For most people, a morning shower is a staple part of their daily routine. Without it you can feel unkempt, unclean and unready for the day ahead.

But a recent survey also showed that some Britons go as many as three days without a proper wash.

So how often does one really need to shower?

In fact, according to Dr Elaine Larson, an infectious disease expert at Columbia University School of Nursing, in terms of hygiene at least - you only really need to shower once or twice a week.

She told Time:

People think they’re showering for hygiene or to be cleaner, but bacteriologically, that’s not the case.

Most experts seem to agree that over-bathing can actually open you up to more problems - things like cracked skin that allows germs to get in, the stripping away of healthy oils and the washing away of good bacteria.

Dr C Brandon Mitchell, assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University, believes that from a purely health-based point of view, showering once or twice a week is sufficient.

Your body is naturally a well-oiled machine. A daily shower isn’t necessary.