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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if DH's shower routine is as mad as I think?

208 replies

Everyoneafter3 · 02/02/2017 17:43

My dh is slightly obsessive about being 'green'. We recycle, compost, walk short journeys etc.

However, his greatest obsession concerns the wasting of water. To that end, when he showers, he will turn off the water while he's lathering up. He says it saves water. I say any savings are negated by the fact the shower will have to warm up again and the boiler will have to do this twice.

WIBU to suggest this is bonkers?

OP posts:
DearMrDilkington · 02/02/2017 17:46

He turns the water off while he washes?! Isn't the water freezing when he turns it back on?

schokolade · 02/02/2017 17:47

Depends how long it takes him to lather up. Takes me about five seconds max so switching off shower would be weird.

harderandharder2breathe · 02/02/2017 17:47

It is pretty odd but unless he starts insisting the rest of the household dies the same, I would leave him to get on with it

Original poster
Everyoneafter3 · 02/02/2017 17:47

It has to be!!! I know it is if I use the showed to clean the bath.

OP posts:
alphabetaspagetti · 02/02/2017 17:47

He's following fairly standard advice for saving water - not what you might want to hear!

littlewoollypervert · 02/02/2017 17:48

I think it's called a military shower, and it does save water. Why does the boiler have to heat up the water twice - is he not showering with water from the hot water tank?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 02/02/2017 17:48

I think lots of people do this but I'm not one of them.

MyOtherNameIsTaken · 02/02/2017 17:48

If he chooses to get cold while showering, its his problem. Yes, I think it's bonkers but it's not going to affect how you shower, is it?

:)

Original poster
Everyoneafter3 · 02/02/2017 17:48

schololade no idea.

OP posts:
thickgit · 02/02/2017 17:49

That's very considerate of him. I waste too much, of all sorts.

Kiroro · 02/02/2017 17:50

is he not showering with water from the hot water tank?

Loads of people do not have a hot tank. Combi pumps out hot water on demand.

bibbitybobbityyhat · 02/02/2017 17:50

I am prepared to do this in the summer in a water shortage. But not otherwise!

Original poster
Everyoneafter3 · 02/02/2017 17:50

He does tend to harp on that I don't do this...

He works in environmental health; I should probably be more cognisant of that.

OP posts:
EggnogChai · 02/02/2017 17:50

I do this - not to save water but because I like a good lather 😂

Littlelegs19 · 02/02/2017 17:51

My DH and DFIL both do this! I thought it was maybe a 'man thing' but I've since found out that DMIL does it too! I find it very odd! Hmm

Original poster
Everyoneafter3 · 02/02/2017 17:51

Kiroro - yes we've a combi. I can hear it boot up.

OP posts:
AlmostAJillSandwich · 02/02/2017 17:54

Our shower is electric, it heats up quick (10-15 seconds) the first time it's turned on but if you turn it off then on again within half an hour, it comes out red hot for 2 or 3 seconds then freezing for a good few minutes til it finally warms up again. It's a very old house, old wiring, and a very used shower (5 years old but i have OCD and it seen more than a years worth of daily 4 hour showers, and plenty of daily 1 hour showers in my "better" years. It's finally getting a break now i've managed to break the ritual of having to shower every time i go to the loo (yes even for a wee). Bet your husband would die of shock if he had to live with someone like me!

Ifitquackslikeaduck · 02/02/2017 17:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rosa · 02/02/2017 17:54

Dh does this as well ...In the summer though !

findingmyfeet12 · 02/02/2017 17:54

I'd love to say I'd do this if I knew it saved water.

It's just too cold for me though. I'm not prepared to stand around in our cold bathroom with no water running.

stickygotstuck · 02/02/2017 17:55

Your DH is right.

I grew up in a country where water is scarce and that is certainly standard procedure. I still do that in the UK.
It goes: tap on to wet hair and body - tap off while I shampoo - tap on to rinse hair - tap off while I put conditioner and lather body - tap on for final rinse of hair and body. Anything else is wasting water. It really is.

With a thermostat, the water won't go cold in the time it takes you to lather up anyway.

jcne · 02/02/2017 17:56

It is v sweet that he and others are so earnest but this. Is. Bananas. and sadly a drop in the ocean in terms of preventing climate change. We are going to go up in a ball of flames so let's I'll enjoy our showers while we can, they are one of life's few reliable pleasures 🙂

happypoobum · 02/02/2017 17:57

I think it's a bit odd but it wouldn't bother me. Can you ask him to explain this for me.....

I have stopped cleaning out baked bean tins, mayo jars etc as I reckon the amount of water I use negates any benefit from the recycling. I don't have warm water lying around as I use a dishwasher and shower rather than bath.

I would rather save the water as it costs me!! Do other people have similar issues?

Topseyt · 02/02/2017 18:06

I think it is odd, and not something I would bother doing.

Serialweightwatcher · 02/02/2017 18:09

Pretty sure unless he's very large (in stature Grin ) that lathering up shouldn't take very long at all so not sure I see the point - maybe he'd be better just having a wash down in a sink of water (not sitting in the sink obviously .. unless he's very small in stature Grin )

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