How to have a bath

[DukeOfEarlGrey]

Inspired by the thread about things that should be nice but aren’t, I’m amazed by how many people don’t like a bath. I love a relaxing bath and feel I perfected the art during the interminable winter lockdown when I was alone and had to find ways to stay sane. Here are my top tips for a relaxing bath, please share yours!

1. Start clean. Clean bath tub, ideally a clean you (especially hair). The idea is to relax, not to wash. This took me a long time to understand.

1. Find the right products. Lush bath bombs are a tremendous let down that will stain the bath tub and leave you feeling had. Aromatherapy associates bath oils are heaven in a bottle - the ‘deep relax’ one nigh on puts me in a coma.

1. Candles. Wanky but true.

1. Music, a relaxing podcast, or silence.

Why are your bath time tips?

Epsom salts, water as hot as you can stand, bath pillow. No disturbance. That last bit never happens.

This is my perfect bath that saved my sanity as a fortnightly Friday night treat when dc were young

Start clean - yourself and bath .

Run a really hot bath
Top tip - take off the side bath panel , fill bath cavity with the fibre insulation you put in the loft , replace bath panel . Your bath will now stay hot for a zillion time longer

Add - a good book on kindle , Dh to bring infinite glasses of champagne, gin, wine , beer. Alternate with water so that you don't collapse when you finally get out in 4 hours time because you have turned into a wrinkled prune . On a really good / bad day I've even eaten dinner while laying in the bath - lasagne or a toasted sandwich are easy

DO NOT allow dc in at any point . This is not their time

Once you have had enough , get out, go and relax in your bedroom. Not downstairs as Dh as been dealing with dc and it's probably a messy shit pit. If you go down you will start tidying up and lose your joy

DO NOT faff around cleaning the bath until the following morning.

I can’t remember the last time I bothered having a bath. Youngest DD is 5, so probably when I was pregnant with her. ExH buggered off shortly after she was born, never to be seen again, and as a lone parent to 3DC I don’t have the time for a bath.

Although I fell out with baths a good 20 years ago, after spending 6 months living with my sister, who had a giant roll top bath in a beautiful bathroom, with designer products to use to my hearts content.

Baths have never been the same since.

I love a bath.

It has to be really hot for me. To the point I came out pink.

My fairy dust lush bath wand.

My soap and glory moisturisers.

I quite like to tag a magazine in like chat or take a break .

Take*

@insancerre

I agree with sitting in the bath as it fills I love Epsom salts in my bath Westlab do a good range and my favourite one is mindful with CBD, pure heaven

Where do you get it from ?

Radox. and Epsom salts.Very hot water and the I pad propped up opposite.

@DukeOfEarlGrey my bath procedure is much the same as yours.. although kind of wish I hadn't discovered Aromatherapy Associates...my bank balance isn't thanking me!

I also love some good chillout music on a decent wireless speaker and a glass of red wine.

@tempchecked. I also used to have a lovely tiled bench/seat in the shower, I loved it, but IMO the key is getting the shower head in the right place & adjustable!

Sorry I don't have any photos of it, but similar to the one posted before. Make sure it's got a very slight (very very slight) tilt to the tiles so it drains, but not so much you slip off!!

Spend some time working out your ideal height!!

Waterproof Kindle.

What is the most bubbly bubble bath you can get? 🛀

Candles , wine , snacks and a podcast

Blimey. This thread is making me depressed. Two under three and don't even have time to take a wee without an audience, let alone clean myself/the bath before taking some leisurely me time 🤣 Maybe in five years?

I wish I could take a bath in peace and quiet, bit it's just not possible.

DS who is now 7 used to smell the bath tap about to turn and announce I want a bath too. I'd often say no it's bed time, bit about 29 minutes in he'd announce his arrival in to the bathroom nude and just climb in the bath. Those days are gone but now I just have the door opening every 5 fucking minutes with "how long are you going to be?" " I just need a wee" "can I have a drink?" "My tablet isn't working"

I gave up...I don't have baths anymore 😂 shower daily job done.

Ooh, some amazing recommendations here! I now have a shopping list (Olverum bath oil, CBD bath salts, bath pillow) and will be introducing cups of tea in the bath when the wether gets cold (a revelation!).

@purplesequins I am tall as well but have the bath water piping hot and so am glad to have some limbs sticking out to keep me cool.

@SquirrelFan I feel faint when I get out too and immediately lie down on the nearest bed. I used to think it was worrying but doctor google told me it is common and to do with the hot water causing blood vessels to dilate and the blood diverting from the brain. Something like that.

@Racingadmin taking the bath panel off for added insulation is a whole other level of bath game.

Bath makes me feel cleaner than a shower weirdly but even at that I am in and out can't lie in it long.

@userxx
Tesco

@purplesequins

I like the idea of a bath but

• it's booring
• I'm tall and have the choice of cold shoulders or cold knees
• contact with bath products longer than a few seconds make my skin itchy

Yes! I think a Bath is nice if you have a deep roll top or something where you can almost submerge. Bog standard baths are too shallow so I have to choose between knees or boobs getting cold 😉

The water gets cold after 10 minutes so I’m constantly topping up with the hot tap.

Bubbles last 5 minutes tops and then you’re cold and disappointed 😂

I have a bath every evening once the DC are in bed. We have a longer bath than is standard I can fully submerge. We also have a steel bath and this retains heat for absolutely ages. When we had an acrylic bath I’d have to top up the hot water constantly but I don’t need to top it up at all with the steel one. A good book and a hot chocolate makes for a relaxing bath for me. I use either bubble bath, bath oil or a bath bomb - I alternate between products.

@userxx westlabsalts.co.uk/collections/all

Netflix on the IPad and a hot chocolate, hot with lots of bubbles. I used to bother with candles but don't anymore.

Candle in the dark is a must! My bath is my solace! The amount of times I’ve had a good cry in the bath! I sometimes listen to an audiobook or just bring laptop in on the toilet seat and watch an episode of something.
Other times I’ve actually meditated in there. Bubbles!

I also take a nice drink like an iced peach tea!

@SquirrelFan I feel faint when I get out too and immediately lie down on the nearest bed. I used to think it was worrying but doctor google told me it is common and to do with the hot water causing blood vessels to dilate and the blood diverting from the brain. Something like that.

Have a glass of cold water before you get out. Advice from a doctor to counteract blood pressure drop.

Anyway. Morning bath:

• Radox
• cup of tea
• two fags (I know I know)
• shout at the radio/rehearse difficult conversations

Evening (or Sunday afternoon) bath:

• Radox
• cup of tea
• two fags (I still know)
• Ideal Homes magazine or book

We have a magic acrylic bath that really holds the heat somehow.

I used to have a very short bath which was great for sitting up reading.

I moved in with my fella. He doesn't have a Bath and I miss it.

Love a lush bath bomb and a good book.