Hello,
I know there's a lot of google-able information on this topic, but I thought I'd get your opinions on this lingering problem.
How can I tell a friend that he smells bad? We're not close friends (we are housemates renting University accommodation), and it's difficult to bring it up. The bad body odour is present whenever he is around, and it drifts outwards from his room whenever his door is open. Consequently, it means that I avoid entering his room, and I have to limit our social interactions because I can't tolerate it (especially when I'm cooking or eating!).
The cause of the problem is likely because he washes infrequently, and the persistence of the smell is exacerbated by the fact that he doesn't wash his clothes! In all 11 weeks of living here, he has only had them washed 2 or 3 times (by his mum who washes them when he returns home), and I know this because he has only gone back home 2-3 times, and I'm the only person in the house who uses the washing machine. I don't think he realises that he smells. He doesn't use any anti-perspirant, deodorant, or fabric fresheners.
My concern extends beyond my own intolerance of the bad odour. I strongly believe it's affecting his social interactions with other people as well, and he's already told me that he has social problems (which reaches as far back as secondary school). Besides the possible social consequences, bad body odour would indicate bacterial growth on the body (which would also spread and grow on his unwashed clothing), so it can't be good for his health either.
I know there's a lot of google-able information on this topic, but I thought I'd get your opinions on this lingering problem.
How can I tell a friend that he smells bad? We're not close friends (we are housemates renting University accommodation), and it's difficult to bring it up. The bad body odour is present whenever he is around, and it drifts outwards from his room whenever his door is open. Consequently, it means that I avoid entering his room, and I have to limit our social interactions because I can't tolerate it (especially when I'm cooking or eating!).
The cause of the problem is likely because he washes infrequently, and the persistence of the smell is exacerbated by the fact that he doesn't wash his clothes! In all 11 weeks of living here, he has only had them washed 2 or 3 times (by his mum who washes them when he returns home), and I know this because he has only gone back home 2-3 times, and I'm the only person in the house who uses the washing machine. I don't think he realises that he smells. He doesn't use any anti-perspirant, deodorant, or fabric fresheners.
My concern extends beyond my own intolerance of the bad odour. I strongly believe it's affecting his social interactions with other people as well, and he's already told me that he has social problems (which reaches as far back as secondary school). Besides the possible social consequences, bad body odour would indicate bacterial growth on the body (which would also spread and grow on his unwashed clothing), so it can't be good for his health either.
