Asking Eric: Husband is smelly and sticky, tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/21/asking-eric-husband-is-smelly-and-sticky/)

In the September 21, 2026, syndicated advice column Asking Eric (published across Tribune Content Agency syndicates and the Chicago Tribune as “Asking Eric: Husband is smelly and sticky” / “Asking Eric: Husband’s poor hygiene mars otherwise great marriage”), the writer seeks advice regarding their husband’s personal hygiene issues.

The Situation

The letter writer describes an otherwise loving and strong marriage, but notes that their husband has developed noticeably poor hygiene habitsneglecting regular bathing, which leaves him unpleasantly smelly and sticky. When the writer attempts to address the matter directly and ask him to shower or take care of himself, the husband becomes defensive, claiming that his spouse is overly critical and nagging him.

Eric’s Perspective & Advice

Eric Thomas addresses the breakdown in communication and the impact hygiene has on intimacy and mutual respect in a marriage:

• Hygiene is a shared household and marital issue: Neglecting personal cleanliness is not simply an individual preference when it directly affects physical intimacy, comfort, and shared spaces.

• Handling defensiveness: Eric emphasizes that the husband’s accusation of being “too critical” is a deflection from a very basic, reasonable boundary.

• Clear, compassionate framing: The advice suggests shifting the conversation away from general complaints to specific boundaries and well-being. Rather than repeating day-to-day reminders, the spouse is encouraged to express how the behavior impacts their physical connection, while also checking if the decline in self-care stems from an underlying cause such as depression, stress, or medical changes.