Should we bathe less?

The navy shower has long been a frugal hack. You know the drill: Get wet, shut off the water and scrub, then quickly rinse off. Your use of the water you paid to heat is two minutes tops.

• Does your credit score stink?

But maybe we should give up the daily shower or bath routine because it would be better for our skin and overall health.

The New York Times reports:

Of late, researchers have discovered that just as the gut contains good bacteria that help it run more efficiently, so does our skin brim with beneficial germs that we might not want to wash down the drain.

Not to mention all the bad bacteria you might be inhaling from your showerhead. (Note: The article recommends showering more regularly if you frequent places with lots of germs, like the subway during flu season.)

Can you get on board with this? A growing number of people are doing without a daily shower or rub-a-dub-dub -- or even deodorant.

After all, isn't our hypersensitivity to body odor (the dreaded B.O.) a result of marketing? Katherine Ashenburg, who wrote "The Dirt on Clean: An Unsanitized History," told the Times that Americans bathe much more than they did when people actually worked up a sweat on the job. Then bathrooms became standard in American homes, and the Don Draper types jumped on board. 

But, you know what? This little trend makes sense -- for some. When the cold, dry air of winter comes, I usually shower every other day. (It helps that I work at home -- alone -- and, yes, sometimes I wear my jammies all day.) It's partly about using less water and less energy, and also about keeping my skin from drying out.

How do other people, those who work outside the home, pull this off between showers?

• Sponge baths, hitting the obvious parts.
• Cleaning underarms as needed throughout the day. Some recommended using a fresh lemon slice or baby wipes. (If you're worried about the contents of deodorant, you can make your own.)
• Dry shampoos. Consider also no-poo alternatives and the wash-with-water-only​ approach.
• It seems key that you don't tell anyone, particularly on a first date.

Alexandra at No More Dirty Looks made this confession:

I'm just going to put it out there and say that …I generally do not shower more than three times a week. Am I gross? Maybe. But my skin and hair feel better, and I've reduced my water consumption by about 1,000 liters a week -- something worth thinking about when you live in California. I also don't take the subway, work out vigorously or go to an office every day -- all things that make it easier to shower less.

Do you want to try this out? Or are you satisfied with installing a low-flow showerhead and turning down the temperature on the water heater to save money?

One other question comes to mind: All but one of the no-deo types quoted by the Times said they must smell OK because no one has told them they don't. If someone who worked with you had a natural smell that didn't appeal, would you speak up?

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