The Stinky Situation: How to Handle a Man Who Won’t Bathe

Nairobi, 

Sunday, 9 February, 2025 

McCreadie Andias 

Every woman faces the dilemma of dealing with an unhygienic male partner who refuses basic hygiene practices.

A strong unknown odor meets your senses as soon as you enter your boyfriend's apartment. It’s not last night’s takeout. It’s not his gym socks. It’s him—your beloved, soap-averse man.

Several men cultivate their hygiene practices as part of their religious devotion yet others douse themselves in fear whenever they see their shower. 

Many women have dated men who wear the smelling fragrance known as natural musk as their perfume of choice. Women universally engage in a battle for better smells against those men who refuse to use soap.

What should one do when their man runs from all attempts to get him clean just as a cat would flee from water? I interviewed several female veterans who fight daily against unpleasant body scents as well as hot and unappealing hair and shirts that seem to refuse any washing.

"Babe, You Smell Like a Medieval Warrior"

Linda age 28 once dated someone with an irrational belief that contemporary hygiene is just a marketing myth.

"According to him he preferred not to remove his natural oils from his body. I explained to him his body oils produced an odor which simulated food that had gone bad. Subtle signs included putting his body wash in the gym bag combined with burning fresh-scented candles. Nothing worked. I confessed that his battle-remnant odor equaled that of a Viking warrior in the end. That got his attention."

According to Linda there is no other solution than absolute truth when all else fails. A direct confrontation regarding the criminal nature of his odor may sometimes become necessary.

The Dirty Clothes Conundrum

Jess selected a strategic method when her husband resisted taking baths at age 31.

"That hoodie stayed on his body for seven days continuously because no matter when I removed it the garment had become independently mobile. For compelling him to bath . So, I started ‘accidentally’ spilling things on his clothes—coffee, ketchup, even a little splash of bleach one time. He had no choice but to change and, eventually, shower."

Jessica’s tip: Strategic sabotage works. If he won’t clean himself, make sure his clothes force him to.

The "Join Me in the Shower" Trick

Through collaborative hygiene practices Monica discovered an effective strategy. 

I used to invite him to share showers when I observed him avoid bathing because it worked as an effective ploy. It worked like a charm. He viewed this as loving behavior but I cared only about him quitting his gym locker odor.

Monica’s tip: Make it sexy. Using seductive methods works better when logic fails to influence him.

Weaponizing Peer Pressure

The approach of publicly humiliating him works effectively for Tina. 

The horrific odor from his boyfriend caused his buddies to tease him about it. His closest friend warned him about the odor he emitted which resembled a steaming hot puppy inside a car. His best friend warned him about the shame of his odor which led him to make daily showers part of his routine.

The tactic Tina recommends is allowing his buddies to create an uncomfortable situation which forces him to clean up.

Bottomline

So what’s the final verdict? Your options for convincing your man to bathe consist of giving him an honest talk, exposing him to subtle tactics, becoming seductive to him or relying on the influence of others. And if all else fails?

"I told my ex boyfriend that his lack of bath routine would force me to end our relationship. He didn’t shower. I left," says Rachel, 29.

Daily resistance against biological hazards stands no chance against true love but always remains unworthy. Stay clean, ladies—literally.