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

[Everyoneafter3]

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?

My DH does the same I don't that it's that weird...
I leave the shower running and don't end up getting as good a lather going as he does so maybe his is the best way. Hmm

If he was into having really showers I would agree with your DH but if he sticks to the 2 minute rule, I wouldn't think it actually saves tons more water. TBH, a bloke with short hair could pretty much do it in one minute.

I do this, but it's because otherwise the soap just runs off me. I like being properly lathered then rinsing.

We were required to do this at home when I was a child because we weren't on the main drain. Combined with no heating in the mornings it was utterly freezing. I have no intention of doing this ever again now that I have my own home.

tbh I am shocked at how many people DON'T do this!

Not necessarily from a green perspective (I try to be green but realistically I have long hot showers and the occasional bath ) but just from habit, it's what I've done my whole life. Same as turning the tap off when you brush your teeth!

I do this when washing my hair! Takes ages to shampoo, why waste hot water?

I turn the tap off now when I brush my teeth but never used to ..... I used to keep the water running whilst washing up runs and hides

It probably makes sense if you have a tank but not if you have a combi.

Impossible, as has already been pointed out, with an electric shower. Once it's In use, switch off and on at your own risk. Boiling hot to freezing before it eventually settles to the right heat. Upside is it uses less water than most mains showers.

I have very quick showers.
Five minutes at the longest. I wash my hair at the same time.

I do waste a lot of water though. Mainly waiting for water to heat up enough to use it. This worries me and I have tried to sort it out but the plumber said there isn't anything I can do.
That can't be right can it? Its SUCH a waste.

We are getting a water metre soon. That worries me. We use a lot of water. I have three kids at home and one has various conditions that mean I tend to use quite a bit of water. OH is also disabled. I am happy to do my bit to save water but am also concerned about the cost.

I never wash my car
Don't water the garden unless totally unavoidable.
Turn off taps when brushing teeth.

But use loads of washing clothes and cleaning the house.

Any tips?

I do the same as your DH, not to save water but because my shower cubicle is a bit small so the water would be washing off the suds before I have a good enough wash.

Same, Frog! I'm surprised people see it as odd, really!

I always turn the shower off whilst I'm lathering up my hair, shaving legs etc. We are on a water meter and our bills are eye watering, so i figure every little helps!

No chance, we've got a combi too which is at the opposite end of the house to the shower so it takes a good couple of minutes to run hot.

I do this when shaving my legs. The shower is so tiny you can't get away from the water so it's easier to tun off water, lather and shave then water back on to rinse.

I sometimes do this too. We have a hot water tank so it makes sense.

I've got waist length hair, wash hair while rinsing I wash body. Then apply conditioner to clean ends and shave pits and bits while conditioner is soaking for a couple of minutes. Literally a couple only. I'm in and out in five mins tops. My hubby is the same ( less time as he has short hair and doesn't use any shampoo etc on it)

it def saves water - our caravan shower has a button on the side to stop the water while you later up, then push again to start (so you don't turn it off, just pause it)

if you don't do this you run out of water really fast, if you're not hooked up to the mains

He does tend to harp on that I don't do this... You must find something equally tedious to harp on about. Does he peel the potatoes too wastefully? Find something.

my kids stand in the shower until the water runs cold

No i have never heard of turning the shower off mid shower to shampoo/wash. I do turn the tap off whilst brushing teeth though. My kids don't flush the loo if it is just a wee. Drives me bananas. Maybe they're making up for the long showers?

My DH does this too!
My friend goes one step further...She showers with a bucket to catch the water and then uses it to flush the toilet!

I do this: it saves water. We are on a meter.

I don't do this but I'm in and out the shower in under 2 minutes which I think is ok.

I do similar when washing up though. Turn the tap off when scrubbing things then on to rinse.

DH's dad does this. Luckily, our shower is hot within seconds but I am certain he could shower with ice water and it would be the same for him.

We try to use as little water as possible but since having kids, a shower is my favourite me-time so I do take a bit longer than is necessary.

It's weird to do it to save water but not as weird as the boyfriend I had who had to stop the shower to lather up as he was so hairy!!