Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Are we really disgusting?

411 replies

TransformersRobotsInDaSky · 17/07/2016 17:22

I love to have deep, hot baths and DH and DS do too. To enable us to have them really deep and not feel too bad about wasting water, we share the water, one going in after the other (or sometimes one of us shares with DS). I happened to mention this to my DSis who thinks its absolutely disgusting.

Obviously if I'm shaving then I'll go in last or if anyone's particularly dirty they go to the back of the queue, but this is normal behaviour isn't it? Does everyone else share bath water or AIBU to share bath water with my family?

OP posts:
UmbongoUnchained · 19/07/2016 08:13

We used to as kids.

Not now though. We don't have baths at all I think they're revolting.

Expat777 · 19/07/2016 08:14

Polly perky. Might want to get off your high horse. Why would anyone have poo in their baths. Wipes are not just for babies. Maybe some people are rather cleaner than others before getting into bath. With a bit of hygiene no need to be dirty to have bath.

Expat777 · 19/07/2016 08:14

Sorry not pollyperky

PollyPerky · 19/07/2016 08:37

I find it hard to believe that some posters are arguing about sharing beds, breathing in the same oxygen and comparing it with sharing bath water. Do you really believe they are the same?

Try this:

Germ Haven
#7: Bathtub
You take baths to destress, right? Then don't think about this the next time you're lounging in the tub: A recent study found the harmful bacteria staphylococcus in 26 percent of tested bathtubs. Worse: Whirlpool-style tubs, which some experts say may be bacterial breeding grounds due to the construction of the pipes, seem to be the biggest culprits. A study by scientists at Texas A&M University that examined water samples from 43 whirlpool tubs found that all had dangerous bacterial growth—from fecal matter to fungi.

Keep germs at bay by regularly cleaning your bathtub with a bleach-based cleaner. Whirlpool owners should consider having a professional maintenance person assist in cleaning dirty pipes.

So add to the above the bacteria of 4 people in the family.
I rest my case.

PollyPerky · 19/07/2016 08:39

Expat- maybe read this?

"On top of pathogens that can naturally be found in water, humans also introduce their own share of germs when they slip into a hot tub. “The average bather has about a tenth of a gram of feces in his gluteal fold, which is a nice way of saying butt crack,” Gerba says. That means with five people, “you have a tablespoon of poop in the hot tub.” And beyond the gross-out factor, without safe levels of disinfectant, you can run the risk of transmitting diseases, he says."

Gottagetmoving · 19/07/2016 08:53

A tablespoon of poop in a hot tub..... Oh the sheer horror!
There is probably more than that spread liberally around your house that you don't know about.
The fears and dangers are really exaggerated.

Ifailed · 19/07/2016 09:13

PollyPerky
You do realise that you are covered, from head to toe, with faecal micro-organisms? Its normal, its healthy and after the gift of life, was probably the 2nd thing your mother gave you at birth.

powershowerforanhour · 19/07/2016 09:23

"The harmful bacteria Staphylococcus" - would that be the ubiquitous commensal Staph that's all over everyone's skin?

Lweji · 19/07/2016 09:27

Not sure why some people bother to wash as it's all the same entering and leaving the bath, just more soap on the skin. And dirt that you didn't have but got from the previous occupants.
Really don't see the point of a bath there.

PollyPerky · 19/07/2016 09:27

If you have any issue with the science, contact the dr who is quoted. They are not my words. I'm the messenger.

If you want to wallow in other people's shit, even if they are your darlings, go ahead.

MackerelOfFact · 19/07/2016 09:28

“The average bather has about a tenth of a gram of feces in his gluteal fold, which is a nice way of saying butt crack,” Gerba says. That means with five people, “you have a tablespoon of poop in the hot tub.”

Sorry but that is some shit (excuse the pun) maths.

Half a gram is not a tablespoon. Not even close.

WizardOfToss · 19/07/2016 09:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blindsider · 19/07/2016 09:37

Gosh having read some of the shite (pun intended) on here it is a wonder some of you ever leave the germ free isolation unit you must have set up in your houses...

tallerlaura · 19/07/2016 09:53

This thread is hilarious. Can't believe people are getting so worked up over other people choosing to share bathwater. I have five DCs, I'm certainly not running them a fresh bath each of an evening. Not really for financial reasons, but because it's wasteful of energy, water and time. If you don't want to share, up to you, but don't start pretending there's a scientific reason not to. Yes there might be traces of all sorts in there, but so what? I would want to see evidence of consequences, not just bacteria etc. Bacteria is everywhere.

zoobeedoo · 19/07/2016 10:08

Sandbags yep, spot on. Wildlife germs don't bother me in the slightest - I mean, I am sensible about where I swim, no stagnant areas etc. Went on 10 day kayaking expedition where every few days was a full wash in the sea in Sweden. No problems. Heaven to me is that beach in the Caribbean where the pigs swim with you. But people in a public pool - yikes, no, makes my skin crawl. Fish yes, people no.

Gottagetmoving · 19/07/2016 10:27

My sister thinks sharing bath water is disgusting - but it is ok for her dog to lick her face and sleep in her bed. My friend has her cat walking all over her kitchen surfaces and table, although I don't know whether she shares bath water.

zoobeedoo · 19/07/2016 10:39

I confess, I did once or twice take my kitten in the bath with me because he had a leg/hip problem and the warm water soothed the pain. But we aren't regular bath buddies. I wouldn't take one of my dogs in the bath with me, but have swam with them in reservoirs no problem.

paxillin · 19/07/2016 11:33

Your kitten, zoobeedoo Shock? Does that not end up a bloodbath with your skin in shreds?

dmeriam · 19/07/2016 12:26

All 5 of us very often get in together, and we all wash our hair in the same water. Not disgusting at all! Or at least, we don't think so :)

zoobeedoo · 19/07/2016 12:27

It was risky haha! He is a Bengal, they often seem to really like water

Ivorbig1 · 19/07/2016 12:30

Yanb disgusting.

Even without the issue of saving water I think it's ok. P

TwatbadgingCuntfuckery · 19/07/2016 12:49

I used to have a dog that would jump in the shower with me if I didn't latch the door properly. Never bothered me in the 'ewww' sense. It was rather funny he'd just jump in and sit there under the shower.

Memoires · 19/07/2016 16:24

I have a cat who/which will come and sit on the edge of the bath and lick my wet hair. It's very strange.

honeylulu · 19/07/2016 17:12

This thread is hilarious. Believe it or not (although I'm a disgusting bath water sharer) I've been teased for being a "clean freak" because I bath my children every night and have a morning shower as well as an evening bath.
But according to Polly I am dirtier than if I didn't bath at all. In fact I might as well just smear myself with a tablespoon of shit. ... Oh wait ...

knickerbockerglory · 19/07/2016 18:15

quite normal! However, nobody goes in after grubstaker 12 yo ds - he's always last.