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Original poster

Sharing bath water…acceptable or grim?

147 replies

Kibble19 · 04/06/2025 20:25

Lighthearted of course! What are your thoughts on the sharing of bath water between two people? Not necessarily a mum having a bath with their young child, but someone having a bath then getting out before giving their family member a shout to go in.

Grim and unsanitary? Or totally normal at your house?

OP posts:
sunshineandshowers40 · 04/06/2025 20:26

Grim. I first heard of this when I went to university- I was horrified!

Macwoodfleet · 04/06/2025 20:27

Totally normal.

BlueEyedBogWitch · 04/06/2025 20:28

DH always gets into mine - never the other way round 😀

Maximusdecimus · 04/06/2025 20:29

I did it for years when my kids were young I just topped it up in between the three of them!

Errolwasahero · 04/06/2025 20:29

Me and my dp share all the time, it’s a lovely, intimate time where we cuddle and wash each other’s backs… done it for years.

Original poster
Kibble19 · 04/06/2025 20:30

Forgot to write my thoughts - I find the idea of it quite stomach turning, to be honest. Not because I live with dirty people, I just would like my own fresh water. I genuinely thought (until MN) that this practice was something from the olden days of the immersion running out of hot water and families having to be careful to make sure everyone got a bath.

OP posts:
BabyDoge · 04/06/2025 20:30

I always thought it was grim, but now I've got two DC I've changed my mind 🙈

saveforthat · 04/06/2025 20:30

We do this sometimes. It's not much different to having a bath together. I always go first though.

WooYa · 04/06/2025 20:30

I do this sometimes with DP. He showers then jumps in a boiling bath to relax then I get in after to have a bath...

gamerchick · 04/06/2025 20:31

It's gross. I can see why it might seem normal if you've grown up with it, but it's manky when you think of what you wish off your body.

Mind our local paper was saying that people should consider sharing bathwater to save water due to a bit of a drought. Should we knock on the neighbours....

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 04/06/2025 20:31

Did it when I was a young with my siblings, can’t think of anything worse now though. I won’t even share a romantic bath with my partner 🤣

WimpoleHat · 04/06/2025 20:31

We do it all the time within the nuclear family - it’s a standing joke and therefore quite fun as it’s “us”. But I wouldn’t do it with anyone else!

Original poster
Kibble19 · 04/06/2025 20:32

gamerchick · 04/06/2025 20:31

It's gross. I can see why it might seem normal if you've grown up with it, but it's manky when you think of what you wish off your body.

Mind our local paper was saying that people should consider sharing bathwater to save water due to a bit of a drought. Should we knock on the neighbours....

Edited

I’d let every crop in the country die before I rationed bath water. 😂

OP posts:
JohnLapsleyParlabane · 04/06/2025 20:32

I am probably really weird, but I often have a quick shower to get clean and then have a bath. DH will usually get in after I'm done in that situation but I never offer if I'm having a bath without showering first.

Levithecat · 04/06/2025 20:33

I grew up doing this! DP usually pops in after me. I shower every day and a bath for me is just for relaxing. I don’t go in after the kids because they’re filthy.

Marmiteontoastgirlie · 04/06/2025 20:33

I don’t really know how this works as when I have an occasional bath I’m in there for about three hours and it’s cold when I’m done. I feel like showers have removed the need for bath water sharing.

RobinHeartella · 04/06/2025 20:34

We do this all the time.

If we get out and it's still warm, I don't drain it and leave it there for hand washing (and in winter, it carries on warming the house rather than letting all that heat drain out of the house)

  • not for days, just until the end of the day!
Jk987 · 04/06/2025 20:34

Have you never had a bath with your partner?

doodleschnoodle · 04/06/2025 20:37

Logically I know there’s no real difference but while I would have a bath with DH, I wouldn’t get into his bath water after he’d had a solo bath and got out and I can’t imagine him wanting to do the same other way. It irrationally gives me the ick and I can’t do it!

IllustratedDictionaryOfTheDoldrums · 04/06/2025 20:37

Grim. My family did it growing up and whenever I visit my parents, my mother always offers once she's done. "Water's still hot". Some people find it sensible. I never liked it, even when I was a child and it was normal in my house.
I won't judge those who do but personally I'm on the grim side.

sciaticafanatica · 04/06/2025 20:37

It’s totally grim!
something I was made to do as a child that I have never made my children do.

AllPlayedOut · 04/06/2025 20:39

It’s gross.

Original poster
Kibble19 · 04/06/2025 20:40

As I mentioned at the OP, I’m referring to one person having a bath, getting out, then someone else getting in.

I think couples having a bath together and parents doing it with a baby is different, though don’t ask me why!

OP posts:
Original poster
Kibble19 · 04/06/2025 20:41

doodleschnoodle · 04/06/2025 20:37

Logically I know there’s no real difference but while I would have a bath with DH, I wouldn’t get into his bath water after he’d had a solo bath and got out and I can’t imagine him wanting to do the same other way. It irrationally gives me the ick and I can’t do it!

Exactly my thoughts! It’s a different dynamic or something. Makes me feel a bit nauseous so I’m in the irrational camp too.

OP posts:
chickensandbees · 04/06/2025 20:45

I would only do this if I went first, I wouldn't go in someone else's bath after them.

When DC were younger I let them have my bath after me, but now they are older I wouldn't expect or want them to share bathwater.