Bathing on Shabbat - Unpleasant Odor
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Question
Hello, It is known that Ashkenazim do not customarily bathe on Shabbat, even with cold water, except in cases of distress. A person who has used the restroom and feels unclean, and it is unpleasant to be in such a state, and is unsure if they are also emitting an unpleasant odor as a result - can this be considered distress? (Of course, assuming they wash according to the rules: applying soap, washing with cold water, and being careful when drying in areas with abundant hair)
Answer
Hello
If the person truly suffers from this feeling, it is permitted.
[I do not think that everyone who uses the restroom goes to shower, so it is not necessarily a real need, and each person should assess themselves].
Source
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 326, S"K 21
(21) Bathing in a river, etc. - The poskim wrote that it is customary not to bathe at all in a river or mikvah because it can lead to squeezing hair and for other reasons, see M"A