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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:
londonrach · 18/07/2016 11:53

My mum used to do this with my sis, me then her and tbh i think its very yuck even as a child, and no way do it now as hated it as a child. However its your bath, your water, your family and your standards so no one can judge you as up to you! Therefore your dsis is being unreasonable!

Unicorn1981 · 18/07/2016 11:54

When I first moved in with my dp and he said save your water and I'll jump in I thought he was out of his mind. Now i just accept it but he hardly does it anymore anyway!

Unicorn1981 · 18/07/2016 11:57

Oh and I'm never dirty in the bath it's usually for relaxation I have a bath. If I'm dirty or sweaty I'll have a shower. And I shower every morning anyway!

WellTidy · 18/07/2016 12:08

I wouldn't jump in the bath after DH as he does more exercise than I do and sweats more. But he would happily jump in my bathwater. And I always put the DC in the bath together or straight after each other, so that's the same bathwater. They are under 10. We all bath or shower every day, so we're not massively filthy.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 18/07/2016 12:12

RedHareWithBlondeHair

so someone rightly states the environmental issue of water waste and you mock them! I fucking despair sometimes

giraffesCantReachTheirToes · 18/07/2016 12:14

This thread is brilliant. I don't like baths I am a shower person. But great entertainment!

AppleSetsSail · 18/07/2016 12:30

I really couldn't share bathwater, but I'm not a fan of baths in any case. I love showers.

ThoraGruntwhistle · 18/07/2016 12:37

I remember getting in baths that my mum had already been in when I was a kid but I've never got my kids to reuse the bathwater. DH and both DC all prefer showers, I'm the only one who has baths so it wouldn't ever really be an issue anyway.

AppleSetsSail · 18/07/2016 12:46

As a chronic sufferer of UTIs, this really makes my teeth ache.

Cooroo · 18/07/2016 13:02

Showers here, but have often shared bath or bath water and it wouldn't bother me at all.

Gribbie · 18/07/2016 13:03

Totally normal. We've got a massive bath - if we refilled it between us it would take forever. Both (young) kids go in together, one of us may well get in with them too. So not only do we share but we're in there at the same time!

WeMustGetOffTheMountain · 18/07/2016 13:10

We always share bath water here! Same as Op, if anyone is exceptionally dirty or I want to shave then they go at back of queue! I like my bath steaming hot but DP doesn't, so by the time I've soaked in my lava bath then it's cool enough for DP.

starfishmummy · 18/07/2016 13:15

We do too as long as I get the water first!!

GrimmauldPlace · 18/07/2016 13:17

I don't understand why some people are OK with their kids sharing a bath at the same time or getting in with their dp but wouldn't get in after. What's the difference? Same sweaty skin cells, same poo particles (of which there's probably more on your phone or toothbrush if you don't cover it) same bodily fluids.

I'd also be really interested to see just how dirty some of your baths are when you get out. The only time the bath water in our house actually looks dirty is if the kids have been playing in mud or something but usually I would shower them first anyway. I'm imagining dark dingy water here for it to be so disgusting that no one else could get in.

Does everybody change the beds every single day? Bleach the toilet seat after every use? Wash up each plate, bowl, cup etc with a fresh basin of water and soap each?

KittiesInsane · 18/07/2016 13:17

I'll offer you Laurie Lee on the lasting effets of bath priority:
'Our small wood-fire could heat sufficient water to fill
one bath only, and this we shared in turn. Being the youngest
but one, my water was always the dirtiest but one, and the
implications of this privilege remain with me to this day.'

He was the second youngest of about 8, if I remember my English O-level!

powershowerforanhour · 18/07/2016 13:17

We did this growing up as we didn't get a shower till I was about 10. The three of us children in together (when we were small enough to fit), then mum, then dad. Even when we got a shower "using all the hot water" was a cardinal sin. Now I shower to get clean and only rarely have a bath, for relaxation/sore muscles. DH uses the water after me. Would be a pity to let nearly-clean water go to waste.

CourtJester · 18/07/2016 13:17

I'm a shower person myself, but i wouldn't like to share bathwater with anyone!

I don't even like going in the bath myself becuase i hate the idea of wallowing around if my own flith (never mind someone elses). I'm not a particulaly dirty person, but everyone has sweat, oils and general muck that will come off and that will sit in the bath with you. I don't feel i can get clean properly becuase all of that stuff that has just come off you, is still sitting in the water which is all over you, whereas in a shower it falls away and you get clean water as you are going along.

cjbk1 · 18/07/2016 13:19

I'm not going to read this entire thread, but yes, of course all my life! especially when the youngest only go in for 30 seconds some days, ds dirtiest last obviously, any dirt will stick to the sides sand sinks to the bottom whats the problem? Hmm

Lweji · 18/07/2016 13:32

I run the shower to remove all traces of soap at the end of a bath, do for me sharing bath water and never rinsing at the end is disgusting.
I shower in the morning, though, and rarely have baths.

TheFairyCaravan · 18/07/2016 13:37

We're not wasting water by not sharing baths here. The only time our bath gets used is if DS1 has been on a particularly long run then he sits in ice cold water.

The rest of the time we all shower and it's a physical impossibility for me to get in the bath anyhow.

PageStillNotFound404 · 18/07/2016 13:40

I'm a shower rather than a bath person myself so this doesn't really arise, but I'm boggling at the people who say they and their families all shower before getting into someone else's bath water. What on earth is the point of having the subsequent bath in that scenario? Just have your shower each and save water!

georgiatraher · 18/07/2016 13:40

Nope. Shudder.

puzzledbyadream · 18/07/2016 13:40

My mum used to make us share the same water, then would always run a fresh bath for herself! Even now if I'm ever at home she'll "leave the bath in for me". I'd rather a fresh one, thanks.

I have a particular memory from childhood that if ever we were ill we'd have to have a bath with dettol in it. How clinical.

Happyhippy45 · 18/07/2016 13:41

Took turns in the bath growing up as a kid. My kids shared a bath with each other and sometimes me growing up. I haven't had a bath in about 15 years. Neither have my kids. Soon as they could handle having a shower that became the norm. Baths are a luxury item. If I wanted to languish in a bubble bath with candles etc.....I wouldn't want 2nd hand water.
I don't see the need for baths apart from relaxation.

Memoires · 18/07/2016 13:46

I am perfectly capable of spending 9hrs in the bath. Deep and hot. Haven't been able to since marriage 20 years ago Sad. Luckily dh hates baths. I used to share with dd though, and when I was a child it was par for the course that all children shared the bath, some at the same time.

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