Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

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:
AdultingIsNotWhatIExpected · 17/07/2016 21:02

depends, if we're a bit gross and need a good scrub, own water only

If it's a quick dip to freshen up we'll share

yesterday I washed in the morning but then we all slathered ourselves in suncream, so I had a bath in the evening - just to get the suncream off, I wasn't particularly dirty, so the DDs took a turn in same water to wash their suncream off too

But a proper scrub with shaving and stuff - no it'ld be gross to share

apivita · 17/07/2016 21:13

I do that with my 2 children. Usually I have a shower first then fill it up for a bath (soak). The kids come in after and they love it because I fill it quite deeply! Dh sometimes goes in after the kids. I never!! Grin

About Japan, yes most homes even flats have a separate part of the bathroom where you would have a scrub/ shower and they are v particular about cleanliness. Then when you are clean you go into the special bath section. As soak. So it's like having a relaxing bath every night (If one had spa access every night eg). They have lots of different concoctions of bath salts. Even kids ones. Its fab.

WizardOfToss · 17/07/2016 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

nuttymango · 17/07/2016 21:26

We share the bath water but I always go in first Grin If one of the DCs goes in first they routinely ask if we want the water to be left in. The exceptions are obvious - periods, upset stomachs, things like that.

dudsville · 17/07/2016 21:29

I'm not a fan but I'm a hypocrite. I'd I'm clean but cold and oh is running a bath I will jump in quickly. He doesn't mind but I would!

noiwontmoveover · 17/07/2016 22:01

Put it this way. You wash up. You don't fill up the sink with water and then wash everything from the entire day without changing the water and rinsing, do you? You don't run the waste water from the washing machine into a bucket to use to wash the next load.. Instead you use clean water. Why does the dishes and clothes get nice clean water and you don't?

Excellent point.

honeylulu · 17/07/2016 22:30

Gosh. Lots of delicate little flowers on this thread. A world away from the threads where people about not washing/showering every day and just rinsing their flaps with water because "they don't need a wash with soap". really?
The horror of a single day's bodily detritus from ones own family members! Have none of you ever had a snog? A shag? Been to a swimming pool? Co-slept (with spouse/children/others)? Breastfed?
Our family all have a nightly bath. Our bath is a massive freestanding one which would be bonkers to refill each time. Toddler has a shallow first bath. Sometimes I jump in with her. Son tops up an hour or so later and has his. Couple of hours later I fill it right up with very hot water and have mine. Then husband has his after once it's cooled down a bit. Adults also shower in morning so are never very dirty. Toddler has her bum and privates washed with warm water after every nappy change. We wash hands after loo and before/after meals as required.
What on earth do you think it's going to happen?

throwingpebbles · 17/07/2016 22:35

Our kids do. Normally the two girls first then a top up of water for the boys.
But obviously if they are grubby/Ill etc they would have separate bath water. They bath every night, it's part of the routine.

Idiotxit · 17/07/2016 22:39

Gosh. Lots of delicate little flowers on this thread.

Have none of you ever had a snog? A shag? Been to a swimming pool? Co-slept (with spouse/children/others)? Breastfed?

Clearly, no-one.

Thank goodness for someone sensible coming along and telling everyone exactly how it is.

And there was me thinking it was about a range of opinions taking into account people likes/dislikes and various lifestyles.

janey77 · 17/07/2016 23:15

Doesn't everyone do this? Will you leave me your water? And top it up with extra hot/bubbles etc??

MumOfTwoMasterOfNone · 17/07/2016 23:54

I never would have thought to do this but we rarely have a bath in our house. Even if I do, I like a shower after though as I feel as if I've been sitting in my own dirt and grease (I shower at least once/twice a day).
I'm not precious about things, sharing drinks etc. but I do like to feel very clean and I really don't think I would by washing myself in fourth hand bath water. I'm not saying I wouldn't get in it, I just wouldn't use it to clean myself.

Forgetmenotblue · 17/07/2016 23:58

We always share here. Kids in first, then I dip in after them. DH goes last. If DH goes first I drain it and start again: he's too hairy and sweaty!

Wouldn't share if someone was poorly or on a period, but otherwise, no problem. Plenty of hot water and bubbles kill the germs off, I reckon.

VinoTime · 18/07/2016 00:22

I wouldn't do this, but that's only because of my own preciousness. The idea of sharing bath water with somebody really squicks me out, ridiculous as that might sound to a lot of folk. I physically couldn't do it. I'd end up sitting in the tub dry heaving at the thought of somebody else's sweaty, hairy body being in the water before me. It's entirely my own issue. I'm getting better with swimming pools (exercise/holiday), but they do have to be chlorinated and it's taken a lot of forceful effort on my part to get over myself and my silly issues Grin

Fortunately we live in Scotland and our water isn't metered. We pay a small flat rate every month and can use as much as we like. Fresh baths and long, hot showers for DD and I!

Laquitar · 18/07/2016 00:25

How does this work? How do you rinse if you meant to keep the hot water in the bath?

expatinscotland · 18/07/2016 01:38

'Doesn't everyone do this? Will you leave me your water? And top it up with extra hot/bubbles etc??'

Obviously not everyone does this. I don't because I find it minging.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 18/07/2016 06:52

Wouldn't share if someone was poorly or on a period

Boak Grin

LifeIsGoodish · 18/07/2016 07:24

We installed the biggest bath we could precisely so that we could share baths! Sometimes together, sometimes one after the other. Nothing skanky or unhygienic about it.

jellycat1 · 18/07/2016 07:35

Dh and I only shower realty but no, I wouldn't use someone else's dirty bath water.

jellycat1 · 18/07/2016 07:37

To clarify though - I don't think you're disgusting! Each to their own.

Togaparties · 18/07/2016 08:52

Totally rank. I'd judge anyone that does this as a filthy fucker.

NeedACleverNN · 18/07/2016 08:58

Thank you very much Grin

Here is your judgemental arse badge

flirtygirl · 18/07/2016 08:59

Its gross, once was asked to jump in the bath water aged 10 when visiting a family, i cried and cried and didnt bath the whole time i was there, i di
did however strip wash twice a day instead.

My physical reaction at 10 is still the same, it fills me with horror.

Bathing kids together or husband and wife is not as bad but the aspect of one after the other into the used bath water, 4 and 5 persons is gross, ill never do it but saying that each to their own.

IAmNotAWitch · 18/07/2016 08:59

We do it. I am in Australia and water is PRECIOUS.

Me first, then kids, the DH.

I like it HOT. Kids don't take long and DH likes a good long wallow.

zoobeedoo · 18/07/2016 09:06

Bleeuuuuurrrgh. Nope. Fresh bath water for me please.

Whentheshipgoesdown · 18/07/2016 09:08

Am clearly a poo-crumb loving scummer. I have 5 children under 10: would people really run a separate bath for each of them or insist they shower. And to the pp who mentioned 0.14 g of faecal matter: just how much do you think 0.14 g is? It's not like you're having a dump in a flannel and wiping it all over your face. There's probably as much poo germs on your phone.