Reusing bathwater

[Westside1]

Just read on a money saving post how family of 4 reuse same bathwater each night, saving a fortune in the process.

6 & 3 year old gets bathed first, then mum heats it up for her bath and finally dad (as he is the dirtiest or so they say) adds hot water and has a scrub.

Omg, AIBU or is the the most gross thing ever.

Grim. Bottoms and private parts, no thanks!

DD & I share Bath water & she’s now 13. One of us goes first, then too it up for the second. Not often but probably a couple of times a week.

We always did this when I was a kid, us kids first (both in together), then mum then dad. Wasn't unusual in the 70s and 80s when I was growing up. I often shared a bath with my DC when they were toddlers and will often get in my youngest's bath water with a quick top up of hot water.

We do this, not every night, but a couple of nights a week. None of us are filthy so the water is pretty clean. The order is me, DS, ExDH, sometimes the dog.

Eek no. Used to put the two babies in it together when they were little but not since they were about 6 and 8. No way would one of them get in the other's bath water now anyway! They prefer a power shower now, which they do every day but they're very good about not spending too long in there.

We did something like this in my family as a child in the 1970s. We didn't have a shower . In the house my dad grew up in they had no hot water on tap , a toilet at the bottom of the garden and a tin bath in front of the fire !

It's where the phrase "don't throw baby out with the bath water" came from isn't it? The water was so dirty by the time baby had a bath you couldn't see it for the muck.
Do correct me if I'm wrong though!

We all shared when I was a child and I didn't think anything of it. My younger children will often jump into the bath together now but my 7 and 8 year olds insist on the bath being emptied and refilled. My husband would recoil in horror if I suggested he used the same water after all the children.

@HPD76

We do this, not every night, but a couple of nights a week. None of us are filthy so the water is pretty clean. The order is me, DS, ExDH, sometimes the dog.

Curious why your ex husband is sharing your bath water ?!

We used to do this when we were younger. My dad would jump in after me or my sister and as we were generally clean and just freshening up but was a farmer and would be filthy so he's get in last. I wouldn't these days.

When I was a child this was common practice.

I remember when I was first married we lived next door to a family who were very poor.
They had a bath on a Saturday . Father first as he was the breadwinner, and then the children one by one (3 of them) and then the mother. After that she threw the washing in.
Their washing always looked grey.
When my grandson has his nightly bath I always look at the water and think it's a shame as the water is never dirty. I have been known to bath the dogs in it, and on odd occasions I have added washing powder and more water and washed rugs in it.

My family used to do this in 80s.... not sure if all 4 of us used it but if someone had a bath you'd definitely 'leave the water in'
Just realised i haven't used that phrase for years

Is it really that bad even in this day and age?

My DCs share bath water, and sometimes baths, all the time. If it looked gross after one of them had been in, they’d get fresh water but they generally wash every day so it’s ok.

Didn’t realise this had fallen so far out of fashion.

This happened all the time in the 40 and 50's era, obviously nobody cares about that now, but it never harmed or alarmed anyone, as lots of people had no way of being able to keep heating water up then.

It used to be commonplace to use the same water for the whole family as no instant hot water systems in your average home.

I hated it when I was told to use "your sister's water" but had to do as I was told. I jumped at the chance of being "first in" so the water was clean and clear. I think if I had been told to use my brother's bathwater I would have left home before I reached the age of 10! Ha!

During a hot dry spell in the summer months I have been known to use the bathwater on the garden.

We used to do it. Dad was always last, though - as a farmer, he usually needed a good scrub compared with those of us who had just been sitting at a school desk and then doing homework and reading.

Yeah we do this regularly, I don't see the issue.

@BeaMends

During a hot dry spell in the summer months I have been known to use the bathwater on the garden.

Me too !

Haha we didn't even have a bathroom until I was about 8!

Tin bath in the kitchen. 6 children. So smallest 3 first, oldest 3 next then dad. Topped up each time with huge pans of boiling water. Mum had a bath once a week. In between times we 'strip washed' in the kitchen sink.

My two always shared a bath by choice until they discovered showering.

For goodness sake all you squeamish folk, it is family you are talking about. Most people shower or bathe daily so they won't be too scummy.
Don't any of you share water with strangers by swimming?

Just hopping on to agree that yes, this was common practice when I was growing up in the 1970’s/80’s. My family did it until we got a shower installed.

I’m glad I don’t have to do it now, but we had to talk to our teens last winter about the water bill as it’s was getting out of hand. Showers do NOT need to be 20-plus minutes and the bath doesn’t need to be almost full when you fancy a soak.😂

• it was

And don't forget people that once the bath was run, the hot water tank was cold so that's why we all shared the bath water !

There were four of us all bathed together and I always, always got the taps :(

Pretty normal when I was little in the 80's.

Our kids prefer showers but I'll get in before or after my partner. Seems a bit hypocritical that we do sex related stuff with no issue but are then grossed out by some bath water.

How filthy are you all that the water is too gross afterwards?!