i stopped showering and refuse soap.

[scaredyclassic]

This is going to sound kind of crazy, but I have largely abandoned showers and baths, and I have not used any soap for about 6 months. I bought 50 washcloths and use these washcloths to vigorously scrub my crotch, butt and underarms. I also towel down my face and body with the damp unsoapy cloth. I stopped using deodorant as well. Here’s the weird thing; I smell better than I used to. It is just a bizarre phenomenon, but I am not alone in this. It might be that the vigorous scrubbing with cloths does a better job of cleaning than the actual showering I used to do, but I think stopping the use of deodorant and soap does something to the body that makes it less stinky. There are people on the internet doing this, and some but not all report a similar experience. I really like this because it saves time, water and cleaning a shower. I did recently rejoin a gym and have been going in the shower to rinse off after particularly sweaty sauna sessions, but no soap ever. I would never have thought this was a possibility for me, as I have been brainwashed like most of us to believe that ashower and soap are nonnegotiable aspects of living and working ina civilized society. It is simply not true. Really scrubbing your ass and armpits with a few damp washcloths does a lot more to make you smell neutral than standing in hot water. This lifestyle does require the purchase of many washcloths though, as it is not unusual for me to go through 4 or 5 in a day. Much to the chagrin of my wife, who thought I was just being cheap, I bought the lowest priced washcloths from amazon, like 50 cents each?. But I also bought some expensive ones from macy’s thatw ere luxuriously smooth, I think in the neighborhood of 10$ each.. Turns out only the cheapest ones are useful for me. I need the rough abrasive quality of cloth to exfoliate and scrub and get the cleaning effect I am looking for. The smooth ones simply do not work for me. It’s nice to discover that one can live on much much less. I really don’t even think I need indoor plumbing anymore. Although I am not taking cold showers, I also use cold water on my damp washcloths, for a brisk rubdown even in the cold. Not quite as startling as a cold shower, but still, something. I briefly considered getting a towel warmer, of the type used by nail salons to heat up towels for their clientele. But I decided against it because the coolness of the cloth really isn’t all that bad. I would prefer a warm towel, but im ok with a cool one. i do however use soap on my hands after pooping. I would say everyone should attempt this experiment once in their life. As Thoreau said, “Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable, but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.” Or perhaps we should edit his quote as follows:

“I went to the [bathroom] because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms…”
“

[teaboy]

Do I understand you toss the washcloths after each use? Shame on you.

We use Norwex “water only” washcloths.

[img_assist|nid=26765|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=303|height=348]

tb

[scaredyclassic]

no no no. i wash them. but let them pile up. i miggt use one for face and arms one for feet one for ass. etc.

it is extravagant but not to the point of tossing them.

[FlyerInHi]

Sounds like you’re doing what people used to do before they had bathrooms.
If I understand, you don’t shower at home anymore.

What’s wrong with rinsing under the shower? You don’t need soap if you don’t want it.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=teaboy]Do I understand you toss the washcloths after each use? Shame on you.

We use Norwex “water only” washcloths.

[img_assist|nid=26765|title=|desc=|link=node|align=left|width=303|height=348]

tb[/quote]

Looks exactly like the microfiber cloth you can buy at Costco in the automotive section. I use them for cleaning everything.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=FlyerInHi]Sounds like you’re doing what people used to do before they had bathrooms.
If I understand, you don’t shower at home anymore.

What’s wrong with rinsing under the shower? You don’t need soap if you don’t want it.[/quote]

i avoid the shower on principle. i dont want to clean the shower plus it annoys my wife to see me scrubbing nyself with towels.

i have some sort of psychological defect from way back involving a need to irritate women.

[zk]

Not being snarky; serious question:

How do you know you smell better (or good or okay)?

Girl I heard talking once: “Guys who don’t shower for a day and then put on cologne think that covers it up and that they don’t smell. It’s disgusting.

Dude I knew about skipping showers: “I just put on cologne. No girl has ever complained.”

Me to him: “Yeah, but you’re not exactly Casanova over here. Maybe that’s got something to do with it. Maybe they don’t complain, they just don’t stick with you.”

I also worked with a guy who would sometimes come in for days in a row just stinking of old sweat. Everybody hated it, but nobody said anything. I said to his best friend, “hey, you’d be doing him – and us – a favor by telling him.” No dice. He wouldn’t do it. His best friend!

Point being, you can’t really smell yourself, and most people aren’t going to tell you that you stink.

I’m not saying you stink. I’m just asking if you’re sure that you don’t.

[The-Shoveler]

(not showering)
Not something I would try , But I am fairly sure my wife would let me know right away if I smelled LOL.

But I know some old people who “must” get by with a wet towel bath so I guess it can work.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=scaredyclassic][quote=FlyerInHi]Sounds like you’re doing what people used to do before they had bathrooms.
If I understand, you don’t shower at home anymore.

What’s wrong with rinsing under the shower? You don’t need soap if you don’t want it.[/quote]

i avoid the shower on principle. i dont want to clean the shower plus it annoys my wife to see me scrubbing nyself with towels.

i have some sort of psychological defect from way back involving a need to irritate women.[/quote]

But the towel bath is make work for you. Plus you have to wash the piles of towels. Just easier to rinse.

It’s really hot in Temecula in the summer. Get a big water trough and make a coconut ladle. You can shower that way on the terrace. The sun will warm the water for a comfortable shower. But sure to cover the water container to avoid mosquitos. That’s how the country folks do it in Thailand. Actually they use plastic scoops, not coconut anymore. Shower at the foot of your favorite tree and water the tree at the same time.

[scaredyclassic]

[quote=zk]Not being snarky; serious question:

How do you know you smell better (or good or okay)?

Girl I heard talking once: “Guys who don’t shower for a day and then put on cologne think that covers it up and that they don’t smell. It’s disgusting.

Dude I knew about skipping showers: “I just put on cologne. No girl has ever complained.”

Me to him: “Yeah, but you’re not exactly Casanova over here. Maybe that’s got something to do with it. Maybe they don’t complain, they just don’t stick with you.”

I also worked with a guy who would sometimes come in for days in a row just stinking of old sweat. Everybody hated it, but nobody said anything. I said to his best friend, “hey, you’d be doing him – and us – a favor by telling him.” No dice. He wouldn’t do it. His best friend!

Point being, you can’t really smell yourself, and most people aren’t going to tell you that you stink.

I’m not saying you stink. I’m just asking if you’re sure that you don’t.[/quote]

my wife is very direct.
i cant smell anything.
she smells everything.
she said i smell better.
of course that doesnt mean i smell good….but…better than before…

[zk]

[quote=scaredyclassic]

my wife is very direct.
i cant smell anything.
she smells everything.
she said i smell better.
of course that doesnt mean i smell good….but…better than before…[/quote]

Excellent.

Your take on the unquestioning acceptance of some of the routines we use is interesting.

[NeetaT]

I go to the swimming pool twice a day to use the showers. I take very long showers there so that the HOA gets hit for the water bill and not me at my residence.

[scaredyclassic]

long showers harm your skin biome. youre only harming yourself.

[moneymaker]

Being clean is sexy in a weird way. This goes for guys and gals. Remember in high school riding home on the bus there was this one girl who must have had gym class last and even though she wasn’t by normal standards beautiful, her wet hair and clean look was a real turn on for me, can remember it like it was yesterday. Guess I better go take a shower!

[scaredyclassic]

soap is not sexy. soap dries and destroys.

old people become dry flaky and gross.

oily is sexy.

soap is death

[Author]

Posts