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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:
DoWhat123 · 17/07/2016 17:59

This was the way it was done in olden times, but I have to admit I could never do such a thing now. Maybe sharing a shower with your DH where the dirt doesn't all mix together and simmer, or sharing a bath/shower with your small children is ok - bath after bath after bath with used water seems very grimey to me.

BennyTheBall · 17/07/2016 17:59

I love a deep, deep bath. At least one of my family will get in after me.

We all have showers before baths and I quite often have one after too if I need to rinse conditioner out of my hair.

CrowyMcCrowFace · 17/07/2016 18:01

I am quite happy for anyone to use my bathwater when I've finished with it, but I'm jolly well having nice clean hot water myself!

In my house it is usual to shower with the plug in so that whoever goes last gets a bathful to wallow in...Grin. But if I fancy a bath it's a rare treat & I run it fresh & put bathbombs & so forth in it. Would definitely take the gloss off the experience to be in three dc's lukewarm shower run off.

rosiecam · 17/07/2016 18:01

I don't find it disgusting but I would worry the kids and DH would pee in it.

Costacoffeeplease · 17/07/2016 18:02

No thanks - I prefer a shower anyway, but if I had to have a bath it would only be in clean water otherwise it's a bit grim

MistressPage · 17/07/2016 18:04

It's fine. I run a bath for 1 yr old son, with Epaderm in. Then I top up with hot later in evening and pour nice bubbles in for me. Husband goes last. We have a ginormous bath so it saves water.

cuntinghomicidalcardigan · 17/07/2016 18:06

My 2 dcs go in together, then when they're out I sit on the side and wash my feet in their water (they're never particularly grim, I just like clean feet for bed!). I wouldn't want to lie down in their water though. I don't think it's disgusting if others do it though, we're not on a water metre and I'd prefer not to! Smile

EarthboundMisfit · 17/07/2016 18:07

I wouldn't do it...and yet it was the norm when I was growing up. Mind you, I have three DSs, and they get very muddy.

MaQueen · 17/07/2016 18:07

No. No. No.

Ick.

PollyPerky · 17/07/2016 18:08

It was something that used to be done quite regularly in the 'olden days'- ie the 1940-50s. I think but can't really remember that maybe my dad used to hop into a bath I'd used when I was a child , and it's quite common for kids to be dunked one after the other. I'd draw the line at the whole family using the same water though. We don't have metred water so it's never been an issue. I don't think it's very hygienic though because unless everyone's bums are sparkling clean you end up sitting in water that is far from clean.

e1y1 · 17/07/2016 18:08

To be honest, it is not something I would do now in a million years.

However, when I was a kid, and money was tight and we had a hot water storage tank, there would not have been enough water for a fresh bath done for each, so it went in order of "cleanest to dirtiest" kids, mum, then dad.

mysteriousbat · 17/07/2016 18:10

When I was a kid we all shared bath water. Me first as youngest then up in age order til my dad. Now I occassionally get in after dd (7) but usually I run a fresh one. OH almost always showers later on, but he won't ever get in after the 2 of us which is fine.
I don't think it is disgusting to share it though but will admit I sometimes don't fancy the water after she has beeen in it

BluePitchFork · 17/07/2016 18:11

fine imo, if you rinse with clean water after.

JackieAndHyde4eva · 17/07/2016 18:11

I couldnt do it but i think its normal to do it. I know my parents did it when I was growing up. It just not for me.

Original poster
TransformersRobotsInDaSky · 17/07/2016 18:12

For us, the money is part of it but the bath takes ages to fill up move and deep so our evening would be taken up with baths otherwise.

The funny thing is that we did it when we were growing up so DSis thought it was normal as a child but is horrified by it now Hmm

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 17/07/2016 18:13

Dh often gets in the bath after me . Dd only ever showers ( baths are too exhausting she has CFS) ,DS usually showers but if he has a bath it has to be clean water in a clean bath .

TheresaMarie55 · 17/07/2016 18:18

I will quite often bath witg the kids (3 and 1) although its getting crowded now lol. I personally wouldn't get in anyone else's bath water though, my husband tends to wash at night though and me.in the morning anyway. I think its different with your kids x

Floggingmolly · 17/07/2016 18:19

Horrible... We did this as kids (I was usually fecking last) and I hated it then, and I'd hate it now. Certainly never imposed it on my kids.

DonttouchthatLarry · 17/07/2016 18:22

I'd rather share my DH's bath water than get in a hot tub with other people! We shower so aren't filthy - I'd only not get in after him if he was covered in mud after running.

VanillaSugar · 17/07/2016 18:23

Duck you duck you duck you

Idiotxit · 17/07/2016 18:23

I wouldn't do it as we all like our baths with/without bubbles/hot/not too hot/ etc. and we all enjoy our baths! I wouldn't really fancy someone else's water if I'm honest.

It depends on how often you do it. If you bathe every day then no-one's too dirty. If you only bathe once or twice a week it's a little bit more ick.

VanillaSugar · 17/07/2016 18:24

Sorry about that. Am playing truth or dare with someone......

Elephants25 · 17/07/2016 18:25

I cannot share my bath water! I'm really funny about it - it's the little bits of hair that get to me Confused my mum, dad and brother never cared though...

BlushRanunculus · 17/07/2016 18:25

My parents did this and being the youngest of 3 I was always last so now no sharing my bath water it belongs to ME..
DH will sometimes tell me to leave the water and he will bob in after but if he ever has a bath first and offers to save the water for me I tell him to jog on I'm having fresh Grin

dogloverxoxo · 17/07/2016 18:26

How can you possibly get clean in a tub full of dirty water? Ew

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