much otherwise.
Linens all get changed weekly, tea towels 2-3 times a week. Clothes washed as needed - obviously fresh underwear every day but reading about the impact of fibres washing into the environment, I’m trying to reduce how often I wash clothing.
So @Jambalaya you are not alone!
 
Jambalaya said:
Bouncing off an exchange with Missy about daily laundry, I feel the need for a new thread instead of threadjacking the one about soap!

I am completely dirty compared to most Americans, whom I feel are over-clean. Too much cleanliness is not a good thing. Our skin benefits from oils and our immune system benefits from an environment that's not TOO clean.

I shower most days but I do skip days occasionally. It's not THAT unusual for me to go 2-3 days without a shower, when I'll do a Navy wash (all relevant bits).

I wash my bedlinen and pajamas once a week.

I wash my hair every 3-5 days.

I wear clean underpants, socks, and top every day.

I change my bra every 3-4 days if I haven't become hot, but get a clean one out if I've become sweaty.

Jeans get washed about every two weeks.

What about you? I'm sure most people here are cleaner than me.

But here's my question: I suffer no skin conditions or ailments from not washing everything I wear or sleep in every day, or from skipping showers, or from changing bedlinen and pajamas only once a week. I never get sick, and I put that down to good handwashing habits and the fact that my environment isn't over-cleaned, nor am I exposing my skin to too many detergents, whether applied directly or in the cloth of things that are washed daily. If there is no difference in sickness or skin conditions between me and someone who washes themselves and everything their skin touches daily, then what is the point of all that daily washing? Surely it only serves to waste water and wash away essential oils and the good germs? In my opinion, if you are too clean, you go full circle and start experiencing negatives.

Of course, we all think our own way is best!
Click to expand...

+1 ... except the bra thing.
 
Shower and shave my legs every day. Cannot stand stubble. Wash my hair every other day.
I am the crazy laundry lady. If there is a load I am doing it.
Jeans…, totally agree with washing after several wears if I’m not sweating (FL Resident so sweating is mandatory most months).
Undergarments everyday, see comment above About mandatory sweating.
 
Curly bottle blond hair here so I shampoo only 2-3 times a week. I can take a day off from showering in the winter but summer is yardwork and walking dogs though I have counted a dip in the pool as a bath!
 
This idea is totally foreign to me, we live in the tropics so we shower 3 times a day. We also go through 3 complete changes of clothes -- which all wash immediately. It keeps us not drenched in sweat. Since we sleep in aircon we dont sweat through the sheets, so these aren't washed as regularly (probably once a week). Anything else and we'd be sitting in sweaty clothes for most of the day. For some context it's about 92-95 farenheit inside our house most afternoons, so it's a choice between taking a shower or dialing the aircon up. Typically we shower.
 
Pretty grubby but I have sensational genes where I do not smell!

My girlfriends were horrified to find out that after I grew up and left home I did not use soap or deodorant.

They have sniffed me (5 of them) and have verified that I do not smell!

Hubby agrees!
 
People always comment that my house is very clean. The common joke from friends and family is that they could eat out of the toilet. But for me, physically - I'd say I'm clean, without being super-duper-uber clean. Sheets and towels are changed twice a week, and I do things like clean blinds, wipe down fan blades, damp wipe baseboards and steam clean carpets every 2 months or so. I get my windows cleaned every 4 months or so, but would love to get them done monthly (I can't afford it). (Well...I *could*...but it would come out of the bling fund. So - no.)

The biggest change in personal grooming has been my hair. As I've aged, my scalp just doesn't generate oil and my hair has become MUCH more dry and frizzy. I don't sweat very much, so my hair, washed or not washed, looks pretty much the same one day to the next, unless I've been swimming or I've been outdoors working and have sweated a lot. Consequently, I've gone from daily washing to once every 3 days. I shower every day and put on clean clothes every day. If for some reason I'm sweaty in the evening, I'll have a quick, 2 minute shower before bed.

I clean my teeth every day in the mornings, and sometimes in the evenings. I've been told often that my breath never smells and my teeth, due to not drinking tea and rarely coffee and almost never red wine, are naturally white. Whenever I get a filling, my dentist has to color match from the pediatrics color range. If my teeth feel not-clean, I'll give them an extra cleaning, as well as the morning/evening cleanings.

I clean my nails every day (dirty nails send me nuts!) and have regular pedicures. Physically, I'd call myself 'normal clean' compared to my peers and above average when it comes to my house/s.

My dogs: baths every 2 weeks for our show dog and weekly if he's coming up to a show, and twice a week for our other dog, who developed skin issues and who we wash with medicated shampoo. Consequently, our house doesn't smell like animals - a smell I abhor. But since they're both large, long-haired dogs, we sweep. A lot. I call my show dog my walking shag pile carpet - and it's not far from the truth. That animal sheds like all get out!
 
HI:

I loathe doing laundry and house cleaning. My house could definitely be cleaner and less dusty (although the toilets get cleansed daily)

cheers--Sharon
 
mellowyellowgirl said:
Pretty grubby but I have sensational genes where I do not smell!

My girlfriends were horrified to find out that after I grew up and left home I did not use soap or deodorant.

They have sniffed me (5 of them) and have verified that I do not smell!

Hubby agrees!
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I'm sure you do have sensational genes, but also sensational skin flora which keeps your sweat and skin oil from smelling. That is a true blessing! Most people would have a difficult time transitioning from traditional deodorant to a natural one because their skin flora has to adjust. They aren't willing to stink for awhile so they revert back. I use a mineral deodorant that comes in a crystal that you rub on the skin and it works great for me in the sweaty, humid, deep south of the US. It leaves no white marks or perfumes, but most importantly no aluminum or parabens which is why I switched many moons ago.

I don't use any soap on my skin at all either to include creams or cleanser on my face. Marketing has us convinced they do anything positive. Water and a washcloth is what I use then a tiny bit of dermaE oil on my face. It works for me.
 
I shower or bathe, wash my hair, brush my teeth, and floss daily. I used to clean my ears every day until my ENT doc said not to, so now I clean them every third day (apparently that's still too much). I only wear clothing one time before laundering them, and I do laundry everyday. Towels are changed and laundered daily. Our sheets are changed at least once a week. The whole house is cleaned very well once a week. The kitchen and bathrooms are sanitized every day. We have hardwood throughout most of the house, and that gets swiffered daily. Area rugs are vacuumed daily. The refrigerator is cleaned very well once a week. Remote control, phones, door handles, etc are sanitized daily. My dog is bathed every 2 weeks and groomed every 4-6 weeks. Her blankets are changed and laundered daily. Heavy cleaning is done in the spring and fall every year. I have to admit it's getting tougher to keep up my cleaning routine.
 
Shower twice a day. At least. Often more. Wash hair every morning. I’m one of those people who can easily lose twenty minutes under a piping hot spray.

I floss every other day. IG got me hooked on Cocofloss. I LOVE THIS FLOSS. It really does make flossing bearable. No more wondering what I’m getting out of wiping my teeth with what feels like bits of plastic bag. Anyone who hates flossing - try this stuff. For real. Worth it, pinky swear.

I refuse to rewear clothes outside of scarves, mittens, things like that… And I travel a ton for work, so it’s made me very efficient with packing for travel. These days I’m disappointed if I come home with unused clothes besides one (extra) set of undergarments and one (extra) pair of socks.

Towels and sheets get changed every few days, and they’re laundered whenever there’s enough for a full load. Usually once a week.

Cat and dog bedding gets changed weekly and again just washed whenever there’s enough for a full load. Normally every couple weeks for that stuff.

A quick countertop wipe and a general vacuum daily of kitchen and cat room… But I leave the real “cleaning” - sanitizing, dusting, mopping, windows, etc. to the house cleaners. They come weekly and I’d be a raving lunatic without them.
 
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Diamond Girl 21 said:
I shower or bathe, wash my hair, brush my teeth, and floss daily. I used to clean my ears every day until my ENT doc said not to, so now I clean them every third day (apparently that's still too much). I only wear clothing one time before laundering them, and I do laundry everyday. Towels are changed and laundered daily. Our sheets are changed at least once a week. The whole house is cleaned very well once a week. The kitchen and bathrooms are sanitized every day. We have hardwood throughout most of the house, and that gets swiffered daily. Area rugs are vacuumed daily. The refrigerator is cleaned very well once a week. Remote control, phones, door handles, etc are sanitized daily. My dog is bathed every 2 weeks and groomed every 4-6 weeks. Her blankets are changed and laundered daily. Heavy cleaning is done in the spring and fall every year. I have to admit it's getting tougher to keep up my cleaning routine.
Click to expand...

Gosh, you are the Queen of Clean! All that housework must keep you fit! Do you do it all yourself or do you have help? Sorry if that's a nosy question - I'm just interested!
 
yssie said:
But I leave the real sanitizing, dusting, mopping, windows, etc. to the house cleaners. They come weekly and I’d be a raving lunatic without them.
Click to expand...

:lol-2::lol-2::lol-2:
 
yssie said:
I floss every other day. IG got me hooked on Cocofloss. I LOVE THIS FLOSS. It really does make flossing bearable. No more wondering what I’m getting out of wiping my teeth with what feels like bits of plastic bag. Anyone who hates flossing - try this stuff. For real. Worth it, pinky swear.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip, Yssie! I'll look into this. I could do with some bearable floss!
 
Gratuitous Cocofloss tip :lol:

The thread is really wide!! But if you see-saw it against a tooth once or twice before pulling it between the teeth the fibers flatten out a lot. I only figured this out after returning two packs thinking I’d gotten defective packages :lol:
 
Jambalaya said:
Gosh, you are the Queen of Clean! All that housework must keep you fit! Do you do it all yourself or do you have help? Sorry if that's a nosy question - I'm just interested!
Click to expand...

I wish! Actually, I really never feel like it's clean enough. I'm always finding something that needs more work. My husband helps by moving the furniture out when I'm doing the heavy cleaning, and my daughter helps with some of the general stuff, otherwise it's just me. You're not nosy at all! I don't mind sharing. Oh, and I'm about 20lbs overweight, so it's not doing anything to help with that. Lol
 
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