General hygiene of non-americans

[Curiousgirl]

I have travelled in over 30 countries and have lived in 3 . I know Americans have their quirks and are annoying (and on average obese) but in terms of general hygiene we are miles ahead of the rest of the world. I remember when living in UK on how infrequently people took baths and how greasy their hair would look before their bi-weekly hairwash. Culture as an excuse? Lets not hide behind that argument please.

[Lil_G]

I don't know if you can generalize the rest of the world because of a few trips. How long were your stays in some of these countries?

[Hootie]

I'd have to agree about the lack of abundant water...
But I've also heard that it's better to not take a shower as much because the body's natural oils, like your hair, help keep it conditioned. So every time you shower, you strip your hair of it's natural protectant. I think that's what I heard...I could be wrong.

[Kevlar281]

Don’t forget water in the US is an abundant resource in other countries its not so easy to justify two showers a day.

[Thrillhouse]

I could not even imagine what the world was like when people only showered something like once a month

I don't know...I don't think I could go without taking two showers a day. I've gotten by with one shower a day, but I don't know--I like being clean.

It feels weird if I step out the door in the morning without having that after-shower feeling. At night I can't go to bed without taking another shower.

I also have this thing about dirty feet. I wear slippers (y'all call em flip flops or thongs) sometimes and once I get home I'll wash my feet right away.

[Lil_G]

I wouldn't say the US has an abundance of water...

[CutiePie2000]

Originally posted by Curiousgirl:
I know Americans have their quirks and are annoying (and on average obese), but in terms of general hygiene we are miles ahead of the rest of the world. Culture as an excuse? Lets not hide behind that argument please.

I've lived in Germany and as a Canadian (i.e. North American), our water and energy is much more plentiful. In terms of Canada (and also USA), our respective countries' populations are far less populous than European countries, when you consider how rinky-dink some European countries are in land-mass (some are tiny and have zillions of people!). My Mom always said to me, "When you're staying with your guest family in Germany, always shut the shower OFF when you're lathering your hair and soaping your body, etc. It costs money!". Same with the phone, don't call your friends in town and gab for hours. Here in North America, locals calls are covered under your monthly bill. You can call your friend down the street and gab for hours at no charge. Europe is not like that. You have to pay by the minute, even if you're calling your friend down the street and its a local call.

In Europe, the cost of living (in the cities) is generally more expensive, and so that's why perhaps Europeans put up with a bit more, err..."dirtiness", than we North Americans do. Similarly, North Americans have a heritage where Puritan value are still felt (i.e. "Cleanliness is next to godliness") so that factors in as well.

Have you been to Singapore? You can eat off the street...it is IMMACULATE.

[veruca76]

I guess your body actually adapts to the amount of washing you do also. Simply put - the more you wash - the more you'll need to wash. While in Europe I met a Swedish guy who showered to rinse off every day but only used soap once a week. He never smelled or looked greasy. It was simply by not using soap very often that his body had re-regulated it's oil production.

[finest_alum]

Originally posted by veruca76:
I guess your body actually adapts to the amount of washing you do also. Simply put - the more you wash - the more you'll need to wash.

Not true! When people do not wash, and sweat and eat, etc... they smell as though they have been sweating and eating. There are way too many pollutants in our air and chemicals in our food for this not to be the case. Think about it, when you eat garlic, onions, or curry, the smell comes out through your pores - no matter how much you do or don't shower.

just my opinion.. from someone who likes to shower daily, at least.

[juniorgrrl]

I'm a clean hair freak If my hair feels dirty, I just feel awful. I don't know how I would deal if I didn't get to wash my hair daily

Originally posted by Curiousgirl:
I wash my hair daily.
Usually in UK the 'boarding/public school' type person was the worst in terms of hygiene (wearing same suit for days on end).

I had to wear uniforms in high school, but I didn't have one set of uniforms for each school day so I had no choice but to re-use the pieces before I did my laundry.

I don't agree with wearing the same suit for days and days...but I can agree with recycling a piece of the uniform as long as it doesn't smell bad. I went to boarding school for one year and I remember how much of a bish it was to hand wash the blouses (throwing em in the machine ruined it) and taking the skirts to the drycleaners.

At boarding school we were placed on restriction if our lack of hygiene made others feel uncomfortable.

[matthewg]

Well, I guess as a European, a statement to this topic is called for.
For one, I don't think Europeans are dirtier because they shower less. It depends on the climate if you sweat a lot and need a shower.
So, for example there is not a single spot in Europe where we have the drearing combination of heat and humidity that makes you want to shower directly after having taken one like you have it in the southern part of the States.

One other point is, that showering is generally very unhealthy to your skin because it dries it out. So people with a dry skin, shower less - it helps.

The next point has been stated before - there is a lack of water in certain areas that simply does not allow to waste water the way it is done in the States - and you do waste water, trust me (just think of the WC's). A lot of people in this country (USA) seem to have the impression that as long water comes out of the tub and as long as there is electricity in the plugs it has to be used and it is there in abundance. Even here in the States that is not the case and sooner or later it is time to start thinking about starting saving water and energy instead of wasting even more (Mr president!).
With an ever increasing world population, future wars will be fought over water, not oil and we better start thinking of how to reduce consumption instead of finding ever more ways to waste it.

Proper hygiene is important but one can overdo it, too.

Just my 10 cents here

[lifesaver]

Anyones mom (in the 45-65 year category) come from that time period where they would only wash their hair once a week when they'd go to the beauty parlor? They'd shower every day, but only wash the hair at the salon. NASTY! My mom is still that way, and I have a few friends whos moms are that way. HOW can a woman go a weeek without washing their hair? I have asked her and she claims it doesnt get dirty. Whatever. YUCK.

[Lil_G]

Originally posted by matthewg:

The next point has been stated before - there is a lack of water in certain areas that simply does not allow to waste water the way it is done in the States - and you do waste water, trust me (just think of the WC's). A lot of people in this country (USA) seem to have the impression that as long water comes out of the tub and as long as there is electricity in the plugs it has to be used and it is there in abundance. Even here in the States that is not the case and sooner or later it is time to start thinking about starting saving water and energy instead of wasting even more (Mr president!).
With an ever increasing world population, future wars will be fought over water, not oil and we better start thinking of how to reduce consumption instead of finding ever more ways to waste it.

Yes, water is becoming the most-sought after natural resource. The United States does not have an abundance of water - they've been asking for ours for years now. However, the difference with the United States and a third world country is that sooner or later the water supply that is contaminated will become less polluted through the application of science.

Being from Europe Matt, maybe you remember a time when the Canadian Government blocked spanish fishing boats from pulling in cod when the government was trying to replenish the dangerously-low supply. When it comes to the environment everyone is irresponsible at times. I don't think it's fair for a eurocentric view to condemn americans for being harmful to the environment. I don't think the environment in Germany (or anyother european nation) is considered as important in society as it is here in Canada, yet I don't preach to the other countries in the world for ignoring their ecosystems.