'Water Bill Has Dropped': Mom Saying She Showers Twice a Week Sparks Debate

A working mom-of-two has hit upon a unique way to save time and money around the house—but it may not be to everyone's liking.

In a post shared to Mumsnet under the handle Lov, she revealed she has taken to showering just twice a week. But while some appeared at odds with her approach, plenty could see the logic in switching up her daily hygiene regime.

According to cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD, it's advisable to shower at least every other day otherwise you could be leaving yourself open to a variety of skin issues including acne.

"Acne forms when there is a blockage and inflammation of sebaceous follicles, not only on the face, but on the chest and back as well," she told Real Simple. "Shower too little and there's greater potential for acne-causing bacteria to become trapped inside the pores."

That advice appears to fly in the face of Lov's two-shower-a-week schedule, but the busy mom insists the approach works well for her.

Writing in the viral post, she acknowledged that her previous routine of daily showers "took a nosedive" during the pandemic when she was forced to work from home. "Don't get me wrong I went old school and did a daily clean with a flannel and yes still brush my teeth twice a day," she stressed.

However, she reduced herself to "showering twice a week" during this period. Now with things back to something approaching normal with her job requiring her to go into the office twice a week, her routine has "stayed the same."

While she still showers before visiting the office or after working out, she appears convinced her new approach is working. "I don't feel worse for it and my water bill has dropped," she added. "I guess my life is quite sedentary, which is why I don't smell."

Newsweek has contacted Lov for comment.

Despite her insistence the approach worked, some on social media were unconvinced, with the post gaining over 290 replies.

RedCardigan was a firm believer in a "daily shower," writing: "It's honestly less effort than a flannel wash and leaves me cleaner so a no brainer."

Tabbouleh was similarly unsure, noting that they had had a "daily shower" all of their life and "don't feel clean without it." Flopisfatteningbingforchristmas went one step further, writing: "Even when I had major surgery, sepsis and a newborn to look after all at once I had a daily shower."

MermaidEyes, meanwhile, replied that they had a "shower every day, whether I'm going anywhere or not," adding that they "haven't had a flannel wash since the '80s." Apolloanddaphne agreed, commenting: "I daily shower no matter what. I just feel sweaty and grubby if I don't."

Despite the resistance in certain quarters, some like User0ne confessed to doing similar. "I shower about once a week, or if I've got particularly sweaty/dirty in-between which is usually due to gardening," they said.

"I flannel wash other days...no one's commented that I smell. I work with teenagers, and they'd be pretty brutal if I (or anyone) did." MammaWeasel was of a similar opinion, writing: "I have sensory issues so I shower twice a week and do as you do."

KateMcCallister, meanwhile, did similar because of the financial benefits. "If I'm not leaving the house I don't shower," she said. "Our water bills are high enough as it is and I don't smell from sitting in front of a laptop all day."

Elsewhere, users like Tiredmum100 were the opposite. "I shower twice a day," she said. "Once in the morning, before work, then when I get home. I'm a nurse and I just don't feel clean if I don't shower after work."

Kittythames ultimately concluded that, like so much in life, it is a matter of personal choice. "Do whatever suits you," she wrote. "A hot shower is a few minutes of luxury in my day and I'd rather give up Netflix or wine instead!"