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?

We do it. Makes my teeth itch that DCs don't!

Another one here who doesn't get the "what difference does it make?" people. When I first moved to south east Queensland 11 years ago the region was in drought with significant water restrictions. A widespread regional effort of a population of more than 7 million people managed to cut and keep average daily litre use down enough to prevent restrictions from progressing to more severe and then being relaxed. Everyone did their bit and it made a significant difference. I've kept those habits: short showers but not as short as they could be, not flushing every single time with wee which seems to horrify MN for no reason and short bursts for teeth.

Oh and we do have endless energy, or as close to for several billion years - the Sun. We just aren't as efficient at utilising it as we should be. We have solar hot water on our roof which is a start. It's feasible in Australia to have solar panels and a Tesla battery and use no energy from the grid. Only problem is the initial cost that currently would take several years to recoup. I genuinely think in our lifetime that we will see battery storage become the norm. Only thing stopping it now is lobbying from those with a financial interest in coal.

Water is a precious resource that many don't value don't get me started on bottled water while millions of children die of diarrhoea every year.

I do this too, and my water bill dropped!

Doesn't he stand in a washing up bowl to shower so that the water can be used in the garden? Obviously not in the UK in the winter.

Lather up?

Do people stand there like a snowman with suds all over them rubbing the raw soap into their poor skin? Ouch?

My skin would fall off if I did this. It's too dry for this carry on. I soap underarms and bits and feet. The rest gets washed in water.

I'm confused

I use sanex with one of those shower puffs but yeah

I've done that for years as does DP, the children don't and use about 4x the amount of shower gel/shampoo/conditioner. It just makes sense to me as I realised I used to "step out" of the jet to put all that gel stuff on anyway before rinsing it off

We get enough rain not to fear a water shortage most of the year. All water is recycled, it never 'disappears'.

"I soap underarms and bits and feet."

I've always read that you shouldn't put soap on your vulva. I soap the rest of my body with a moisturising shower gel and then put body lotion on after the shower.

Gwen outside is ok ,inside isn't

You can use those vaginas washes too

For the person asking whether or not people still have hot water tanks - yes they do and they aren't just an ageing relic some are brand new. Combi (instant) boilers aren't always the most appropriate choice and on larger systems or some non mains systems they simply aren't a choice as they don't work. We have a brand new boiler and pressurised tank because our system was too big for a combi to work effectively. With the right controls they can be efficient too.

Big water saving things at home - ensuring you have low flush/dual flush toilets or retrofit a 'hippo' in the tank.
No leaks in your system & report leaks you see when out to water company
Water saving tap fittings can aerate the supply to maintain pressure but reduce flow
Make sure you have efficient appliances and don't run them until they are full.
Use waste grey (washing up/washing water unlike 'black' water which is contaminated water/sewage ) water on the garden also have a rainwater butt for watering.
Don't put unsuitable things (anything that isn't pee, poo or paper) down the loo as blocked pipes require lots of water (& time & money) to unblock.
Most water companies have lots of advice & tips on their websites and many have links to devices that can help

I do this because showering the usual way I find it annoying having to either keep getting more shower gel, or having to avoid the flow of water so the shower gel doesn't all just get washed straight down the plughole.

So popping the flow off for a minute just seems a no brainer.
Resources aside, I just prefer it.

You don't have to step that far out of the water. The shower head is usually at an angle so you can stand so your armpits are above it. Stick one arm out at a time to do it. Same with legs (though I don't tend to directly soap legs), face away/into the water to do back and front, done. It doesn't take long at all and as the rest of my body is still in the shower I enjoy the massage from the warm water. It would also take me much longer to shower if I had to keep turning it on and off because it would run hot and cold.

Yes prob saves water but personally I shove the soap and shampoo on vv quickly and keep the shower running as we have a noisy pump that sounds like it's straining when going on or off so I don't think stop/starting it is good. I just put the shower on, do everything quickly.

I do this but my shower is the right temperature almost instantly. Although lately I've started to take cold showers instead, its a lot nicer than it sounds! OH only ever showers on the coldest setting now.

Standard practice in Australia. Water is precious and we've been taught since children not to waste it.
I don't think I could now even if it wasn't a scarce resource.

I am living in a Southern African country suffering a drought right now and we have to do this, plus have a bucket in the shower to catch any water which we use to either flush the toilet or put on the garden. As well as many other changes and restrictions in place.

Hmm, thats a questionable one Everyoneafter3, I say you let him stick to his ways if it's saving money, I know my ex-husband had his strange habit but accepting them is just part of the relationship!
Message me for any advice, Sweetie xo

I can do a 100 second shower.82 seconds if in a rush from on to out. Hair wash, leg and pit shave, clean all over. The legacy of 3 under 4.

It's a good idea but, frankly life's too short.

It could be worse, he could be using a single cup of water like a desert rat.

I'm on a water meter & have tried it, but it's just too cold & a lot of faff, I do it with my hair before I get in the shower when I poo & condition.

happypoobum, I feel the same, although we could collect rainwater & wash them in that.

I do it in the caravan where I have a small tank of water which I need to refill.

No way could I be arsed doing it at home.

I've always done this. It's like turning the tap off while you brush your teeth. It just seems wasteful to be pouring clean water down the drain when you're not using it.

I do this. Not quite understanding why you wouldn't.
I wet hair and body, then switch off.
Lather hair then rinse and switch off.
Condition hair, and while conditioner on, wash body, then rinse off hair and body.
Thats it.
Shower comes on at the same temperature it was when I turned the water off 30 seconds previously.
Surely a waste of water to keep it running - didn't realise so many people did that!