In your adult life, what is the longest time you have gone without bathing or showering?

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My personal record is five days.

Sadly I did not smell as bad as some of my coworkers on a typical day.

― Soapy McBubblestein (kittenbucket), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:20 (twenty years ago)

Since turning 12 or 13, no more than two days.

― Erick Dampier is better than Shaq (miloaukerman), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:22 (twenty years ago)

Probably at some music festival. I figured I'd be better off not showering instead of having a communal shower with all the others. Eck. So uh two/three days?

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:23 (twenty years ago)

I went about 10 days once as an Experiment in Terror. By the end of it, whenever I stopped moving, the fumes would sting my eyes.

― truck-patch pixel farmer (Rock Hardy), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:33 (twenty years ago)

Four days of hard labor on the Appalachian Trail and I fantasized about bath tubs for most of that time (also, steak dinners). Believe you me, it was a let-down when the hot water tank at our hostel ran out before the bath was either hot enough or deep enough -- but at least I was clean.

I've been on other similar hikes but they were near bodies of water so we just lathered up (w/ detergent-free shampoo, natch).

― Laurel (Laurel), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:38 (twenty years ago)

never more than two days!

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:39 (twenty years ago)

Two of my housemates in college had a contest to see who could go the longest without bathing. I think they both lasted a week, I can't remember.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:40 (twenty years ago)

A week? How European. ;-)

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 04:57 (twenty years ago)

I think three days is the maximum, during rock festivals.

― Tuomas (Tuomas), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 06:16 (twenty years ago)

One day. Never skiped a day. When I used to go visit my grandparent's in DK, they used to say how much water I wasted.

― svend (svend), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 06:22 (twenty years ago)

Two weeks, camping in the desert. I have done this a number of times.

NB: the desert is very, very dirty.

― giboyeux (skowly), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 06:49 (twenty years ago)

i think it has been about 5 days... i went 5 days just last week actually

― t0dd swiss (immobilisme), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 07:08 (twenty years ago)

COuple of weeks whilst camping, although showerving in this case has been replaced by bucket baqths, dips in streams etc and baby wipes.

― Ed (dali), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 07:11 (twenty years ago)

2-3 days, since my scalp won't let me sleep comfortably otherwise.

― kingfish holiday travesty (kingfish 2.0), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 07:23 (twenty years ago)

Four days, when I was in hospital and they wouldn't let me shower in case I fainted and fell down. And I couldn't bath because they hadn't found me a room yet. You could tell I was very very ill because I didn't actually care.

― ALL YOUR BASE NOW BELONG TO SYCORAX!!! (kate), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 10:42 (twenty years ago)

a week, on the trans-siberian. when i washed my hair in the hostel in moscow everything came out dark grey until i'd washed it three times.

― emsk ( emsk), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 11:22 (twenty years ago)

four days, i think. also on the appalachian trail. will possibly set a new record in russia this spring, but i sort of hope not.

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:37 (twenty years ago)

Probably like 2 days at a festival, but I always take baby wipes and stuff and do the best I can with them and cold water. I'd be crawling out of my skin after 3 days...ew...

― smee (smee), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:48 (twenty years ago)

over a week, when I was in bed with a broken collarbone. Eventually the smell sent me to the most painful bath of my life.

― stet (stet), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:51 (twenty years ago)

four days in the woods
on a freshman camping trip
we got SO HORNY

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:54 (twenty years ago)

7 days, dry camping in northern AZ and southern UT. The motel room with hot water in Delta, UT is a favorite memory of that trip.

― Jaq (Jaq), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

Re-entering the "clean" world after weeks in the woods/desert/wherever is always a treat. I was camping outside Vegas and went into town with friends, on mushrooms, and just staggered around in the casinos. I was wearing scrubs, a track jacket, an unwashed t-shirt and a freshly shaved head w/two weeks of desert grime -- looking like a mental patient, basically. And I couldn't stop winning. Came home with $100 that night!

Great times.

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 17:57 (twenty years ago)

yeah, it's a little disappointing to finally wash off when you're ridiculously dirty because you just feel so impressive!

― Maria (Maria), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 18:48 (twenty years ago)

Couple weeks?

― Roxymuzak, Mrs. Carbohydrate (roxymuzak), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:46 (twenty years ago)

maybe 5 days or so. when i moved into my current apt the shower didn't work and they took weeks to fix it so sometimes i didn't bother. it helped me overcome my addiction to washing my hair anyway. i like human smelling!

― caitlin oh no (caitxa1), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:52 (twenty years ago)

Me too.

― gbx (skowly), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:53 (twenty years ago)

Probably 4-5 days, backpacking in Colorado

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 19:59 (twenty years ago)

after surgery, i couldnt really bathe for a few days.. so 5 days i guess. the smell wasnt nice.

― POOP BITCH (Mandee), Tuesday, 27 December 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

hmm, i don't think i did too much bathing-avoidance when i had casts on both my arms for several weeks the summer after 7th grade, but it's possible that there were records other than in the video-rental department there

― gabbneb (gabbneb), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 04:55 (twenty years ago)

At least 3 or 4 days more than once, thanks to depression, yay.

― Trayce (trayce), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 04:59 (twenty years ago)

usually about 13 hours

― peepee (peepee), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

About five or six days during an epic hitch-hike to and from Glastonbury ten years ago. First thing I did when I got home was have a shower then run a bath straight after.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

one year passes...

7-8 days, backpacking in canyonlands ntl. park

― Fleischhutliebe! like a warm, furry meatloaf (Fluffy Bear Hearts Rainbows), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 20:46 (nineteen years ago)

These days I shower twice and sometimes three times a day but I remember as a kid going for as long as I could without my Mother noticing (aided by my telling her I had already showered) which I think was about 5 days.

― It's a hard world for little things... (papa november), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 20:54 (nineteen years ago)

When I had fierce depression, weeks. How European of me.

― Clothing the Gotterdammerung Doors (noodle vague), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 20:55 (nineteen years ago)

I can't think of more than three days - when sick a couple of weeks ago, and at the Phoenix Festival 1993. My god you feel nasty.

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:00 (nineteen years ago)

in hospital for over a week after appendectomy. that counts, surely?

― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:03 (nineteen years ago)

No Carry On-style bed-baths?

― Clothing the Gotterdammerung Doors (noodle vague), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:05 (nineteen years ago)

Re-entering the "clean" world after weeks in the woods/desert/wherever is always a treat.

OTM, I especially love rolling up into monstrous buffets with a minimum of 4 grody twigs-in-their-hair forested-out freaks on Sunday afternoons when it's a bunch of hungry church-goers in their Sunday bests.

BISCUITS...MINE!

― baron kickass von awesomehausen (nickalicious), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:06 (nineteen years ago)

I could've swore there was an older, longer thread on this very topic.

― baron kickass von awesomehausen (nickalicious), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:06 (nineteen years ago)

xxpost: nope, and I was far too ill to get out of bed for most of that time.

the goddamn thing had burst about 2 days before operation, see.

another day longer and BAN LOUIS JAGGER might never have been a reality!

― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:07 (nineteen years ago)

But BANG! LOUIS JAGGER would've been, aminotrite?

― Clothing the Gotterdammerung Doors (noodle vague), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:08 (nineteen years ago)

no, but you have given me a great idea for a chat-up line

― You've Got Scourage On Your Breath (Haberdager), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:09 (nineteen years ago)

But first you would have to show them the Mod Req thread to explain the joke. That's probably not gonna work.

― Clothing the Gotterdammerung Doors (noodle vague), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:10 (nineteen years ago)

no, I could just stroll up to the bar, casually slip my arm around some hot chick, announce that "all this situation lacks is some pussy", go on to explain that "I've had nineteen years and eleven months of no sex, but I wouldn't describe myself as 'not up for it'", before finishing it off with a simple plea of "Bang Louis Jagger".

it is sure to succeed.

― poppage ahoy (Haberdager), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:13 (nineteen years ago)

But first you would have to show them the Mod Req thread to explain the joke. That's probably not gonna work.

Salivatee thee thusly! The Apple Phone

― Feargal Hixxy (DJ Mencap), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:49 (nineteen years ago)

8-9 days when I went to Burning Man. I washed my hair once mid-point, and used baby wipes daily. Good thing it's so dry out there.

― nickn (nickn), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:56 (nineteen years ago)

there was one stretch of going about three weeks to a month last summer, without a shower. depression.

― aftercare (blood bitch), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 21:59 (nineteen years ago)

i usually try to take one at least every two-to-three days though, by the way. and, you people that take more than one shower a day are entirely insane. even taking a shower every day seems like more than necessary to me.

― aftercare (blood bitch), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 22:01 (nineteen years ago)

Four days, while working on a farm and living in accommodations that had no running water. It was sweat from working, so it smelled somewhat better than sickly anxiety sweat. Don't get me wrong, it still smelled.

― patita (patita), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 22:07 (nineteen years ago)

glastonbury, 5 days.
still smelt like a blossoming meadow.

― not-goodwin (not-goodwin), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 22:31 (nineteen years ago)

Apparently my answer to this question is "longer than the average ILXor, embarrassingly enough."

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 22:49 (nineteen years ago)

Ten days, camping. I regularly go the weekend without showering. If I'm not going to do something that requires cleanliness, it just seems like a waste.

― Party Time Country Female (pullapartgirl), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:22 (nineteen years ago)

5 days at Glasto for me as well. Pissing rain and knee-deep mud doesn't help either.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:23 (nineteen years ago)

When I'm camping, two weeks at a strech, baby wipes are a godsend and as many dips in streams, bucket baths and just plain running around in the rain as possible.

― Ed (dali), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:24 (nineteen years ago)

three days once when dreadfully ill with the flu. When I was able to get out of bed, got into the tub and used dishwashing liquid to get the GREASE out of my hair. It was horrid. I'd had a bad fever adn the sweats so I was really skanky too. I couldn't stand to put my arms up over my head for the stench.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:35 (nineteen years ago)

seven minutes

― Sir Tehrance HoBB (the pirate king), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:37 (nineteen years ago)

Three, maybe four days? I once tried to go a week without showering, for reasons unknown, but after a few days I lost the will-to-filth.

― Adam Beales (Pye Poudre), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:41 (nineteen years ago)

I guess not having any hair probably makes this easier? Your head will get a little greasy, but that's probably more bearable than dirty hair all up in your face.

― nabisco (nabisco), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:44 (nineteen years ago)

maybe three days? probably when i broke my ankle.

― M@tt He1geson: Sassy and I Don't Care Who Knows It (Matt Helgeson), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:51 (nineteen years ago)

as an adult, no more than 48 hours

― electric sound of jim [and why not] (electricsound), Wednesday, 10 January 2007 23:51 (nineteen years ago)

Three days as well, after having my first surgery and being scared of even having warm water run through the open wound. Then I broke down and took a shower (my hair is way oily) and yes, it did hurt to have the soapy water run down the wound, but I was grateful in the end to have clean hair again.

― Phoenix Dancing (krushsister), Thursday, 11 January 2007 03:52 (nineteen years ago)

Four and a half days, at Glastonbury. I did wash my hair in cold water though, that was good.

I remember coming back to a friend's apartment in San Francisco after being on the Green Tortoise trip to the Grand Canyon, and I think it took about ten minutes of showering for the water to run clear, but that was actual desert dirt in my hair rather than just ordinary body grime. We had plenty of opportunities to get clean every couple of days, but there was one huge Dutch guy on the bus who was too embarrassed to go in swimming (or couldn't swim) and eventually the drivers told him he had to wash himself or he would be put off the bus.

― accentmonkey (accentmonkey), Thursday, 11 January 2007 10:22 (nineteen years ago)

Five days, at Truck last summer. After the first two days, it really doesn't get any worse.

― The Long Grey And Overcast Tea Time Of The Soul (kate), Thursday, 11 January 2007 10:30 (nineteen years ago)

ten months pass...

4 days...smelled like Falkor's doo doo

― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 02:58 (eighteen years ago)

Apparently you don't (a) live in South Florida (b) never noticed the short lifespan of underarm deodorant in South Florida. Stay the fuck away from me.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 02:59 (eighteen years ago)

everytime i go back home (south florida) i forget that i should be showering at least once a day when i'm there. cold midwest will do that to you.

― J0rdan S., Wednesday, 14 November 2007 03:01 (eighteen years ago)

at this halloween night at karaoke there was this dude there wearing a skin tight gold suit that looked out of the 70s and he smelled like that was also the last time he showered

― Bo Jackson Overdrive, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 03:02 (eighteen years ago)

I think it was a week, the first time I moved to Seattle when I was 21. I'd lived in muggy Minneapolis and coming to Seattle in mid-August and discovering there was no humidity meant I barely noticed anything. I started showering regularly again after that, though, obv.

― Matos W.K., Wednesday, 14 November 2007 08:32 (eighteen years ago)

sometimes twice a day, for reasons unknown to me. I do feel it is getting a bit Howard Hughes-ey.

― o-ess, Wednesday, 14 November 2007 09:16 (eighteen years ago)

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