A hot shower might be the perfect start to your day or a soothing end to it. But according to a leading microbiologist, showering in the morning could have some surprising benefits for your skin and hygiene.
Dr. Primrose Freestone, a senior lecturer in clinical microbiology at the University of Leicester, says timing matters when it comes to personal cleanliness. While many people believe a nighttime shower helps wash off daily dirt, she argues that a morning rinse is more effective at removing bacteria, sweat, and microbes that accumulate overnight.
In an article published this week in The Conversation, Dr. Freestone explained that while we sleep, our bodies continue to sweat, and skin microbes feed on that sweat. This can lead to body odor and the transfer of bacteria onto bed sheets. “By the morning, you’ll have both deposited microbes onto your bed sheets and you’ll probably also wake up with some BO,” she wrote.
A 2022 survey by the Sleep Foundation found that 42% of U.S. adults prefer showering in the morning, while 25% opt for the evening. Personal preference aside, Dr. Freestone emphasizes that a morning shower can help you feel fresher throughout the day by reducing odor-causing bacteria.
She also stressed the importance of regular sheet washing—ideally once a week to keep beds free of microbes and allergens that build up overnight.
Whether you’re a morning or night showerer, one thing’s clear: hygiene isn’t just about clean skin it’s also about good timing.