We don't really need soap, according to some

[Ratatoskr]

So I came over this article, at BoingBoing titled "I haven't used soap or shampoo in a year, and it's awesome".
This person has tried the good old myth that you don't really need soap to stay clean, that body odor is not a problem and you can stay clean by using water.

I've heard of this one before, and that people perspire differently and therefore have different cleaning needs isn't something new, but there was one thing I wondered:

(...) our body is designed to regulate itself. Smearing chemicals all over it wrecks its own built-in processes, and screws with naturally balanced pH levels.

Using the word "chemicals" instead of soap makes alarm bells go off, but is it true?

 

[Halfcentaur]

I've had to go without soap and shampoo for a while before, and I never felt anywhere near as clean as I did with soap.

 

[Bob Blaylock]

Using the word "chemicals" instead of soap makes alarm bells go off, but is it true?

Water is a chemical.

 

[Ratatoskr]

Water is a chemical.

Of course it is But maybe I'm too cynical, in my experience when people use the words chemical vs natural, chemical is always the scary bad one.

 

[Wolrab]

Ever been to a Phish show? As I've heard said before, "Petrulli after a shower, not instead of one".

 

[Belz...]

Of course it is But maybe I'm too cynical, in my experience when people use the words chemical vs natural, chemical is always the scary bad one.

A co-worker of mine once said that the difference is that natural substances can't become addictive.

 

[Tracy Dalziel]

I suppose our ancestors would have coped without soap and adjusted to ignore the BO. I couldn't last without soap and hate it when I find myself next to someone smelling rank rotten. They could be forgiven if they have a medical problem or something but other than that there's no excuse for it in this day and age, at least in the developed world

 

[roger]

I use as little as I possibly can because part of my allergies includes some pretty annoying skin itchings, which soap seems to exacerbate. But soap has antibacterial properties, and it seems that if I don't at least hit my armpits with soap there can be lingering odor. I always use it on my nether regions because we know that is a bacterial culture factory.

OTOH, I've been away from civilization/running water for a few weeks to over a month at a time for mountaineering pursuits and just cold water rubdowns seemed to work fine for me and the others. You come down off the mountain stinking, I mean really, really reeking, but some cold water scrub downs and everything seems to be back to normal.

My sister dated a guy that only ever showered with plain water, and she said he never had BO. And, I've had a college roommate that showered frequently, yet usually stunk pretty bad. I suspect BO comes down to the person more than the soap.

 

[aggle-rithm]

A co-worker of mine once said that the difference is that natural substances can't become addictive.

So cocaine is A-OK?

 

[Crossbow]

Well, I suppose if one does not mind using a great deal of water and taking baths more frequently, then one does not need soap.

However, using soap makes it much easier to remove the dirt and thereby one does not need as much water to do the job.

 

[Varanid]

Soap is the yardstick of civilization- Tyler Durden.

What about the non-water soluble dirt and grime that gets on you? Soap is a pretty good, relatively harmless thing. I don't know if every variety needs to be "antibacterial" like is all the rage, but still....

 

[Bikewer]

Individual body chemistry and environment varies wildly.... Some folks have very oily skin, some perspire more freely than others, etc. As well, clothing plays a part in this; light, airy clothing changed frequently in temperate climates would seem to be rather less odoriferous than heavy clothing worn for prolonged periods in colder climates....

There is likely a cultural aspect as well... We are well aware that Americans in particular seem obsessed with cleanliness and smelling "fresh".(as so many body-product commercials euphemize....)
In other places of the world, a more natural approach is considered normal, and even sexy. I read somewhere that the average German man only changes his underwear weekly or so... (Germans may feel free to comment!)
When I was in Germany back in the 60s, it was the common opinion of the GIs that German women in particular smelled bad, and that the only ones who bathed and shaved frequently were those who were....Professional girls....

 

[Cuddles]

This person has tried the good old myth that you don't really need soap to stay clean, that body odor is not a problem and you can stay clean by using water.

You can. All soap does is make certain things dissolve more easily in water. You can clean yourself without it, it just either takes more effort or is less effective.

Using the word "chemicals" instead of soap makes alarm bells go off, but is it true?

Yeah, that bit's not so true. If you wash excessively then your skin might feel dry because you keep getting rid of the oils your body produces, but you'd have to be incredibly obsessive to manage to do any actual harm. The whole point of skin is to separate the delicate inside of body from the outside world, so things that happen on the outside mostly aren't particularly critical. A change in pH of 0.1 in your blood can be seriously bad news. Spilling hydrochloric acid on your hand may not even leave a mark if you wash it off quickly.

 

[malaka]

Water is a chemical.

A dangerous one!

 

[casebro]

Soap in all of the crotches, just warm water on my hair. And occasionally a scrub brush and soap all over. But general body, water only. My hair seems to like the warm water and 'massage' just fine. I guess if it was longer, I'd have to use a brush to spread the oils, but I don't think I want to remove them all- or at all?.

 

[Tracy Dalziel]

Soap is the yardstick of civilization- Tyler Durden.

What about the non-water soluble dirt and grime that gets on you? Soap is a pretty good, relatively harmless thing. I don't know if every variety needs to be "antibacterial" like is all the rage, but still....

Soap needn't be antibacterial. It largely works by aiding the mechanical removal of dirt and microbes by scrubbing and rinsing. There is no sense in using an antibacterial variety unless say you are a surgeon about to form an operation. In any case, the skin is re-colonised within hours. Overuse of these antibacterials (with the likely exception of those relying solely on alcohol) is little different to overuse of antibiotics (in fact sometimes use of one selects for strains resistant to the other). They should not be so heavily promoted.

 

[quarky]

A dirt bath works for chickens.

 

[hgc]

I have dry skin, and dermatologists have been telling me for years, that unless I have actual dirt and grime on me, to use soap to wash face, armpits and the undercarriage. So, it's a compromise between preserving oils for skin health and using soap in the places that really do need it.

Also, soap with lots of moisturizer built in (Dove) is highly recommended.

 

[Old man]

Originally Posted by Belz...
A co-worker of mine once said that the difference is that natural substances can't become addictive.

So cocaine is A-OK?

Nope. Too refined. Opium and tobacco, though...

 

[simonmaal]

For once I couldn't find the "you can be stink free just like me if you buy my book/special water/odour free shower etc" link.

I only use soap on armpits and privates but I can't imagine going for more than 2 or 3 days without shampoo! We only usually register changes in sensations, so the ability to detect our own whiff is compromised by this process. But I wonder how the clash between "scentometer" and politeness of family/friends was calibrated?