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Original poster

How long is a reasonable shower?

173 replies

MigratorySheep · 14/03/2023 17:23

DD is spending ages in the shower each night. Basically I'm worried we can't afford it, it's getting beyond a joke.
I think 10 minutes max should be enough. DH reckons 5 - which I think is doable and what I aim for - but I don't think she will manage this unless I stand there and personally shower her.

I'm going to start setting a timer! What do you reckon is fair?

No need to discuss your DC's shower habits. A simple number of minutes will suffice!

OP posts:
Orcubed · 15/03/2023 06:30

HeavenIsAHalfpipe · 14/03/2023 22:55

@MamaDollyorJesus

Do people really turn the shower off & on while they're lathering shampoo/washing body?

That is a new level of batshit isn't it? Probably turn half the radiators in their house that has gas central heating too, and think it saves them money! 😆

We do. It saves a lot of water and also a lot of electricity for the pump. Not sure what’s batshit about that. It makes the shower a bit less pleasurable but it’s worth it to see the savings (plus the bathroom gets less steamy which is better for the house too)

willowstar · 15/03/2023 06:40

We have a timer for this reason. 10 minutes if washing hair, 5 minutes on other days. In April when the prices rise again, it goes down to 6 minutes for hair days, so we have been practicing with 8 this week. Perfectly doable. Our electric shower seems to cost a lot. Leg shaving tends to happen over the sink as our shower cubicle is tiny.

Toomanybooks22 · 15/03/2023 06:48

Sorry but how on earth is everyone showering their body, washing their hair and conditioning it in less than 10 mins?! Unless you have short or fine hair I don't understand how that works.

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Jewel1968 · 15/03/2023 06:50

I think 5 mins is plenty and if you want to be generous 10. If she has long hair that needs conditioning etc then the 10 mins might be reasonable.

It's difficult to change other people's showering habits. I found the only way to do it is constant nagging. I think when I said - if you can't keep showers to 5 mins you will not be able to have one every day - I saw a change.

Mumma · 15/03/2023 06:50

DD can easily spend 45 minutes in the shower. She finds it theraputic after a stressful/hard day.

I did worry but when I checked my smart meter, it told me it was 20p per hour -id happily pay that to make her happy and relaxed...

Okunevo · 15/03/2023 06:57

Toomanybooks22 · 15/03/2023 06:48

Sorry but how on earth is everyone showering their body, washing their hair and conditioning it in less than 10 mins?! Unless you have short or fine hair I don't understand how that works.

Focus. I have short hair and it took me three minutes out of four this morning. Long hair should be easily doable under 10.

MaireadMcSweeney · 15/03/2023 06:59

Just knock on the door after ten minutes and tell her to finish up? This is a no brainer surely?

greenacrylicpaint · 15/03/2023 07:00

Toomanybooks22 · 15/03/2023 06:48

Sorry but how on earth is everyone showering their body, washing their hair and conditioning it in less than 10 mins?! Unless you have short or fine hair I don't understand how that works.

by getting on with it and not standing 'in the rain'

and by having decent water pressure that gets hair wet quickly.

DarkNecessities · 15/03/2023 07:03

Right - I’m going to time myself as I reckon I’m pretty quick! DS however ……

no hair washing for me today

Quitelikeacatslife · 15/03/2023 07:08

Just bought a shower click with a 10 min timer as DS was in there for 25/30 mins and he didn't realise, said he sometimes sits down with water running over him as it is nice. Well apart from hogging the bathroom it costs too. His choice to set the timer , it has really helped him keep track and be ready quicker on a morning

DarkNecessities · 15/03/2023 07:14

under 3 mins

no hairwash or shaving this morning

TommytheSquirrell · 15/03/2023 07:21

If I could about an hour!! Drove my parents mad as a teen. Love long showers.

However in reality now owning an home about 10-15 mins is reasonable.

MissTrip82 · 15/03/2023 07:22

I live in a country with droughts. We have a shower timer. It goes off at two minutes and I get out if not washing hair, four minutes if washing (long) hair.

Its tight but doable and if you live where water is scarce at times it makes you very careful.

Jewel1968 · 15/03/2023 07:24

Most conditioners say leave in for 3 mins. Why isn't 5 mins enough then? Ok, if your hair is very thick I can understand it takes longer but otherwise surely 5 mins is enough?

Clioma · 15/03/2023 07:29

I always find threads like this fascinating. People having multiple showers per day, people in the shower for 3 mins, others for 30.

I'm usually in and out of the shower in 5 minutes and I wash and condition my hair every day. Maybe a little longer at weekends but I can't imagine spending more than 10 mins in the shower. They use so much water!

RichardMarxisinnocent · 15/03/2023 07:34

Orcubed · 15/03/2023 06:30

We do. It saves a lot of water and also a lot of electricity for the pump. Not sure what’s batshit about that. It makes the shower a bit less pleasurable but it’s worth it to see the savings (plus the bathroom gets less steamy which is better for the house too)

Show quote history

Whereas if I tried it I wouldn't really save water or electricity, as if I turn off my electric shower then turn it on again not long after, the water runs cold for a minute or two before warning up, so each time I turned it on I'd be standing at the other end of the bath doing nothing waiting for it to warm up. As lathering shampoo/soap/conditioner doesn't take longer than that minute or two, there's no point me turning off the shower to do it.

ShapesAndNumbers · 15/03/2023 07:36

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GoodChat · 15/03/2023 07:38

I think 20 minutes is fine. I wouldn't choose this as your hill to die on considering so many teenagers refuse to practise good hygiene.

For those who turn the shower off to wait for conditioner etc, don't you get really cold?

Zikky · 15/03/2023 07:38

20 minutes are enough to have a shower. I don't see any point to stay there longer.

Toomanybooks22 · 15/03/2023 07:39

Still think it can't be possible to properly wash your body and hair to be clean in less then 25 minutes. I think under 45 mins is fine for a shower. Over an hour is a bit excessive. But policing showers to be under 10 mins in my opinion is ridiculous.

WelshWondergirl · 15/03/2023 07:44

I've got long hair and I think the suggested five mins isn't enough.... ten should be plenty though. My shower isn't very powerful at all; if yours is a drench shower and she's staying in 20 mins, she'd be more economical to have a bath instead. Then she could linger as long as she likes.

Itsonlyagame · 15/03/2023 07:45

I take 5 minutes but 10 is probably what I would aim for in your position.
One of my exs would take 30-40 mins in the shower and then complain about the cost if I had a bath!

RichardMarxisinnocent · 15/03/2023 07:47

I timed myself this morning, shower with shower cap on and no hair washing. From shower on, to me stepping out of the bath straight after turning it off, it was 4 minutes. I was actually in the bathroom for probably another 5 minutes, by the time I used the loo and took off and hung up my dressing gown pre shower, then wrapped towel round me, cleaned teeth, dried face, dried body a bit, put dressing gown on and hung up towel post shower. So was actually occupying the bathroom for almost 10 minutes.

If I washed my hair, I'd add probably another 3 or 4 mins to the shower for getting hair wet enough, dispense shampoo, apply to hair and lather, rinse, dispense and apply conditioner, do some "squishing" of the conditioner, rinse. Then add another maybe 4 or 5 minutes for removing hair from hair catcher, applying product to hair, scrunching hair, putting towel on hair. So getting on for 20 minutes in the bathroom in total, though only half of that in the shower.

QueSyrahSyrah · 15/03/2023 07:53

Anything over 10 minutes and I'd bored.

5 minutes max for a wash only. Might get to 10 if I'm washing hair and shaving legs (the latter done while the conditioner is on).

I don't understand what's appealing to linger over. Get in, get out 🤷🏼‍♀️

anythinginapinch · 15/03/2023 07:56

Toomanybooks22 · 15/03/2023 07:39

Still think it can't be possible to properly wash your body and hair to be clean in less then 25 minutes. I think under 45 mins is fine for a shower. Over an hour is a bit excessive. But policing showers to be under 10 mins in my opinion is ridiculous.

But what are you doing for 25 mins?
In, wet hair, shampoo, rinse, conditioner. While that's in, rub body down with whatever you like. Do bits with scent-free soap. Rinse hair. Rinse again. Rinse bits clean. Step out of shower. 5 mins.

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