Morning or Night? The Surprising Truth About When to Shower
Some swear by starting the day with a refreshing shower, while others believe it’s best to unwind at night by rinsing off the day’s grime.
As a microbiologist, I can tell you there’s actually a clear answer — and it might surprise you.
Of course, no matter when you choose to shower, keeping up with good hygiene is what really matters.”
“Showering plays a key role in keeping your skin clean by removing dirt, oil, and sweat — which helps prevent irritation, rashes, and infections.
While many believe sweat itself causes body odor, the real culprit is the bacteria on our skin. These microbes, especially staphylococci, feed on sweat and produce smelly compounds as they break it down, leading to that familiar unpleasant odor.”
Morning or Night: Which is Better for Showering?
Your choice between a morning or night shower can affect how clean you feel — and it all comes down to what you’re trying to wash away.
Showering at night helps remove dirt, sweat, and allergens like pollen that build up on your skin and hair throughout the day. This can reduce what gets transferred to your bedding. However, you’ll still sweat at night, giving bacteria on your skin a chance to multiply and cause odor by morning.
If your sheets aren’t washed regularly, microbes from them can stick to your clean skin after a night shower, undoing some of its benefits. Plus, dead skin cells still shed overnight — feeding dust mites that may worsen allergies.
On the other hand, a morning shower can wash away dead skin cells and bacteria picked up from your bed. It also leaves less sweat for odor-causing microbes to feed on during the day, helping you stay fresher longer — especially if your sheets weren’t freshly cleaned.
So, the best time to shower depends on your habits and environment. Both options have pros and cons — but starting your day with a clean slate might give you the edge in staying fresh and healthy.