AIBU to ask if you shower before swimming....

[jewel1968]

I have been having a conversation with someone in the Local Authority about cleanliness in swimming pools and the number of people who don't shower before swimming. Even a shower without soap can remove significant quantities of dirt and grime which means less chemicals are needed in pool water.

We talked about the challenges in trying to nudge people to shower and I promised to explore this with virtual friends. So a few questions:

• do you shower before swimming?
• if you don't can you share why?
• what would persuade you to shower before swimming?
• how would you react if the pool staff told you to shower?
• how effective do you think posters are in communicating the need for showers?

Any other thoughts welcome.....

Yes I do because my daughter works at a local pool and in the summer they had major issues with cloudiness in the pool due to people not showering and the sunscreen then coming off in the pool. The cloudiness obscured the underwater cameras so the lifeguards job became a lot harder. Therefore in my opinion it is also a safety issue not just a cleanliness one!

I shower before I swim. I was told this helps regulating your body temp so you avoid a heart attack.
This advice seems to be less relevant in UK pools as they are normally heated.

Yes I do shower before swimming. It's a fairly new pool and its hard to get to the poolside without seeing the showers and the signs requesting you to shower. However, it's only a rinse off. It doesn't clear out all the nooks and crannies. I'm always clean but I guess not everyone is.

It's the make up that gets me. Why do people wear make up swimming? It's really grim.

I do. The warm changing room makes me clammy

I dont shower at the pool but have usually very recently showered at home. Almost no one at my pool showers first and although there are signs about it none of the staff seem to care.

Yes i do but only after I learnt why it's important. I think the signs in pools need to explain that chlorine reacts with bodily fluids and create toxic byproducts. If I had known this I would have showered!

I shower at home in the morning before swimming and have a quick rinse under the shower (without soap) once I am at the pool

Yes before and after swimming. It always make me feel a bit grim when I see people who just enter the pool without a quick shower 🤢

Being totally honest, at our old pool, everyone showered so it was the cultural norm.
At the new pool (very old school rec) I've yet to see anyone shower before getting in, which discourages everyone.

I think it's v important for kids to be asked to shower before school lessons - it would be a normal part of the routine then.

Things which would encourage me:
If showers we're clean and warm.
If you were walked through/past the shower area on entering the pool.
Towel hooks to make it super easy (no hooks at my pool ffs!)
My children telling me off for not showering (see above).

Posters - ineffective. Lots of people don't sight read, different languages, poster blindness, being busy coralling kids.

I'd be if asked to shower by a pool assistant, but I'd definitely remember to do it next time.

HTH

Yes I do, as long as the showers are accessible, i.e. next to the pool or you need to walk through the shower area to get to the pool. I think along with posters telling people to shower before swimming, it would feel awkward not to do so.

Sorry to jump in but iamaswashbuckler there are underwater cameras?! I always adjust my swimwear under the water if they move into an awkward position. I thought doing it under the water was more discreet but am I actually doing it in front of cameras

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. No because I can’t be bothered to be honest. However, I’m more likely to if the reasons why I’m showering are explained, ie less chemicals, cloudiness of pool. It’s bloody obvious to be honest, but sometimes you need to spelt out

To be fair I try not to think too much about the pool water

I have a non walking baby with me. If we are just going for a regular swim, I rinse us both a bit in the shower before we hop in. I have DS in my arms so I’m probably not doing a great job but at least getting the fluff off our feet.

If I have a lesson, then I skip the shower as I have to sit around waiting a bit and I don’t want the baby to get cold. I suppose if there were poolside showers I could use directly before we get in the water, this would be an option.

If the pool staff asked me to shower in a reasonable and polite manner I would apologise and take a shower.

I think posters about showers are good reminders, as long as there isnt a large number of signs everywhere about everything, as you can then become a bit blind to them all.

@queenofelves I am not sure if all pools have them but they are only there for safety reasons I am pretty sure nobody would notice you adjusting yourself (I do that too )

Never used to, no-one did at our pool. Reasons why not - mainly the cold walk from shower to pool. In theory I could put my towel round me but in practice I'd be saving my towel and keeping it dry for the cold walk back to the changing room after swimming.

I'd be more likely to if there were a hot shower at the poolside, so that you could put your towel on the bench, walk back a few steps to the shower, and then straight in to the pool.

I do. I shower properly at home (so full hair and body wash, hair removal etc) and then a quick courtesy rinse shower when I get there before getting in the pool.

I also cannot go to the gym without a proper shower first. I can't be that person who rolls out of bed without showering and then go and get sweaty up close and personal with others. I have no issue getting up and going straight out for a run/cycle solo but it definitely seems just common courtesy to be clean before mixing with others!

Yesss but mainly just as I find if my hair and skin is already saturated with water they get less chloriney. However, there are 2 showers at the local pool and they are usually always in use, so I can see why people can’t be arsed to wait around both before and after swimming to use them.

I don't go swimming anymore because I dread to think about what is in the water. I remember sitting by the side a few years ago and feeling how grimy the side of the pool was, it has put me off ever since.

I always do, and make sure my 6yo does too (baby is in arms so no choice!). I think it's about 50-50 at our pool with whether other swimmers shower and I've never seen the staff prompting people to even though they are RIGHT THERE by the pool with signage etc.

I would like staff to politely remind people to shower - for most I imagine it's simply about not having formed that habit.

I do find it best not to think too closely about the water though. [not envy]

I always do but I have noticed that not many people seem wet before getting in. The pool can be particularly cloudy at the end of Saturday or Sunday when there have been a lot of children swimming (disgusting). I think a shower right by the pool where everyone can see if some has showered would help as there would be more "peer pressure".

Thanks everyone. I will collate these and share with him. I suspect he will find it invaluable. I started showering as a kid as it made it easier to get in to the pool if I was already wet if that makes sense.

I shower before I enter the pool because I always thought its more hygienic for everyone else in the pool.

I am also mega crazy I tend to shower before I have a bath and after a bath too. I can't shake that off my partner thinks am weird but oh well

This looks like research to me...

Rather than just an ‘I was casually chatting’