“I shower once a week — and no, I don’t smell” 🧼😮 It might sound wild today, but this old-school bathing habit might actually be better for your skin, wallet, and the planet. Daily showers? More about marketing than medicine. Why one man ditched the soap cycle — full story in the article below 👇
When I was a kid, I only bathed once a week. That might sound strange now, but back then in the mid-1900s, it was totally normal. It didn’t mean my family didn’t care about cleanliness — it was just how things were. Still, everyone smelled fine. Years later, I started taking daily showers, like most people do today. But over time, I decided to go back to my old routine and see what would happen.
How Much Water Does a Shower Use?
I did a little math and found out that a 10-minute shower uses about 60 liters of water. If the water heater is running, the cost jumps even more. A full bathtub? That can use up to 200 liters. So, a family of three taking daily showers could use around 65 cubic meters of water each year.
On top of that, the cost of electricity to heat the water really adds up. And there’s something else — all that hot water use leads to more carbon dioxide in the air, which isn’t great for the planet. So daily showers aren’t just expensive, they’re not very eco-friendly either.
Why I Only Shower Once a Week Now
That’s part of why I went back to showering once a week. Of course, I still wash my armpits and private areas daily. But I also had another reason — a medical one. A friend of mine once had serious skin problems from using too much soap. It caused a bad allergic reaction, and now he has to use special creams for life.
Some dermatologists say young kids shouldn’t bathe every day because frequent soap use can make their skin more likely to get irritated or develop eczema. Pediatricians agree too, recommending babies be bathed just a few times a week since their skin is very delicate. Medical experts warn that soap and shampoo, when overused, can strip away the skin’s natural oils and good bacteria.
The habit of showering daily actually comes more from clever advertising than real health advice. Washing hands regularly is definitely important, but our skin can naturally protect and clean itself more than we realize.
What I Learned About Hair Washing
In the early 1990s, I heard a fascinating story that stuck with me. In the Amazon, the Yanomamo tribe had beautiful, healthy hair — the kind people spend money trying to get. But they didn’t use shampoo. This made me realize that too much shampoo actually harms hair. It strips away its natural protection, making it dry and more prone to damage. And of course, this benefits shampoo companies, not your hair.
Now, I’m not saying to skip hygiene altogether. If you have a date or a doctor’s appointment, smelling nice is a must. But in your everyday life, you don’t need to overdo it. Use soap and shampoo wisely.
What do you think about showering less often? Would you try it yourself, or do you prefer sticking to daily showers? Share your thoughts in the comments!
