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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To go home in a wet swimsuit

68 replies

Lights22 · 24/03/2026 18:16

My question is, does anyone ever go home straight from the pool and get showered/changed at home instead?

I used to do this from an open air pool in our local village, as did all the other locals as that was the deal.

However, we've relocated and we have a city centre swimming pool/leisure centre and I want to get out of the pool, pull on a dry robe and drive home. Does anyone else do this or am I having one of my moments?

OP posts:
monkeysox · 24/03/2026 22:26

Lights22 · 24/03/2026 18:16

My question is, does anyone ever go home straight from the pool and get showered/changed at home instead?

I used to do this from an open air pool in our local village, as did all the other locals as that was the deal.

However, we've relocated and we have a city centre swimming pool/leisure centre and I want to get out of the pool, pull on a dry robe and drive home. Does anyone else do this or am I having one of my moments?

Couldn't. Chafing and thrush would follow.

BinaryDot · 24/03/2026 22:19

I do this. Happily walk home in a dryrobe and crocs but wouldn't like to drive in the bulky dryrobe so I have a microfibre towel type robe for the car and I put a neoprene cover on my car seat - Osprey do a good one. No guddling about in the changing room and no damp car seat.

puppyparent · 24/03/2026 21:57

ok but don’t you all end up with a wet bottom

hahabahbag · 24/03/2026 21:56

I do sometimes, but I live five minutes walk away, path not along the road. I don’t own a dry robe but throw an old dress over my swimwear and a fleece (if it’s cold i would change properly)

TheNameWasOnceChosen · 24/03/2026 21:56

I've had a Stroke and taking the swimming costume off is a fucking nightmare. I put on tracksuit bottoms on (the thick cottony ones) and drive home with them and a swimsuit. I like the idea of crocks but I can only walk and drive in my trainers.

notmyfirstrodeo2 · 24/03/2026 21:53

Poonu · 24/03/2026 20:21

On another note I think people look ridiculous wearing dry robes in Sainsbury's

Why? I often go to Tesco after a swim as I’m hungry to get some food before going home
yes I might be nowhere near the sea but I’ve been swimming in a reservoir

Summerbay23 · 24/03/2026 21:46

Weeelokthen · 24/03/2026 18:23

Why would you? Does the pool not have showers?

Yes but they are feeble for washing hair, often the wrong temperature, slightly grubby, and I can’t be arsed to take absolutely everything I would need (shower gel, shampoo and conditioner, hair product, HRT gel, deodorant, face cream etc). So much more pleasant to do at home in a clean, well equipped bathroom.

Summerbay23 · 24/03/2026 21:43

I take my cossie off (in a changing room obviously) and put the dry robe on to drive home. Prefer to shower with all my products and a clean floor at home.

In the summer I swim outdoors but if really hot I bung loose fitting shorts and t.shirt/or dress on and do the same (instead of dry robe).

moonshinepoursthroughmywindow · 24/03/2026 21:22

I live by the sea and I see lots of people doing it after a sea swim, although I think more of them are walking home afterwards rather than driving. But if the robe genuinely won't let water seep through I don't see why you couldn't do it for driving.

EmbarrassmentLovesCompany · 24/03/2026 20:45

I used to - but the temperature was 30-45C, so I threw on a summer dress and crocs and walked home.

For whoever asked - because it meant I only needed to carry a front door key, and there was AC at home!

dollywobbles · 24/03/2026 20:36

I do. I swim in a lake about 20 mins walk from home. I don’t like stripping off on the shores of the lake so I just stick my clothes on over the top of my costume. I don’t think anyone would notice, or care.

Mintyt · 24/03/2026 20:34

I take off swim suit and only wear dry robe and shower at home.

TheNinkyNonkyIsATardis · 24/03/2026 20:28

Yes, I do this, in a XXL hooded towel rather than a dry robe. It's a 5m drive, and the showers at the gym are a tepid drizzle that couldn't wash your hair in forty minutes.

I seem to be alone in doing this, but I'm fucked if I'm changing twice, because I definitely need to shower at home as well.

roshi42 · 24/03/2026 20:23

I swim all year round and wear shorts loose t shirt and flip flops, even in snow. Also can’t stand wrestling wet clothes on. After swimming swimsuit off and loose clothes on, shower at home. Top tip a plastic bag for the wet swimsuit so it doesn’t wet your car.

Poonu · 24/03/2026 20:21

On another note I think people look ridiculous wearing dry robes in Sainsbury's

FunnyOrca · 24/03/2026 20:20

I do it in summer but not winter

Whyherewego · 24/03/2026 20:19

I don't swim but sauna. I just dry off throw my clothes back on over my cossie and go home. Everything is put straight into the washing .machine and I jump in shower.

BitOutOfPractice · 24/03/2026 20:17

I’ve never done it but having read this I might!!

BotterMon · 24/03/2026 20:17

I voted YABU as you were keeping your swimsuit on. Fine to remove it put dryrobe on and drive home. Swimming pool changing rooms are rank and humid so impossible to get fully dry.

arethereanyleftatall · 24/03/2026 20:14

Rather obviously, lots of people do this. It’s literally one of the points of the quite best selling dry robes.

TheKateColumbo · 24/03/2026 20:13

I can’t wear anything coat like in a car it makes me claustrophobic and stressed! Also my car is warm, I’d boil in the dry robe.
In winter I take my costume off and put on joggers and a sweatshirt and in summer I put a long T-shirt dress on no underwear and crocs.

NCNCNCNCNCNCC · 24/03/2026 20:12

I don't see why you wouldn't just take the wet costume off and then put the dryrobe on but you can do whatever you like

Goldengirl123 · 24/03/2026 20:11

No problem with that at all

TheChosenTwo · 24/03/2026 20:04

I swim in a lake all through the winter in my cossie. As I come out of the water my dry robe goes on, wet cossie comes off and I drive home like that.
in the warmer months I’ll chuck joggers and a jumper on over my wet swimmers and drive home but when it’s cold like it has been they need to come off asap!
Doesn’t affect anyone else at all, suits me perfectly.

Elizabeta · 24/03/2026 20:00

I do this. The showers in my pool are like having a Luke warm light drizzle on you.

Summer or winter, I just take clothes that are easy to throw on (having taken my costume off). I walk home, so different to sitting damp in the car I know!