My No-Soap, No-Shampoo, Bacteria-Rich Hygiene Experiment

New York Times ^ | MAY 22, 2014 | Julia Scott

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I remember seeing pictures of Nick Nolte when he tried that.

[Farmer Dean]

What's that smell??Haven't showered for 12 years,that's socially unacceptable.

[minnesota_bound]

I bet he still doesn’t smell as bad as Steve Jobs did.

[SatinDoll]

Soaping down and washing away - everyday! - is the simplest method for avoiding leprosy.

[Yardstick]

Napoleon approves.

[Oratam]

My late father, born in 1932, showered once a week. He "bathed" daily by taking a damp washcloth to his body, paying particular attention to those areas which most often "give offense." He shampooed less frequently. He would head down to the basement and give his his wiry locks a once over with a rubber nozzle attachment in the great soapstone sink. The man never smelled. He was truly the cleanest person I ever knew.

Also, I recall reading something by the late, great Ivan T. Sanderson on the subject of the civilized, Western men in the jungle. He said after a time without bathing, the body produces a natural insect repellent which the soap & water crowd will never know.

All things in moderation.

[SeaHawkFan]

I’d never get laid if I did that.

[bigbob]

Carries the Homeless Hygine seal of approval

[null and void]

Wellll, not by anyone you’d want to get laid by, anyway...

[SeaHawkFan]

I only want to get laid by my wife.

[Fungi]

Pure nonsense. Try doing this at home! They forgot about Candida albicans, Aspergillus species, just to name a couple—never mind bacteria such as Listeria, Staphylococcus, and that is just the start. This is where stupidity meets “science.” They are really not advocating a no shower livelihood unless I missed something; otherwise people are gullible to the ninth degree. Wait—those are the rat buffoons; sorry, I forgot.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

When we were kids on the arid high plains, our parents made us bathe once a week. As we grew older, and moved to the HUMID South, we realized we were rank, so began to bathe twice a week then four times a week, then every day when we joined the work force.

I think once a week was standard back then, on Saturday night.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***great Ivan T. Sanderson ***

So why do the Yeti and Bigfoot stink!

[UnwashedPeasant]

My No-Soap, No-Shampoo, Bacteria-Rich Hygiene Experiment"

Add No Toilet Paper, and you have yourself an Arab country.

[Organic Panic]

Trials to be had in Zucotti Park.

[trebb]

My late father, born in 1932, showered once a week. He "bathed" daily by taking a damp washcloth to his body, paying particular attention to those areas which most often "give offense." He shampooed less frequently. He would head down to the basement and give his his wiry locks a once over with a rubber nozzle attachment in the great soapstone sink. The man never smelled. He was truly the cleanest person I ever knew.

I spent a few years in Italy - the practice is to shower once a day with cool/cold water and no soap unless needed to remove some set in grime. They say keeping the pores closed and not destroying the natural protections on the skin keeps one healthier. Never ran into a smelly Italian.

[9YearLurker]

I would think Fungi would favor this trend.

[Gay State Conservative]

Sandra Fluke?

[Explorer89]

Never ran into a smelly Italian? I lived there for two years, too. A trip on the un-air conditioned Milan subway in August was an epic experience. Deodorant doesn’t exist. I had to import my Secret.