WIBU to shower after swimming?

[StarchyStanley]

The showers are open. The pool is limited numbers and the showers are too. They are closing cubicles and only every other one is open.

I'm taking dc1 swimming tomorrow and I want us to shower and wash hair after, like we normally do, or did pre-covid. It's a naice gym and swimming pool place btw, and never that busy. No we wouldn't wash our hair if there was a big queue for showers, before anyone jumps up and down about that.

Anyway, my dad (doctor) says all his colleagues are choosing not to shower after their gym and swim, (in another location), due to covid. I read in Metro or somewhere that you actually should be showering.

I'm confused! Would you? Do you? I'm tempted to, even if it's just when I go with dc tbh, as then we can walk home instead of bundling out to the car covered in chlorine.

YABU = don't shower after swimming
YANBU = shower after swimming

I have a waterproof changing robe so stick that on after swim and drive home to shower. It’s 5 minutes away and quick. Impossible to social distance in changing rooms - too small.

Tbf to him, covid and infectious diseases aren't really his field.

But still, I do take umbridge at the advice not to shower when (a) I'll get thrush, (b) it's grim and smelly, (c) he clearly has no good reason to recommend this to me, except that some of his registrars won't shower at the pool, (d) the showers are open, regularly cleaned and people are using them and (e) ok, maybe there is no e, but a - d are enough.

I've got two competitive swimmers at different clubs. One is allowed to get changed after training, the other has to come home in her cossie. Neither are allowed showers - it would have to be arranged with the Covid officer at one club to make separate arrangements.
Fortunately the one that has to come hoe in a cossie is only 5mins drive home away.

I always shower at home. I find gym showers, even the nicer private gyms, gross. I would rinse if necessary but otherwise I shower at home and put new clean clothes on.

I’ve been swimming at our local pool and not showering because it’s an open space and we’ve been asked not to. I’m ok with that but now my more local pool has opened and said that we must not go back into the changing rooms after swimming, so go home wet! I don’t understand how I’m meant to do that really. Seems very strange.

I don't care about showers (not available anyway) but I wish changing cubicles were open.

@StarchyStanley

Our hairdryers have been removed, so there won't be any of that either.

So have ours ... didn't stop one clever clogs from bringing her own though ! She was told off 😷

Ugh what's wrong with people? It's obvious why they removed them! If people bring their own hairdryers in then they will just close the changing rooms and we will all have to shuffle out of the pool in our towels, feeling like swamp creatures...or maybe that's just me .

I’ve been showering and washing hair at my gym after swimming since they opened in July. It’s fine. It’s nearly always empty anyway.

For what it's worth, I could shower after a swim at my pool (but the hairdryers are out of action) but I come straight out and shower at home. Not sure what's "grim" about waiting until I get home?

However, I've seen other people going off to get showered afterwards.

Do what suits you within the context of what's allowed at your pool.

From UK.gov

"All venues should encourage attendees to arrive at the facility in sports kit and where possible to travel home to change/shower. Use of changing rooms and showering facilities should in general be avoided where possible, although these must be available for participants with disabilities or special needs and are likely to be needed after swimming."

My understanding is that they need to minimise the amount of time people are in the venue and using stuff.

Our pool asks us to arrive with our swimsuit underneath, has every other cubicle and row of lockers out of use (to more easily enable distancing and reduce amount of cleaning between users), and has taped off the showers.

I feel safe and distanced and really enjoy my swim.

@cologne4711

For what it's worth, I could shower after a swim at my pool (but the hairdryers are out of action) but I come straight out and shower at home. Not sure what's "grim" about waiting until I get home?

However, I've seen other people going off to get showered afterwards.

Do what suits you within the context of what's allowed at your pool.

Oh don't get me wrong, I don't judge or particularly care what other people do. But, I felt just gross without a shower. So much so that if I couldn't shower, I actually don't think I'd go back. It's the thought of what's in the pool I think. But I'm sure that's all in my head, as the chlorine kills off quite a lot. Except that bacterial skin thing which is chlorine resistant.

Smelly it is, because of the chlorine. Also, a little itchy.

And just in case....it also says "People should NOT wear masks/coverings when swimming, as these may reduce the ability to breathe comfortably."

@TheOrigBrave

From UK.gov

"All venues should encourage attendees to arrive at the facility in sports kit and where possible to travel home to change/shower. Use of changing rooms and showering facilities should in general be avoided where possible, although these must be available for participants with disabilities or special needs and are likely to be needed after swimming."

My understanding is that they need to minimise the amount of time people are in the venue and using stuff.

Our pool asks us to arrive with our swimsuit underneath, has every other cubicle and row of lockers out of use (to more easily enable distancing and reduce amount of cleaning between users), and has taped off the showers.

I feel safe and distanced and really enjoy my swim.

Our showers are open. Approx one in five lockers in use, because there are usually loads; enough for people using the gym and doing classes as well, but at the moment, the changing facilities are for swimmers only, so they can close off a lot.

There is a disabled shower in a separate area, but both areas are open and were being used today.

I really enjoyed my swim and also felt safe, but, for me personally, I'd skip it rather than go home soaked in swimming pool water again.

@TheOrigBrave

And just in case....it also says "People should NOT wear masks/coverings when swimming, as these may reduce the ability to breathe comfortably."

What?! Well, I've been doing it all wrong then .

I really think, on balance, that the fact that the changing area is built to accommodate a lot of people, but, at the moment, should never have more than six people in the ladies and one family in the family change at any one time, the regular cleaning, closing off of half the shower cubicles etc, also the fact that we live somewhere with low case numbers (half the average in england), means it will be ok to shower tomorrow. I honestly think good hygiene is preferable to speeding through the changing rooms when so few people are actually in there.

I will keep an open mind if we go again, but if it's as quiet as I expect tomorrow, I'm having a shower. Not a long one.

Bloody covid though. I mean, it has made every small decision into such an ordeal! Lockdown was better in terms of decision making fatigue, as there was no other option but to stay at home! Not that I want another lockdown, but you know.

At my local leisure centre the showers are open as normal and after a swim I shower properly (and wash hair) before getting dressed. I would hate getting dressed without being able to shower properly.

On the other hand the changing room for the gym is not open at all so when I attend an exercise class I have to go home all sweaty.

@Fifthtimelucky

At my local leisure centre the showers are open as normal and after a swim I shower properly (and wash hair) before getting dressed. I would hate getting dressed without being able to shower properly.

On the other hand the changing room for the gym is not open at all so when I attend an exercise class I have to go home all sweaty.

Yes, same! I've been doing classes and going straight home. For some reason my own sweat is preferable to pool water . Also, there is no other option and I'm never so sweaty that I'm still soaked when I'm in the car and I don't stink...well, not as strong a smell as chlorine...I think. I shower when I get home and put clothes straight in the wash etc.

I work at a leisure centre the purpose is to limit the number of people at the venue at anyone time. So a quick shower if they are open and go not washing hair and etc, the cucibles been shut is to reduce traffic and reduce the number of surfaces touched.

Its not much of a chore to just shower when you get home, i do regularly as a swimming teacher.

I feel safe and distanced

It's funny... we all have a different idea about that word "safe"

I feel like I'm going to get yelled at for doing the wrong thing.
Or maybe just make someone feel unhappy that I said 'hello'.
There is big headache remembering the rules.
I have to keep tight schedule to be in my slot and get my time.
I know that I'm going to have to travel home wet.
Which will mean wet and cold in winter.
Unless I change by side of pool (most are)... which means I am unsafe against risk of flashing or being leered at.

"Safe" is not a word I can associate with a single coronavirus control measure.

I swim at a local authority pool.
Rules are you shower before you go, have costume on ready, strip off at side of pool and place clothes, towel etc in basket already laid out for you.
After swim you rinse off in the communal showers if you want - no soap or shampoo allowed, then collect clothes from pool side and get changed in cubicle.
There is no way the rules can be ignored the system is strictly policed!

Thanks @AllsortsofAwkward.

Re washing hair, that surely isn't to reduce traffic, unless you stay longer and therefore add to the number of people in the changing room at once...so, surely if we get out of the pool earlier (we have an allocated slot) and get in the shower, then it won't make any difference whether we wash our hair or not?

@AllsortsofAwkward

Its not much of a chore to just shower when you get home, i do regularly as a swimming teacher.

Not to you it isn't. To me it's fucking disgusting. But I appreciate we are all different, so maybe you could offer me the same consideration .

I thought the showering had stopped because they dont want people hanging around and also need for extra touch point cleaning (door handles, shower tsps/buttons) also difficult to social distance in open showers and corridors near cubicles...

If your centre is open and allowing showers then I assume the have a plan for all of that ...and i would shower...

its probably the reason no public pools are open near us! And our gym is no showers as they don't want people hanging around/corridor narrow