What is the longest length of time that you've gone without taking a bath?
@justdroppingby (296)
Philippines
April 1, 2010 1:38pm CST
It's the Holy Week, and with it some old traditional beliefs and customs have once more come to the fore. One of the weirder customs that I've heard from older relatives is the one where you're supposed to not take a bath from Good Friday until Easter Sunday, as a sign of faith.
I'm not one for blindly following such practices (nor for blindly following any religion, but that's another matter entirely). Hearing about it though made me remember a husband of a friend who she swears never bathes on Sundays. I'm not sure if it's part of another custom or just a personal belief (or he's just plain old stubborn). But it made me think that maybe bathing is overrated.
Here in our tropical country where it's mostly hot and icky when you're out and about, it's unfathomable to not take a bath everyday. But I understand that in countries with colder climates people don't often take daily baths (meaning the whole shampoo-soap-scrub routine)..is it because of the cold or it's just a cultural thing?
Anyway, I don't think that there's one standard to the frequency of bathing and it's pretty much do-as-you-please (or as long as you can take your own stink, as a close friend would say). So I'd like to ask my fellow MyLotters, what's the longest length of time that you've gone without taking a bath?
(personally, I'm guilty of not bathing for as long as six days... but that was when I was sick and the weather was really really cold)
3 people like this
17 responses
@chiepao (714)
• Philippines
4 Apr 10
hi just, you broke my record 
I was thinking twice if I'm gonna reply to this discussion or not because I'm a gal and usually gal's are very hygienic and stuff. I'm from a tropical country too and especially now that I think el niño is in my country, taking a bath is a must. I don't like the icky feeling and I take a bath twice a day, in the morning and when I get home from work. Maybe the taking a bath thing is on how people really live. I've heard stories from my sister where in at some part of the middle east, you can really see that people don't really like to take a bath.. 
About the record braking thing, the longest that I haven't taken a bath is 4 days and it's because I was operated CS section with my baby and my wound shouldn't get wet at all.
I was thinking twice if I'm gonna reply to this discussion or not because I'm a gal and usually gal's are very hygienic and stuff. I'm from a tropical country too and especially now that I think el niño is in my country, taking a bath is a must. I don't like the icky feeling and I take a bath twice a day, in the morning and when I get home from work. Maybe the taking a bath thing is on how people really live. I've heard stories from my sister where in at some part of the middle east, you can really see that people don't really like to take a bath..
About the record braking thing, the longest that I haven't taken a bath is 4 days and it's because I was operated CS section with my baby and my wound shouldn't get wet at all.
@coffeegurl (1467)
• United States
3 Apr 10
Gosh-I'm not very religious, but who knew-I haven't taken a bath since wednesday.....
@autumndreamer (3185)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
The longest time that I haven't taken a bath was when I was 12, I got chicken pox! 
I had chicken pox for almost 2 weeks. That was long! I haven't taken a bath for two weeks! But I change my clothes everyday! I still try to be clean even if I don't wet myself. And I didn't stink!
I had chicken pox for almost 2 weeks. That was long! I haven't taken a bath for two weeks! But I change my clothes everyday! I still try to be clean even if I don't wet myself. And I didn't stink! @junrapmian (2169)
• Philippines
3 Apr 10
In this tropical country, I can't stand it not to take a bath in a day. You know how hot it is right now. I remember not taking a bath for about a week when I just gave birth to my children, aside from that, I can't remember any instance that I didn't take my bath, even when I'm feverish I still take a quick shower. During this summer season, I always take my bath for at least twice a day to freshen up.
1 person likes this
@maryantilok (487)
• Singapore
10 Apr 10
the time i did not take a bath longest i think is around 3 days when i was traveling to other country and it was so cold and i could not even breath it mad me sick cos my country is warm all the time so i did not get used to it .i can remember how the feeling did not take a bath for few day , i feel really uncomfortable and my hair was really a mess , but anyway is is a good memory.
@daoji0504 (1)
• China
2 Apr 10
it is my first time hearing who don't take a bath for so long time.i often take a bath everyday except when i am ill.however i want to tell people , it is cold outside before you take it .but when you finish it ,you will don't think so.you will feel well then your body is full of warm.whether somebody think the same to me!
1 person likes this
@hotsummer (13837)
• Philippines
2 Apr 10
i usually had 2 days without a bath. before. that was before mostly when i was kid when i hate taking a bath back then. but being a kid i don't smell bad or that bad when i don't take a bath every day. but now it is different. with different kinds of food that i eat. like spicy foods and other foods, those affect my body smell and so taking a bath daily is really a must now.
@john_ronald (383)
• Hong Kong
2 Apr 10
Holy Week and so we should gave it a sign of faith, even if we have different cultures, traditions, and religions. Let us gave our faith and recognize the goodness and kindness of God let us believe more of what Jesus teach us pray and more thankful for God is always their to guide us as long as we do good things. Taking a bath for me is not a sin, because i believe that doing a better way, helping others makes them more happy and for me makes me more happy..
@Ingkingderders (3832)
• Philippines
2 Apr 10
oh wow.. I think it was 4 days, that was when I was nursing an incredibly high fever and I was bed ridden. Hehehehe. My boyfriend on the other hand has his own rules. No work means no bath. LOL. He won't take a bath if he doesn't need to go to work, so if it's a 5 day holiday then he won't take a bath for five days. Unless I make him take a bath ( meaning I won't hug or kiss him until he smells nice ). Hehehehe.
@bulastika (5966)
• Philippines
2 Apr 10
I don't know about that kind of tradition. I'm glad I'm not practicing it. Lols.
Me the longest is three nights no bathing. I'm so glue to my laptop that I have no time to take a bath for three days and night. lolz.
But usually I take bath twice a day. One in the morning and one in the evening.
Even in cold days and night I took a bath.
..
Just don't introduce me to a new online game.
Because once I'm addicted I just can't stop playing.
@sylqqmedin (116)
• Bulgaria
1 Apr 10
One year ago,we renovated our bathroom.There were workers all the time(except in nights).We stayed 1 week without taking a bath(believe me it's terribly).
@setsuna26 (2751)
• Philippines
2 Apr 10
Well if we count those times that we are sick i think my longest will be four days. But when im not i just cant stand it not to take a bath everyday.When you live in a tropical country like ours you really need to take a bath everyday.You will feel itchy and all if you dont because you get all sweaty all day long thats why .But when your sick its going to be a different story. ;)
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Apr 10
justdroppingby oh yes the customs. well I don;t think I have'ever tgone very long without bathing, California is a warmer climate and one can'
get sweaty. maybe two days is all as I cannot shower every day as myskin is so dry and as I always shampoo when I shower my hair gets too dry if I do this everyday. but I do not go long between showers as I am
overweight and get sweaty quickly.So I do this every other day and still manage to be both clean and comfortable too.
@amorlife1 (370)
• South Africa
1 Apr 10
I think it's a matter of personal preference. But it's also how considerate a person you are. I personally cannot stand being next to someone who smells badly, so I cannot be that smelly person either. So I make sure to bath everyday. There must be a REALLY good reason for me not to bath. As a woman also, it's essential to bath everyday because I think we tend to smell worse than men when we don't bath.
@bagputza (504)
• Belgium
1 Apr 10
Good Evening dear friend Justdroppingby , glad to see that there are still people who dont muck the elders habitudes , i generaly dont believe IN Bible and Churches , but i strongly believe that there is a god , and my grandmother is a verry religios person , so when i used to be around seven years old untill my twelfe years old i used to have a fourty days food post , wich mean i could not eat any sort of meat or product coming from any sort of anymal , we used to eat alot of rice and vegetables for forty days and men had not right on shaving theire beard ( not really a punishment for me now lol ) but about not bathing i cann recall it was not more then nine days , i dont remember with acurracy hence its almost two decades hence i haven't followed my grandma customs .
Glad i could of share this with you dear myloters.
Have a nice Evening
