Is it weird to wash underwear while taking a shower?

United States
September 11, 2011 12:42am CST
My mother always taught me to do this, but she never makes my brothers do it. I suppose women's underwear gets dirtier more easily, and might be more delicate. I think underwear gets kind of stiff from bar soap, but I do it anyway, because I don't like to have to pile them up and wash them all at once, because I would run out. It also means I can always wear whatever one I want, then I can match my underwear if i want to. I don't know if it is something only Puerto Ricans do, or other people from other countries, because I never hear of normal, typical white American people doing it.
5 people like this
18 responses
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
11 Sep 11
It makes perfect sense to me. You're already wet, the water is running, you have soap on hand. I live in America and I've taken laundry into the shower with me, too. I can soap them up and stomp on them, forcing the soap through the fabric, while I get clean myself. It saves water and is very handy for cleaning one or two items you need but don't want to run the washing machine for!
@cormiera (278)
• United States
6 Oct 11
okay well if you take them into the shower with you how do u dry them if you want to use them that day? lol
@cormiera (278)
• United States
6 Oct 11
i guess thats ware the hair dryer comes in huh lol
@DiaJ88 (170)
• Singapore
12 Sep 11
Hi lilbabycatapillar. I'm living in Singapore and my mom taught me to do that too since I entered puberty! I finally got the answer from my mom a few years back. A lady's underwear gets dirty easily. Therefore I search for alternatives and started using pantyliners everyday! Now I wash my own clothes and since, I started to dump it in the washing machine with the rest of my clothes. :)
• United States
3 Oct 11
It's true, women's underwear just gets a lot dirtier easily, especially at different times of the month. I would like to use panty-liners, and I do have some, but I guess I wouldn't want to buy them so often to use every day, but they do come in handy on some days, especially on days where i have to go out all day.
@cream97 (29087)
• United States
17 Sep 11
Hi, lilbabycatapillar. Yes, to me it seems weird to wash underwear while you are taking a shower. I have never done this before, nor have I ever heard of anyone else that does this either. I don't think that I could wash my underwear out while taking a shower. When I take a shower, I will be concentrating more on cleaning my body, rather than washing out my underwear too.
@kelly10 (678)
11 Sep 11
Yes, I'd have to say that is a weird one. I have only ever heard of people washing their underwear in the washer as normal. I'd guess this is more something to do with saving water. As for you running out of underwear, why would you let them pile up? You can wash them with other types of clothing.
• United States
3 Oct 11
I barely wash my clothes, and I tend to wear them a few times, while underwear can only be worn once. I also like to clean it as soon as possible.
@vivamir (671)
11 Sep 11
Hi lilbabycatapillar.. I have to say its weird, but dont get me wrong.. I do this too.. when it the most obvious time to do so.. *lady time of the month*.. I do rinse them in the shower when im in there, then I put them straight in to the washing machine after.. I find that most of the 'dirt' is removed this way, before it gets time to set in the fabric.. My partner does the same with his socks!! LoL... (",)
• United States
3 Oct 11
Oh yes, I would not want to wash underwear that has blood stains on it with other clothes, especially if it got too bad. It's very easy for me to just throw in there right after I take them off, too.
@emjay86 (640)
• Philippines
12 Sep 11
No it is not. because sometimes, we still do. Though point in case, my mom only does it and seldom do us boys do. It is not weird. It is just a matter of practice becoming a habit.
@TazRes (827)
• United States
11 Sep 11
Hi lilbabycatapillar I don't think it's weird, I haven't heard of it before. I usually do my laundry in the machine.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
11 Sep 11
It makes perfect sense to me. You're already wet, the water is running, you have soap on hand. I live in America and I've taken laundry into the shower with me, too. I can soap them up and stomp on them, forcing the soap through the fabric, while I get clean myself. It saves water and is very handy for cleaning one or two items you need but don't want to run the washing machine for!
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
For me not doing that thing I only wash my underwear before taking a bath.
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
11 Sep 11
Why can't you save it all in once, or finish your shower, then wash your underwear? Normally, I won't do it. I might save all the dirty clothing all in once at the weekend, then I can put them in a washing machine, and get them washed together. That is my suggestion. Maybe that is your culture, I can't comment much on it.
• Hong Kong
11 Sep 11
Hi, I am from Hong Kong and I do the same when I am having my bath. It is actually very normal to do that because it is a kind of respect to your family members. My reason of doing that is similar to yours, and just imagine, it would be very not hygenic to wash your underwear in the laundry with your family members clothes or underwear. My sister warned me not to do so since I was young and so I washed mine when I am having a bath. It is in fact very convenient, and not weird at all. Take it easy.
@zerd87 (301)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
Well, it is common practice in our country, especially our poor sector. I have done it sometimes because I ran out of underwear and their is no space in our laundry to hang. But I guess there is nothing wrong about it. Washing while taking shower save time and less stress because you do some relaxing things.
@Judy890 (1644)
• United States
11 Sep 11
Yes My mom taught me the same I wash it during my shower. I dont know why everyone else is saying its weird because I know many people who do it there just to ashamed to say it. I don't own a washing machine because it makes the it makes our electric bill amount increase to $100.00 more so we sold it and just hand wash with and add detergents makes my clothes and everything I wash smell good
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
11 Sep 11
You made me laugh, yes this seems a little different but funny different. Sometimes I hand wash but it is in the sink and hang things in the bathroom or near the washing machine. My grandmother used to tell us to always put on clean clothing before we go out because we never know, we could be hit by a car and end up in the hospital and do not want to be caught having soiled clothing on. This sounds so funny to me now like it was to scare us to wear clean clothes or even more funny, suggesting that we be run over by a car.
@secretbear (19448)
• Philippines
11 Sep 11
Hi! I used to wash my underwear before taking a bath or shower. I mean, when I enter the bathroom to take a shower or bath, I would wash my underwear there before I take a bath. I used to this when I was in college living in a boarding house. I did not want my laundry to pile up so I wash my underwear everyday. I don't think it's weird and I don't think our underwear easily gets dirty than guy's underwear. I think it's just the same and I have seen some guys who also wash their underwear everyday during shower or bath. It's just that, I think more women do this than men because women are always expected to do the laundry.
@barehugs (8973)
• Canada
11 Sep 11
It does sound different anyway I'm wondering if you just leave it on while you shower. You could wash the inside of your panty while your washing the outside of you and kill 2 birds with one stone," so to speak!" But what really gets me wondering is - What about drying your panty? I think it would be rather uncomfortable to towel it off while leaving it on. Yes this has got to be the weirdest post I've ever responded too!
11 Sep 11
hi:) I'm from Philippines and I do that too,I always wash my undies before taking a bath, it's because I'm shy to put it on the laundry basket, but I don't use bar soap, I usually use liquid bath soap, hehehe then I use it to scrub my body:D
@huilichan8 (1378)
• Singapore
11 Sep 11
Like you, I do that too because my mom taught me to do so from young.