Showering: Before Bed vs. In The Morning

[toml]

I've always wondered if this is really is an Asian vs. non-Asian behavioral issue or if it's merely one of cleanliness.

But it seems like all my Asian friends shower before going to bed while my non-Asian friends would shower in the morning (and not to stereotype, but quite a few of my European friends would go several days without showering).

Anyway, for me it was always a cleanliness factor because I shower both before going to bed and when I wake up.

Oh, and the other issue is the whole, taking-off-shoes-at-home deal.

Interestingly (from what I'm told), the Chinese never followed this custom until after WW2 when the Japanese occupied a large part of China.

[ellencho]

Before bed for me. I don't like the idea of bringing the day's filth into my bed with me. Sometimes I take naps before I shower and I usually change clothes and put a towel on my pillow.

I'm also a shoe-remover when I enter a home. Even if it's not mine, it's almost automatic.

[Dialectic]

Before bed. In the morning if I have time and feel like it. Also a shoe-remover. We're such a clean people.

[ellencho]

Oh something I get a BIG kick out of is when workmen come to do stuff for your home, like a plumber or a refrigerator guy, and whenever he notices that he's at an asian house he'll almost ALWAYS offer to remove his shoes.

[awong]

before bed and in the morning...I need to wake up in the morning so I have to take a shower. Before I didn't.
Possibly by the end of school I may quit taking a shower in the morning to get more sleep...like 10 minutes more

[Taliesin Stormheller]

I don't usually shower, I take a bath before bed about three or four times a week, depending on the season and whether I'm dirty or not. Otherwise, I just wash my face and feet. My relatives in China go to the public bath about once a week.

[cattygurl]

Shower morning and night. sometimes during the day if I sweat. For me, it's not an option because my skin in super-sensitive, and I break out in a bright red rash if I sweat and I don't shwer in time.

I also take off my shoes.

I think the one thing I miss about my childhood in Japan was the big wood-heated tub and the large Japanese-style bathroom (where it was a bath room, not a toilet!). My grandma would get it going to night, and it was such an water-wise way to take a bath. If I ever have the money, I'm going to have one of my friends install a wood-burning tub for me.

[xian]

Shower morning and night. sometimes during the day if I sweat. For me, it's not an option because my skin in super-sensitive, and I break out in a bright red rash if I sweat and I don't shwer in time.

I also take off my shoes.

I think the one thing I miss about my childhood in Japan was the big wood-heated tub and the large Japanese-style bathroom (where it was a bath room, not a toilet!). My grandma would get it going to night, and it was such an water-wise way to take a bath. If I ever have the money, I'm going to have one of my friends install a wood-burning tub for me.

Yeah, I miss the bathroom, I miss the onsen and I miss being able to take my shoes off at other people's houses without getting other people's shoe grime all over my socks.

[Heyyu]

I'm a dirty, dirty Asian... and I like it that way 8)

[toml]

Oh something I get a BIG kick out of is when workmen come to do stuff for your home, like a plumber or a refrigerator guy, and whenever he notices that he's at an asian house he'll almost ALWAYS offer to remove his shoes.

Haha!

I just tell them to leave their shoes on. If they're used to working w/ their shoes on, I don't want to do anything that might hinder their work! :lol:

[xian]

Oh something I get a BIG kick out of is when workmen come to do stuff for your home, like a plumber or a refrigerator guy, and whenever he notices that he's at an asian house he'll almost ALWAYS offer to remove his shoes.

Haha!

I just tell them to leave their shoes on. If they're used to working w/ their shoes on, I don't want to do anything that might hinder their work! :lol:

I have some little booties for them to wear during their stay in my home.

[toml]

Ok, since you all seem to be open about sharing the general status of your personal hygiene, here's another other question.

Do you reuse your bath towels before washing them? And if you do, how often do you wash them?

I definitely reuse mine and sometimes I might go for a whole month before washing it (I actually have 2 towels that I alternate. Once for my before bed shower and one for my morning shower... don't ask me why, it just brings me luck). My idea is that I'm only wiping myself when I'm clean, so how dirty can it be?

But I knew a couple of people that would use a new bath towel EVERY TIME they showered / took a bath! That's gotta be pretty wasteful don't you think?

[vsoy]

Generally I'm a morning shower person because I fall asleep at night.

But if I'm with my mom, she will give me so much shit that I'll take a shower at night. Also, if there are a lot of people taking showers in the morning, I'll take them at night so I'd have plenty of hot water and not have to wait forever for other people. Then when I'm in NYC, I get so dirty from taking public transportation, I have to take a shower to get that smell/feeling out.

As for shoes, I hate cleaning floors and so in addition to habit from growing up in Asian household, I take them off when I get home. I know I'm my mother's daughter when I furiously clean and mop the floors when the workmen leave the house. Growing up, I thought she was insane, but now look at me...

At work, there's a room with a real sensitive and expensive piece of equipment that we don't let the custodians go in to take the trash out or sweep. I'd like to make people change their shoes, but I compromised and got those sticky clean room mats. I gotta get me some of those for home! I don't need to sweep that equipment room but every few months.

I change the bath towels roughly once a month, along with sheets. But I heard that you slough off skin cells all the time, even after you shower and therefore should change towels like once a week or something like that. I think the people who use fresh towel each time must own stock in Martex or some company that makes towels.

[Jayth]

I used to shower only before bed, but now I occasionally shower when I wake up as well. I guess I just feel like a dirty, dirty Asian. ^_^

Also a shoe remover. My last few roommates have been white folk and hence they track their dirty shoes all over my fucking carpet. >.< I asked them repeatedly to remove their shoes... No respect, I swear to god. I realize not all white folk do this, my current roommat is white and he knew instinctively to take off his shoes (but I think it was just because he's a particularly polite individual).

As for towels, I also reuse my towels, washing them about once every two or three weeks. It seems incredibly wasteful to bring a new towel in every time you take a shower, but then again maybe some folk just stink more even after they shower. However, in most Asian households that I've been to this has not been the case.

I've learned recently that I'm something of a neat freak. I used to think my mom was insane too...but damn. I just can't leave dishes in the sink, and l most certainly can't leave a mess on the floor.

[howstrange]

Mornings! I take my daily shit fist thing in the morning, so I therefor shower afterwards. I hate going through the day with a fudged up asshole, lol. I don't want no skid marks ya know.

[vsoy]

Shit, one of my pet peeves is finding racing stripes on the towels. Damn man, can't you take yo hand and clean yo ass in the shower? And what is up with using the towel like it's floss and drying your crack like that? Pisses me off when my man does that. You bet your booties I change the towels at that point.

[angi]

1) Grew up with hardwood floors, so no shoes in the house. Plus, I hate wearing shoes. I often feel akward at other people's houses because I almost immediately without thought pop my shoes off and they'll look at me like "uhhh."

2) I take baths. I bathe in the evening and in the morning. If I had to choose between the two, I would choose the evening because I cannot get into bed feeling dirty (especially with sweaty sock feet.) I bathe in the morning mostly to wake me up.

3) I change bath towels once or twice a week depending upon when I do the laundry. This basically works out to when the towel stays damp, I change it. A month is way too long for me because after about a week or so the towel just stays slightly damp and that just is a bit gross to me.

[vsoy]

Girl gets out of shower, towels hair dry.

Girl: Man, that shower was great!
Guy:Hey baby, did you use that pink sponge?
Girl: Well, yeah, that was the only one I saw, I thought you left it out for me
Guy: Uh, yeah....

LMAO, special ass sponge!!

[Heyyu]

Mornings! I take my daily shit fist thing in the morning, so I therefor shower afterwards. I hate going through the day with a fudged up asshole, lol. I don't want no skid marks ya know.

But I'm sure there's been emergencies when you've had to go during the day, so what to do then? Personally, I've always felt it takes at least 5-7 wipes with the tissue paper to keep your insides reasonably clean. Oh yes, and never shit at a gas station! It's like throwing yourself into a pile of dung... NASTY!!!

[xian]

Mornings! I take my daily shit fist thing in the morning, so I therefor shower afterwards. I hate going through the day with a fudged up asshole, lol. I don't want no skid marks ya know.

But I'm sure there's been emergencies when you've had to go during the day, so what to do then? Personally, I've always felt it takes at least 5-7 wipes with the tissue paper to keep your insides reasonably clean. Oh yes, and never shit at a gas station! It's like throwing yourself into a pile of dung... NASTY!!!

I hate scatalogical topics, but I've actually got some wisdom on this issue, so here goes: (That's totally tongue in cheek arrogance if you couldn't catch it on the internet)

First off, I used to know this kind of sleazy and bad around women, but otherwise reasonably nice guy. He had this idea about "The Perfect Shit". He said that if you went just when you needed to and not a minute before or after, that it would just pop right out of you and you wouldn't need to wipe more than once.

It sounds stupid, but actually, it seems to work. It will fail depending on your diet occasionally, but generally, it keeps you clean.

If you go in public, you need "The paper shield". Basically, you just build a paper shield around the entire seat so that you are just sitting on sterilized paper. I can't remember where, I think maybe at the Washington Library (Harold not the white guy) they have automated shields. When you leave, the toilet flushes and this plastic cycles off the seat into a garbage container and is replaced with sterilized plastic.

[Heyyu]

If you go in public, you need "The paper shield". Basically, you just build a paper shield around the entire seat so that you are just sitting on sterilized paper. I can't remember where, I think maybe at the Washington Library (Harold not the white guy) they have automated shields. When you leave, the toilet flushes and this plastic cycles off the seat into a garbage container and is replaced with sterilized plastic.

I know what you're referring to. But it's damn annoying to make a "Paper Shield" with toilet paper when you really need to go. I'm mean, it's like you're racing against time from keeping your poop out, so you might screw up and miss an uncovered spot! I tend to buckle under pressure.

Anyways, I like what some Female Restrooms have had for a long time. Basically they have plastic toilet covers. You just have to take one out and put it over the seat. No need to waste a roll of toilet paper to cover the seat.

Or you could use the Asian "Squatting" method. If anyone's grown up or been to Asia, you should know what I mean. Basically it's just squatting and shitting into a hole in the ground. You're buttcheeks don't even touch anything, although you do have to keep balance from falling in... and believe me, once you fall in, no one will want to help you out.

[awong]

I do the paper sheild on toliets, I put like 2 layers since its always the cheap stuff.

Usually I hope never to go in public places, but if I have to, I rather do it at the university than the gas station, etc. THey keep the bathrooms clean.

I

[minbo]

But I'm sure there's been emergencies when you've had to go during the day, so what to do then? Personally, I've always felt it takes at least 5-7 wipes with the tissue paper to keep your insides reasonably clean. Oh yes, and never shit at a gas station! It's like throwing yourself into a pile of dung... NASTY!!!

Use wet nappies then. They get you much cleaner. Take your 5-7 wipes with TP and then run through with a towelette. You might be unpleasently surpised. Baby wipes are cheaper however.

[Heyyu]

Baby wipes are cheaper however.

No matter what, I will never resort to using baby wipes to clean my ass. I take pride in the fact that I was potty-trained earlier than most kids 8)

And if I really don't have anything to wipe my ass with, you know the saying: "Be a man, use your hand" :P

[ellencho]

Baby wipes are cheaper however.

No matter what, I will never resort to using baby wipes to clean my ass. I take pride in the fact that I was potty-trained earlier than most kids 8)

And if I really don't have anything to wipe my ass with, you know the saying: "Be a man, use your hand" :P They make adult baby wipes now and they're flushable. I personally like Cottonelle wipes. Not only are they good for your bums but they are a must have when you're spewing forth your uterine lining. I highly recommend them. However, make sure to read the label so you don't accidentally buy non flushables.

[fr.]

Before bed for me. I don't like the idea of bringing the day's filth into my bed with me. Sometimes I take naps before I shower and I usually change clothes and put a towel on my pillow.

I'm also a shoe-remover when I enter a home. Even if it's not mine, it's almost automatic.

I do the same thing. I have an OCD with germs.

About the public bathrooms at universities, I find that the higher up floors have cleaner bathrooms because people use them less often, but they are still cleaned as much as any other one.

[ellencho]

I thought I was the only one psycho about bathrooms. I prefer the ones on the upper floors too! They're usually cleaner, and I remember from some TV show I watched, the first stall is usually the least used stall so I try to use those when I can.

Also, after I wash my hands in public bathrooms, I turn off the faucet with a paper towel in my hand, and use the same paper towel to open the door to leave.

[awong]

they are cleaner the upper area. Plus the classes I go to they renovated or its a new building the bathrooms. So they have auto flushters w00t.

My problem...I hated having to stand in the stall, I was all alone peeing, and some stupid person decides to stand right next to me instead of going to another stall sheesh, no personal space. Espcially since its less than 12 in between the 2 stalls in the upper bathrooms in the library.

I won't go on my bed once I wake up, its out of the bed until bed time. I;ll take naps on the couch or just sleep on the floor in my room. Better than getting my bed dirty

[Speaker4TheDead]

I;ll take naps on the coach or just sleep on the floor in my room. Better than getting my bed dirty

Now I know how you made the team, you slut you.

Just kidding hehe. :P

[awong]

oops I better edit that :oops:

[toml]

About the public bathrooms at universities, I find that the higher up floors have cleaner bathrooms because people use them less often, but they are still cleaned as much as any other one.

Haha! I thought I was the only person who knew that secret!

I also had a mental list of the cleanest bathrooms at my school. Sometimes I would walk over to the next building if I knew it would be cleaner.

(And NEVER use the bathrooms near the food court!!!)

[toml]

...and I remember from some TV show I watched, the first stall is usually the least used stall so I try to use those when I can...

Hmmm... I remember hearing that the middle stall was the least used? Maybe that's just for guy's bathrooms.

I usually try to use the handicapped ones because they're a lot more spacious.

[howstrange]

Mornings! I take my daily shit fist thing in the morning, so I therefor shower afterwards. I hate going through the day with a fudged up asshole, lol. I don't want no skid marks ya know.

But I'm sure there's been emergencies when you've had to go during the day, so what to do then? Personally, I've always felt it takes at least 5-7 wipes with the tissue paper to keep your insides reasonably clean. Oh yes, and never shit at a gas station! It's like throwing yourself into a pile of dung... NASTY!!!

lol, well if I got an emergency then you know what? A mans gotta go when a mans gotta go. 7 wipes is good, but it aint gonna help when the shit ends in a halfer. Like when you're sitting on the pot and the tird is halfway out, then it breaks off.. and while this was happening your mind was completely distracted by the Computer Weekly someone left in the stall.. it's game over, you can't concentrate on the bowel movement anymore. Man that is guaranteed fudge marks, don't let the wifey do your laundry. haha!

[JadeDragon]

I shower before bed as well. Otherwise, I'd feel icky. And I change my towels once a week. (My mom's a neat freak and I'm ashamed to say that I've inherited her proclivity. :oops: ) Also a shoe-remover but then it's the cultural norm here.

[blockthebox]

Night showerer.

My sibling and I are probably the only Asian people in the universe who leave our shoes on indoors but walk around barefoot outside. I wash the bed linens and towels when I remember to, which isn't very often. I also leave crumbs in the bed, cigarette butts in the sink and can't remember the last time I changed the Brita filter or vacuumed.

But the rat that lives in my building is quite comfortable hanging out in my pad.

[awong]

I refuse to walk barefoot outside, or even with socks, its either sandals or shoes. I hate the feeling of walking on the grass, concrete, etc barefoot. And then when I see how dirty my feet are I always have to wash them afterwards,

[Dialectic]

It's all about the upper-floor double-layer shield.

Also, the middle stall may be the least-used, but it's the least-used for a reason. I'd hate to be surrounded.

Shoes indoor barefoot outdoor is cracka-stylz. There is definitely an appeal, but ONLY if you're in a country-house, and the grass/ meadows outside are PRISTINE (i.e. no syringes, cigarette butts, old gum, fecal matter, etc.).

[xian]

It's all about the upper-floor double-layer shield.

Also, the middle stall may be the least-used, but it's the least-used for a reason. I'd hate to be surrounded.

Shoes indoor barefoot outdoor is cracka-stylz. There is definitely an appeal, but ONLY if you're in a country-house, and the grass/ meadows outside are PRISTINE (i.e. no syringes, cigarette butts, old gum, fecal matter, etc.).

When I lived rural and shit, I would walk around/bike barefoot and use the hose to rinse my feet before I came inside during the summer.

It's not really an option in Chi in this neighborhood cause all the Cubs assholes break beer bottles everywhere.

I still drive shoeless.

[toml]

I still drive shoeless.

I had a friend who would drive with one bare foot resting on the driver's side window!



Here's another hygiene question.

Soap.

Liquid or Solid?

I use liquid.

Solid seems so... unclean. I remember when I had roommates I would often see curly hairs embedded in my soap... ugh!

[awong]

I use both.

I've tried to drive barefoot.

But I don't like to drive my car barefoot. The clutch pisses me off, a lot with shoes. And it doesn't have a specific engagement point. If it was like my lawn ornamet car, where the clutch feel I loved, then I could drive barefoot.

[ellencho]

I use bar soap and a scrubby to wash during a shower, but liquid soap for general hand washing. Also, I'm big on NOT using antibacterial soaps. I personally don't like the idea of encouraging antibiotic resistance if I can help it.

I almost never take off my shoes in public. Even if I'm wearing really painful heels I'll sit down for a bit and let my feet rest before I begin walking again.

[Heyyu]

I've tried to drive barefoot.

But I don't like to drive my car barefoot. The clutch pisses me off, a lot with shoes. And it doesn't have a specific engagement point. If it was like my lawn ornamet car, where the clutch feel I loved, then I could drive barefoot.

Simple solution: Just rip open the car floor and drive it Fred Flintstone style... YABBA DABBA DOO!!!

[JadeDragon]

I use liquid soap and an exfoliating loofah when I shower, and liquid soap when I wash my hands. Those bar soaps can be fiddly little suckers and I've heard enough horrid jokes about bending over to pick up the soap to last me a lifetime (I blame my sex-crazed friends for this).

Oh, Ellencho, I read an article somewhere that scrubbing your hands thoroughly for at least 10 seconds with ordinary soap is just as effective as using anti-bacterial soap.

[angi]

if i drove barefoot, my tits would be smooshed against the steering wheel.

no, shoes with at least an inch of sole are necessary...even in a civic :)

[howstrange]

what if there is no soap? I always try to check if the public bathroom has soap before I touch something, but sometimes I forget to and it's too late because the soap dispenser is empty and I already touched the flusher, stall door, my pee pee, and my bung hole. How long do I have to run my hands under plain warm water to fully clean them?

I always wear shoes outside BTW. Unless I'm at the beach. I've had to walk into a beach bathroom barefoot a couple of times, ewww.

[cattygurl]

I always carry a little bottle of soap in my purse...

My skin is allergic to most soaps at public bathrooms :(

You can carry baby wipes in that case. The travel size (you can find it at target) works really well- I keep one in my purse/car. Also, I carry those germ-killing hand gels, too. LOL

[howstrange]

You mean the KFC style handywipes? I'm an anti-purse kind of guy, so carrying soap and a wipe dispenser is out of the question :)

[ellencho]

Oh, Ellencho, I read an article somewhere that scrubbing your hands thoroughly for at least 10 seconds with ordinary soap is just as effective as using anti-bacterial soap. On Oprah I heard something similar, that the length of time that it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" is the perfect amount of time for washing one's hands (roughly 10 seconds).

[vsoy]

I find bar soaps too drying on my skin and so I use liquid soap for the bod. My sister got a soap dispenser from the Pampered Chef which takes liquid soap and dispenses it into foam, using significantly less soap. Her kids love washing their hands for meals. Maybe they'll develop OCD....

I find it incredibly uncomfortable driving with heels/platform shoes, the angle of my foot is all hyper(or is it hypo?) extended and one's response timing is different. I kick off them off if I'm wearing those types of shoes but I'm not fond of driving barefoot either.

Ugh, beach bathrooms are so nasty!! In addition to all the creepy stories of people getting raped or their throats slit in beach bathrooms, the plugged up toilets with god knows what and the lack of DOORS and toilet paper, the floors are always wet and you always wonder, "why are they wet" I've had to go in a lot of nasty places, but beach bathrooms are one of the worse.

Another place I hate not wearing shoes is hotel rooms. I bring my beatup birkenstocks with me and wear them in the hotel. I try not to think about the sheets or the shower curtain. But hotel floors gross me out even more.

[ellencho]

Good lord this thread was tailor made for OCD psychos like me and awong.

In college, I could understand never the people who'd walk around barefoot in the bathrooms, brushing their teeth, showering, peeing, wahtever. They might as well just wipe shit all over their dorm room floors and sheets if that's how they're going to be.

And I'm the same as vsoy in hotel rooms. I prefer to wear my own flip flops and I usually bring a small thing of spray and paper towels or wipes to clean up the phones, remotes, faucets and toilets and stuff because you don't know if the cleaning ladies used the same rag in all of the rooms.

[vsoy]

Oh gawd ellencho, I never thought about the cleaning ladies using the same rag to wipe down the toilet, phone, remote, etc. AAgghh!!

My sister has had really bad experiences with hotels, and I'm not talking about motel 6's, I'm talking about Hiltons. She got a room with her 2 boys and they were going to lie down for a quick nap but they discovered a wet towel underneath the covers at the foot of the bed. Yuck!! I think they got another room.

[toml]

Oh, Ellencho, I read an article somewhere that scrubbing your hands thoroughly for at least 10 seconds with ordinary soap is just as effective as using anti-bacterial soap.

My doctor friends tell me it's closer to 30 seconds.

(Of course they wash their hands for 5 minutes before they see a patient so maybe they're just overly cautious...)

[toml]

Ugh, beach bathrooms are so nasty!! In addition to all the creepy stories of people getting raped or their throats slit in beach bathrooms, the plugged up toilets with god knows what and the lack of DOORS and toilet paper, the floors are always wet and you always wonder, "why are they wet" I've had to go in a lot of nasty places, but beach bathrooms are one of the worse.

I remember once seeing someone take a dump in the urinal because the stalls were all full...

Before I even took a step into the bathroom I was already on my way out the door...

[aelward]

This thread kicks butt.

I definitely shower before bed. Like EllenCho and others, I like to sleep in a clean bed.

As for taking shoes off: growing up in a pre-civil war house with a nappy carpet, I used to not take them off in the house. Nobody did in my household. However, after living in Taiwan with my Uncle's family for the summer, I got into the habit of it. From then on, in my own personal space, the shoes came off. And then, I lived in Japan for a year. The entry to the home (called a "genkan") is a step lower than the main floor, so it was pretty easy to take shoes off. Up to this time, it was just a habit; but then a Japanese person explained it to me: you keep the outside dirt out of the house-- what a novel idea! Unfortunately, it has since become an obsession with dirt, I can't stand when people drag dirt into my house. And unlike EllenCho, the workmen here just don't get it and walk around with all the gunk from outside on our floors, and we struggle to clean it up after they leave.

[Heyyu]

You know, reading through this thread just proves to me that Asian families tend to be more concerned about cleanliness.

But if that's the case, how come Asia itself is so dirty? Shouldn't Asia be cleaner then? Even Japan and Singapore, 2 of the cleanest places in Asia, are pretty damn dirty compared to some North American cities.

Seriously, it's like a pig trying to keep clean in the mud. How do Asian families keep that "clean" mindset even when they're surrounded by filfth?

[howstrange]

okay, I've been thinking about the showering in the morning vs. evening thing again. I think one of the other reasons I shower in the morning is because if I shower in the evening my armpits start to get smelly by morning. So by showering in the morning, I'm not only starting the day off with a clean sphincter, but also a clean set of pits. I think women don't have to worry about this too much because their pits are shaved so they don't get that smelly. If memory serves me correct, I think I started my morning routines around the same time I hit puberty and started to grow underarm pubes. I think this is why most guys shower in the morning.

oh yeah, about Asia being dirty: Ever been to chinatown or Moneterey Park CA? They've got the filthiest sidewalks. I swear, they must be coated with at least a quarter inch of grease, grime, flattened bubblegum, spit, and cigarette butts. It's like this grey, slimey, semi-matte, waxy varnish.

[Heyyu]

oh yeah, about Asia being dirty: Ever been to chinatown or Moneterey Park CA? They've got the filthiest sidewalks. I swear, they must be coated with at least a quarter inch of grease, grime, flattened bubblegum, spit, and cigarette butts. It's like this grey, slimey, semi-matte, waxy varnish.

Well that's 95% of Asia :P

But seriously, most of North America, as dirty as it may seem to you, is still relatively clean compared to Asia. For any person who's a hypochondriac (or germaphobe), they will probably not like living in Asia.

[Scowl]

You know, reading through this thread just proves to me that Asian families tend to be more concerned about cleanliness.

But if that's the case, how come Asia itself is so dirty? Shouldn't Asia be cleaner then? Even Japan and Singapore, 2 of the cleanest places in Asia, are pretty damn dirty compared to some North American cities.

This is purely a guess, but I'd chalk it up to population density. Maybe also some industrial practices and regulations, as well as state-run sanitation.

Seriously, it's like a pig trying to keep clean in the mud. How do Asian families keep that "clean" mindset even when they're surrounded by filfth?

Hah, maybe because there's a much greater need for it under such circumstances. Bad enough that it's such a mess outside; no need to bring it into the house with you.

[blockthebox]

Yeah, I've noticed that people who live in big cities tend to get crazier about cleanliness. It makes sense - you're packed into a small space with a whole bunch of other people whose hygiene is pretty questionable. And you have to deal with straphangers coughing on you, stepping on dog shit and vomit and coming home with other peoples' hair on your coat.

Incidentally, showering at night is just practical for me. I consider it a good day if I can haul my ass out of bed and just make it to wherever I have to be without being more than half an hour late.

[KeJia Sista]

1) I take a long bath late at night when the waters definately hot. Downside, the noise of water running in the middle of the night sounds extra loud for people trying to sleep.

2) I change the towels and washcloths once a week. That crinkly plastic japanese cloth (forgot the name) stays up forever.

3)I keep babywipes next to the toilet along with the toilet paper roll.

Ke Jia

[honeydewboba]

I shower morning and night; my parents made me do it ever since I was little. (My mom is Chinese American and my Dad is Japanese American.)

Re: shoes inside... we also take our shoes off inside. If I throw a dinner party and people come over dressed up, I don't ask them to take their shoes off. I kind of want to, but I don't. Then I scurry around obsessively cleaning the floor after everyone is gone. I have hardwood floors. If I had carpet, I think I would ask everyone to take their shoes off.

[little mixed girl]

i would normally shower in the morning, but lately i've been doing it at night because i have to spend time in the morning straightening my hair...*sigh*

[Dialectic]

Whassup hdb, welcome to the 44s, happy to have you aboard! We're glad you've decided to start posting, and we look forward to more of your stuff.

Also, I generally shower at night, take off my shoes indoors, and wear as little clothing as possible in the house, as Sheki and the Founders know.

[angi]

I'm going to have to retrain my bf when he moves in. He already removes the shoes but he will go to bed w/o a shower.