Hygiene issue

LegacyUser

Right, not sure if posting this in right place or not so feel free to move. Moved in with the OH a few weeks ago and am having a major issue.

He is not clean... at all. Showers most days alright, not a weekends really. He doesn’t see a problem with this. Doesn’t wash clothes after each wear, this is disgusting, especially for tshirts and shirts, I don’t mind jeans as much but i think tops can only be worn once and have to be washed. But he puts them back in cupboard to be worn another day. They smell and need to be washed. These could get worn 2 or 3 times before they get washed. when you open the cupboard a musty smell wafts out.

How do I deal with this? It’s really upsetting me. I have already said that the things need to be washed and get told they’re fine and that i’m overly clean. I’ve tried explaining that it’s not fair but he doesn’t listen. Am at the point of thinking we could break up over this. Am i blowing things out of proportion???

netwhizkid

Welcome to man land, unless it is like 90 degrees and your man is sweating all day long then it is possible to wear clothes more than one day. Your fellow sounds even cleaner than alot of men.

LegacyUser

If it's the clothes issue that really bothers you, can you get a seperate cupboard/wardrobe for his things? As I presume you've been with him for a while before you moved in together you would surely have noticed if his clothes were smelly before now. Is it just now that you know they arent being washed after each wear that is turning you off? Or has he come straight from home & did his mother do his washing for him?

Outkast_IRE

well if the tshirts smell after you wear them then they need a wash simple as , a good ol sniff will tell ya quick enuf. Otherwise if they smell fine they are grand for another day. rewearing smelly tshirts is a no no though

unhappycamper

He sounds like he is not your type after all.

JC 2K3

If the issue is that he smells, then you have a point, but did you not notice this before you moved in with him?

If the issue is you obsessing over him not washing his clothes between wears, even if they don't smell, then it's entirely your problem.

LegacyUser

if it bothers you that much, why don't you just wash his clothes yourself, ie throw them into the washing machine?

beggars_bush

most men don't wash their tees and shirts after every wear. it'd be far too impractical. unless it is hot and have been sweating, or been to a pub, or work etc

socks and jocks - yes.

jumpers and jeans/trousers are only washed when they get dirty.

he just sounds normal.

PS - people sweat and are smelly

Sinall

Unregistered wrote: »

I’ve tried explaining that it’s not fair but he doesn’t listen. Am at the point of thinking we could break up over this

You are entitled to your opinion that tshirts need to be washed after every wear. He is entitled to his opinion that they don't. Now, you need to find a solution that works for both of you. That's part and parcel of living together! It wouldn't be a deal breaker in my eyes.

If he showers regularly and is putting a tshirt on when he is clean then, unless he is doing some major physical exertion or it is hot and he is sweating, then I don't see why he couldn't get a second wear out of it!

As one of the posters suggested above, perhaps a separate wardrobe for his things would be a good idea. Then you just stay away from it! If he was seriously dirty or unhygenic you would have noticed this before you moved in together.

Firetrap

It's as easy to throw a t-shirt into a laundry bin as to put it back into the wardrobe IMHO. What tack have you used in previous conversations with him? Does he realise that it's driving you crackers and that it's potentially a deal breaker?

LegacyUser

chill out a bit! at least he showers

InTouch

I wash all of my OH's clothes and return them to the wardrobe ironed and folded. His work shirts are always washed and pressed by me. I've taken ownership of this. I suggest you do the same! Now most women would criticise me, as according to some, it goes against everything the "modern woman" stands for. Well, doing someone (and in this case, yourself) a favour, is not going against anything, it's just courtesy!

Well that's my two cents. If it was annoying me I would certainly take it upon myself to change it, and if he gives out to you about it, then you have an issue!

eolair

InTouch wrote: »

I wash all of my OH's clothes and return them to the wardrobe ironed and folded. His work shirts are always washed and pressed by me. I've taken ownership of this.

OMG - thank you for perpetuating the Irish Mammy Syndrome - not! Unless he does some serious other domestic duties, then he has lucked out and found a housemaid as well as a GF. Doing something occasionally is a courtesy, doing it all the time is taking advantage.

To the OP: opinions seems to differ here on what's an acceptable level of hygiene. I'm no super-scrubber, but to my mind (and it seems, yours too) wear once then wash is right. Now of your OH doesn't, you have three options.

(1) accept the smelly fella, and live with it.
(2) ask the smelly fella to change (literally), and he does - the world's a fresher place, and you get on with enjoying your relationship
(3) ask him to change, and he doesn't. Call it quits - he doesn't care enough to make a small but important change.

If you were making unreasonable demands or asking him to do the impossible, then you'd rightly be ignored. But this is the 21st century, we have running water, soap and washing machines. All three can be used by either sex, regularly, without fear of harm or distress.

So give him a chance to change. But actually I've a sneaking suspicion he can't or won't, so be prepared to live with or act on the consequences.

barleybooley

I'm sure you would've noticed a smell before OP if it was a serious issue. The only reason my OH tends to throw stuff out to the wash after one wear is because, bless him, he's so mucky! He gets stuff all over his clothes and has no idea how but his clothes would hardly ever smell and if they do it's from an external source.
It's not practical for some people to wash their clothes everyday and is needless. I know people that think they're clean because they only wear something once but these would be the same people that'd pet an animal and turn around and put their hands into their mouth or something. Cleanliness extends further than washing your clothes my dear.
Obviously, if it's the same craic with undies then there's a problem but apart from that. Also, it's bad for your clothes to be permanently washing them needlessly. Fair enough if he sweats a lot but as other posters have said you would've noticed this before. I think the problem could be that the clothes go smelly from being left in the wardrobe so unless he's going wearing something in the next couple of days, ask him to put it out to the wash.
Hope you work something out OP

Mr Benevolent

OP you're being an overreacting cleanfreak. Please don't get into the habit of nagging, it's one of the most mudanely horrible things a relationship can endure. No guy will wash a garment after one use unless he's been sweating. And no guy will tolerate nagging over something that all men consider normal.

Xiney

As long as he wears a proper anti-perspirant and doesn't sweat into his clothes too much, there is no reason why t-shirts can't be worn 2 or 3 times before being washed.

It's better for your clothes and the environment as well since you waste less water and electricity.

If the wardrobe smells musty, it is probably an issue with damp rather than the clothes themselves.

Xiney

Xiney wrote: »

As long as he wears a proper anti-perspirant and doesn't sweat into his clothes too much, there is no reason why t-shirts can't be worn 2 or 3 times before being washed.

It's better for your clothes and the environment as well since you waste less water and electricity.

If the wardrobe smells musty, it is probably an issue with damp rather than the clothes themselves.

Agreed 100%

Further : Im my opinion,if a GF has decided because t-shirts must be washed everyday,she's considering breaking up with me I'd be saying small loss.

Such worries if her BF is generally clean and showers every day [as she says] are more akin to obsessional or having an OCD rather than normality.

Sleipnir

Breaking up with someone because they wear their clothes for more than one day?
It's kinda petty isn't it?
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being the absolute worst thing your BF could do to you to make you want to break him up, where's wearing a t-shirt, two days running?

I'm sitting here wearing exactly the same clothing yesterday. I know my GF won't break up with me though. There are more important things to do and think about.

Rosita

Unregistered wrote: »

i think tops can only be worn once and have to be washed.

Am i blowing things out of proportion???

I would think that if this is a rigid view with you then either he is exceptionally sweaty or else you are excessively concerned with being seen to be clean.

Someone said that it is as easy to put a t-shirt into a laundry bin as to put it back into the wardrobe. This is true in terms of the physical act but that is not the same as saying it is necessary. Personally I never thought that t-shirts were designed to be washed after each wash.

But I think clothes either need to be washed or they don't. Whether someone has worn them once or twice shouldn't really come into it. By all means object delicately to smelliness, but trying to enforce beliefs about frequency of washing of clothes that might have no objective rationale might will lead to trouble.

It might be telling whether you considered him smelly before you moved in. If not, and he was doing the same things, then you might have to consider if you are now being reasonable. Does evidence of your time with him up to now really suggest that his tops need to be washed after one wear? To be honest if they do I would say there is an underlying problem with sweat or something.

LegacyUser

Xiney wrote: »

As long as he wears a proper anti-perspirant and doesn't sweat into his clothes too much, there is no reason why t-shirts can't be worn 2 or 3 times before being washed.

I'm a male in my thirties and totally disagree with that. A t-shirt is right on your skin, putting the same one on for a second day is just lazy and disgusting.

He obviously smells otherwise the OP would never have noticed.

He's a grown man, he should wear clean clothes each day. It's not asking much. And as for the comment about the OP should wash his clothes for him? You must be joking me.

She'd dead right. The smelly git should have more respect for himself and for her.

Saruman

Jaysus... you wash clothes when they "need" it and not automatically after each use.
Underwear of course after each use. You do not re-use them. T-shirts are more likely to be after each use but it depends on their condition after that use especially if worn underneath something.

Normal shirts? Only if they are dirty of smelly. Washing every item of clothing every time they are used is so wasteful of water that it is painful to imagine.

Oh and this is not just the opinion of a man, my wife is the same way and she is a very clean person. It is all down to how dirty/smelly the clothes are at the end of the day.

Joey the lips

I am reading this debate with interest I have not much to ad. I wear clothes generally for 2 days. In the summer especially. Sometimes I will wear them the 3rd morning but find I feel dirty till i change.

The one thing that interests me is the fact that people who wear them for a day then put them away. Are you ashamed of wearing a second day and be known? I would think it better just to wear them the 2 - 3 days and wash tem then to wear them store them and wear them again! It seems pointless.

I know as kids my mom would dress me up in my best, take them off when I am home and stick them on again when I am going somewhere else but I though as adults we could be left alone.

I think if you shower enough and you feel clean then leave your clothes on. I was one in college with a lad who had 2 pairs of jean(Only) he chaged them when the crotch smelled! His words! long story how we got there! but tbh he had lots of women so obv he was fairly clean cause he never over killed with lynx or old spice.

iguana

Xiney wrote: »

It's better for your clothes and the environment as well since you waste less water and electricity.

Exactly. It's also very bad for the clothes to wash them so much, as each wash degrades them a little. Which again is terrible for the environment as you are consuming 3 times as much clothing. Clothing needs to be washed when it is smelly or dirty, other than that it can be re-worn. Though I do think it's probably better to re-wear it sooner rather than later.

Silverfish

Generally, what he's doing and what other posters here do is grand, but it does depend on external factors.

Is your house damp? I once lived in a damp place, I had to wash stuff straight out of the wardrobe, or after wearing them once, because if you left clothes for a day or two, they got musty. Or if I dried them inside instead of out on the line, they smelled musty. (Didn't stay there for too long)

If he works in a physically demanding job, wearing clothes 2 - 3 days in a row - they will smell.

Human beings can rarely smell their own smells, we become accustomed to it. Thats why lots of whiffy people don't realise they whiff.

They smell and need to be washed. These could get worn 2 or 3 times before they get washed. when you open the cupboard a musty smell wafts out.

If its this bad, and he doesnt see it, then you have to decide if its a dealbreaker or not.

Firetrap

It all depends on whether the clothes smell. I wear a new top every day because they don't smell so fresh after a day's wear. On the other hand, I've got workmates who I've noticed wear the same shirts for a couple of days running (either that or they buy their shirts in pairs!) and I've not noticed any smelliness.

If the OP says the clothes stink to the high heavens and they genuinely do (rather than an over-reaction) then it's time for a chat and a plan of action.

waraf

beggars_bush wrote: »

most men don't wash their tees and shirts after every wear. it'd be far too impractical. unless it is hot and have been sweating, or been to a pub, or work etc

eh? :eek: How did you come up with that?

If he's wearing a shirt or a T-shirt for a full day then it has to go in the wash. If he wears a T-shirt for a few hours in the morning around the house and then gets changed then yes that T-shirt can be worn again arond the house. After the second wear it should definitely get washed.
Jeans last for three days in winter, two days in summer.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

Silverfish

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

She has said he does smell.

iguana

Silverfish wrote: »

She has said he does smell.

Yet she didn't notice that he smells before they moved in together. Unless he's just moved out from home where his mum did all his washing, it sounds as if the smell is in her head. If he smells she would have noticed before now. The relationship would probably never have gotten to this stage if he really smells.

Mimikyu

This post has been deleted.

LegacyUser

OP here. Thanks for all the feedback. I'm not being a clean freak, I'm not saying all tops etc HAVE to be washed after a wear, only if they are dirty or stinky! Guess we just have different standards, I like my clothes to be fresh when I wear them.

In touch, I did consider taking "ownership" of all the washing and ironing, but don't really want to go down that road, i'm not his mother and don't want to end up doing everything round the house. We'll see tho!

we'll work something out, all part of adjusting to living together I guess.

Silverfish

iguana wrote: »

Yet she didn't notice that he smells before they moved in together. Unless he's just moved out from home where his mum did all his washing, it sounds as if the smell is in her head. If he smells she would have noticed before now. The relationship would probably never have gotten to this stage if he really smells.

Captain Morgan wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Well, it may be that they didn't see each other every day before they moved in, and he wore clean clothes when meeting up?

Just a possibility.

Johnnnybravo

Id have to go with tshirts get one wear and then should be washed. Socks undies and tshirts all follow this rule. Jeans and pants are grand get a few days. Its not that difficult to throw on the washing machine every couple of days and fire in the tshirts, if theres only 2 of you there its as easy wash for 2 as it is 1 and more economical. To be honest I think it a mountain being made of nothing. Just say to him to throw the tops into the wash basket when hes done with them, no need to be putting dirty clothes in the closet. Sounds as though he doesnt smell but I can imagine the tops would smell a bit "lived in" after just one use so just get him in the habit of washing them after use. Dunnes are selling off loads of mens t`s at the mo if its a case of him not having enough and needing to get a few days out of 1. maybe he does it to attempt help tidying up, could be as simple as but just a quick word and it should be grand.

Call Me Jimmy

At least he doesn't wear his jocks inside out on the second day. Seriously.

eolair

I knew a french guy, who had some rural cousins. They would only wash every few days - sometimes once a week, and bath about once a month. He said this was in the 90s!

I don't see how anyone who is even doing the smallest effort in the modern world can wear a t-shirt for a day, and claim it doesn't smell. Maybe, just maybe if you're fannying round the house all day, otherwise traffic, smoke, body odour (even with anti-pesps), a commute on the bus/dart/train - it all adds up.

In this case I think the OP is not a nagging clean freak - just asking for someone she's living with to raise his standards.

iguana

I think that maybe people should consider that not everyone is the same and we don't all sweat uniformly. So people who have to change their t-shirt everyday should consider that not everyone has to and people who don't have to change each day should also consider that everyone isn't like them.

But it is worth bearing in mind that it's really bad for your clothes to wash them too much. And it's also really bad for your skin to bathe/shower in hot water and detergent each day as it destroys the skin's natural oils.

Sir Humphrey

Unregistered wrote: »

OP here. Thanks for all the feedback. I'm not being a clean freak, I'm not saying all tops etc HAVE to be washed after a wear, only if they are dirty or stinky! Guess we just have different standards, I like my clothes to be fresh when I wear them.

It's hard to know what exactly you are saying because this is what you wrote in your first post - "i think tops can only be worn once and have to be washed."

Your position seems to have changed now.

It's not a question of standards, just one of opinions. Stanards is not a good word as it implies that you feel superior on the matter and should be avoided. It is perfectly rational for someone (who is not a sweaty/smeely person obviously) to get at least two wears out of clothes. It is not a question of lower standards.

useful_contacts

EW the fact he puts tops back in the wardrobe after wearing them is manky. I wash all the clothes in our house as...

1) I love my hubby but he just throws clothes in a corner in th ebedroom and thinks the "clothes fairy" washes and irons them:P

2) Last time i asked him to do a wash he forgot to put the powder in then put them in a bundle on the rad:eek:

If i was you just throw what he wore that day in the wash (after he sticks it in the wardrobe) Hes gonna have to learn also that theres 2 of you in the house and in order to live happily sacrafices have to be made

starbelgrade

Unregistered wrote: »

Right, not sure if posting this in right place or not so feel free to move. Moved in with the OH a few weeks ago and am having a major issue.

He is not clean... at all. Showers most days alright, not a weekends really. He doesn’t see a problem with this. Doesn’t wash clothes after each wear, this is disgusting, especially for tshirts and shirts, I don’t mind jeans as much but i think tops can only be worn once and have to be washed. But he puts them back in cupboard to be worn another day. They smell and need to be washed. These could get worn 2 or 3 times before they get washed. when you open the cupboard a musty smell wafts out.

How do I deal with this? It’s really upsetting me. I have already said that the things need to be washed and get told they’re fine and that i’m overly clean. I’ve tried explaining that it’s not fair but he doesn’t listen. Am at the point of thinking we could break up over this. Am i blowing things out of proportion???

When I first heard that song by The View, "Same Jeans on for 4 days Now", I thought... what?! 4 days - at least make it a week before you make a shaggin song about it, you wooftie. Cripes.

But putting worn clothes back INTO a cupbaord? Now, that IS strange.

Leave them on the floor beside the bed so you know where they are when you get up.

He needs to get with the program.

Seriously.

starbelgrade

useful_contacts wrote: »

1) I love my hubby but he just throws clothes in a corner in th ebedroom and thinks the "clothes fairy" washes and irons them:P

Don't pretend there isn't a clothes fairy - it's 3.32am & yr up on the net... not like there'll be much washing done tomorrow by anybody else but those amazing little fairies.

Hmmph. My missus tried to pull that bag over my eyes a long time ago.

waraf

useful_contacts wrote: »

2) Last time i asked him to do a wash he forgot to put the powder in then put them in a bundle on the rad:eek:

Ah the old "if I make a complete balls of this then she won't ask me to do it again" trick......a classic (also works for DIY)

Dublin141

If he has showers every day how bad can he smell?? Surely you would have noticed before you moved in with him if he reeked? I personally think you might be overreacting a little but in a relationship people need to compromise. A little leeway on both sides would be nice but you can't change him altogether. It is very hard for an overly clean person and a lacksy daisy mucky person to live together in harmony. And living together at first can be hard for any couple. It takes a lot of adjustments on both sides to fit together. Give him a chance first and see how it goes and if you're really unhappy then you'll have to have it out with him bigtime but pick your battles wisely. Some things are not worth fighting about.

LegacyUser

This is why people shouldnt move in together. The mystery is destroyed and replaced by petty bickering. I think each person in a couple should have their own place to live. The idea that people SHOULD live under the same roof is nonsense. Connected but seperate.

Oh The Humanity

:eek: I am absolutely aghast at this thread.

He is dirty!

He only showers on WEEKDAYS according to OP.....so that means he does not have a shower every day? That is not clean or acceptable, its no wonder his clothes are smelling.

Everyone needs to shower every day. Thats the bare minimum acceptable. I am not talking about wasting all the water in the world either, Im talking a 3 or 4 minute body wash and rinse for men with short hair.

Thats the morning, if you do physical work or play sport or go to the gym during the day then you go ahed and shower in the evening too.

The t-shirt issue is related to his failure to shower enough. If you are talking loose t-shirts that don't hug the arm pits and you shower every day then fine you can wear them up to 3 times.

However this fella does not wash enough so smells so there is going to be a musty lingering odour plus stale perspiration from the t-shirts after 2 wears.

Being clean is not optional. It is everyones obligation.

Having a clean body means your clothes are soiled less and don't need to be washed as often, so helping to lessen harsh chemical detergents in the environment.

Its not rocket science.

iguana

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

Everyone needs to shower every day. Thats the bare minimum acceptable. I am not talking about wasting all the water in the world either, Im talking a 3 or 4 minute body wash and rinse for men with short hair.

No they shouldn't. It's really, really bad for your skin to do this. It's possible to just wash the areas that need cleaning with a wash cloth to prevent yourself from smelling, also bidets are fantastic and it's a pity they never became popular here. But washing your arms, legs, back and chest with hot water and detergent each day is completely unnecessary, very bad for the skin and severely aging. It also appears that people who wash daily have a higher incidence of viral infection as they are destroying some of the "good" bacteria that live on us and that we need to maintain our highest possible health.

Oh The Humanity

iguana wrote: »

No they shouldn't. It's really, really bad for your skin to do this. It's possible to just wash the areas that need cleaning with a wash cloth to prevent yourself from smelling, also bidets are fantastic and it's a pity they never became popular here. But washing your arms, legs, back and chest with hot water and detergent each day is completely unnecessary, very bad for the skin and severely aging. It also appears that people who wash daily have a higher incidence of viral infection as they are destroying some of the "good" bacteria that live on us and that we need to maintain our highest possible health.

Rubbish, there is no science to support that.

It is not bad for your skin at all. Everyone in my family (and every decent person I know) showers every day and we have good skin with no problems at all and are younger looking than our ages if anything.

Perhaps if you continually soap and scrub at the skin but I dont.

To shower you get in the shower soap your underarms, genitals, butt and feet. Rinse off, you dont have to soap your arms and legs where there are not as many sweat glands.

Saying its bad for your skin to shower every day is a cop out.

Also, the general publics right to not suffer other selfish peoples body odour supercedes one individials claims washing is bad for you etc etc

We live in a collective and the larger interest is that everyone wash every day. Anything less is selfish. A 'wash cloth' is not going to cut it.

Hellrazer

1) I love my hubby but he just throws clothes in a corner in th ebedroom and thinks the "clothes fairy" washes and irons them:P

Have to admit of being guilty of that one.

2) Last time i asked him to do a wash he forgot to put the powder in then put them in a bundle on the rad:eek:

Thats not that bad--I was asked to do a wash before and instead of using powder I used Fairy washing up liquid.I was cleaning suds up for days


Back on topic though--Boxers,socks and Tshirts--1 wear and then washed.Jeans I usually will wear twice and then wash.

I think the OP is a bit over the top with this unless her OH smells as bad as shes making out.

partyguinness

Just do what my g/friend does..she just picks up all my clothes and washes them regardless..I dont have hygiene issues but my freedom of choice has been taken from me..:(

partyguinness

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

Rubbish, there is no science to support that.

It is not bad for your skin at all. Everyone in my family (and every decent person I know) showers every day and we have good skin with no problems at all and are younger looking than our ages if anything.

Perhaps if you continually soap and scrub at the skin but I dont.

To shower you get in the shower soap your underarms, genitals, butt and feet. Rinse off, you dont have to soap your arms and legs where there are not as many sweat glands.

Saying its bad for your skin to shower every day is a cop out.

Also, the general publics right to not suffer other selfish peoples body odour supercedes one individials claims washing is bad for you etc etc

We live in a collective and the larger interest is that everyone wash every day. Anything less is selfish. A 'wash cloth' is not going to cut it.

Its not rubbish. Its the same reason why dogs should only be washed sparingly with shampoo etc as it strips away the natural oils on their coat.

Some products will leave skin drier, flaky and tired looking...sounds like an ad.

But showering everyday is not bad. I would be horrified if my g/friend didnt. In fact we sometimes shower up to 3 times on a special day..;)

iguana

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

Rubbish, there is no science to support that.

Yes there is and American study done in 2006 showed a 4.75% rise in viral infections in those who showered daily as opposed to those who showered weekly. In quite a small space of time.

Also my husband who has severe eczema has been advised by every doctor and dermatologist he has ever seen to limit showering and only bathe if absolutely necessary as washing too much will literally make his skin fall off. He just washes the areas he needs to and showers as little as possible and he smells just fine.

The damage done to his skin by washing too much is immediately obvious due to his skin condition. But those of us who don't have such obvious problems are still experiencing damage, it just happens slowly over time.

Oh The Humanity wrote: »

We live in a collective and the larger interest is that everyone wash every day. Anything less is selfish. A 'wash cloth' is not going to cut it.

Yes we do live in a collective and as a member of it I object strongly to the wholey unnecessary waste of water you are advocating. Just try and picture the amount of water 4 million people would use in a 3 minute shower. Now try and picture the amount of water that would be needed for 6.776billion people to do the same. Each day. The world couldn't sustain that for even a short period of time.

Going around the place stinking is selfish and unpleasant to others. But it's not necessary to shower each day in order to smell good. However it is entirely necessary to cut back on our water usage so that some people can continue to live.

Oh The Humanity

iguana wrote: »

Yes there is and American study done in 2006 showed a 4.75% rise in viral infections in those who showered daily as opposed to those who showered weekly. In quite a small space of time.

Well you know what for a 5% risk in viral infections, the decent thing to do is ....suck it up. We cannot go around smelling because we are terrified of viruses. By the way we are all carrying hundreds of viruses, serious and non serious ALL the time. So studies have to be looked at with a bit of common sense.

It is incumbent on us NOT to smell.

iguana wrote: »

Also my husband who has severe eczema has been advised by every doctor and dermatologist he has ever seen to limit showering and only bathe if absolutely necessary as washing too much will literally make his skin fall off. He just washes the areas he needs to and showers as little as possible and he smells just fine.

I understand that, that is totally different from someone who is just too lazy to wash. I get slight psoriasis on my feet so I avoid too much soap there for the same reason but I make sure I am spotless all the same.
As I said its common sense, whether some people need to use Silcocks base and a strigel it makes no difference. We are obliged to be clean.

iguana wrote: »

The damage done to his skin by washing too much is immediately obvious due to his skin condition. But those of us who don't have such obvious problems are still experiencing damage, it just happens slowly over time.

With respect that is a different kettle of fish, the vast majority of the healthy population with no skin problems need to wash daily.

The OP's boyfriend thinks he has a relaxed attitude to it when really his own girlfriend is shocked and finds him dirty. Thats where certain people need to wake up. Making themselves exceptions like OP's boyfriend just results in smellyness.

iguana wrote: »

Yes we do live in a collective and as a member of it I object strongly to the wholey unnecessary waste of water you are advocating. Just try and picture the amount of water 4 million people would use in a 3 minute shower. Now try and picture the amount of water that would be needed for 6.776billion people to do the same. Each day. The world couldn't sustain that for even a short period of time.

Youre forgetting water is recyclable. The water goes back into the water table, is cleaned and used again and again. We have to wash, its not optional.

iguana wrote: »

Going around the place stinking is selfish and unpleasant to others. But it's not necessary to shower each day in order to smell good. However it is entirely necessary to cut back on our water usage so that some people can continue to live.

Well, Ireland is not short of water. I don't accept everyone taking a 3 minute shower is in any way unreasonable. Its clean and neccessary.