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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU about swimming pool rules?

99 replies

PearTree123 · 10/12/2021 20:07

Went to an Aqua Zumba class at my local leisure centre, showered as usual then walked round to the pool.
Got stopped by a staff member who refused me entry to the pool as I hadn't washed my hair in the shower and insisted I had to wash my hair for 30 seconds before being allowed in the pool.
Note: my hair was up in a bun and at no point does it go in the pool as the water only comes up to below shoulder height. Normally it stays completely dry throughout the class, as does my face. I told the staff member this but he insisted!
AIBU to be annoyed at this?! Does anyone have similar rules at their pool?

OP posts:
Heshcher · 11/12/2021 07:25

Am I the only one feeling shocked by all the scummy people who seem to want to swim around in dirty water? Surely it’s obvious why you should showers before you swim. The cleaner you are before you get in, the cleaner the water is when you get out. The pool is not your own private bath and no one wants to swim in your dirt so please shower before you get in.

OhRexy · 11/12/2021 07:30

@guiltynetter

I would have been mortified by this and in fact would have refused. Its nothing to do with him whether you've washed your hair or not 😱
I'm going to assume you haven't read the many posts explaining the reason for the rule?
Maskless · 11/12/2021 07:37

If this happened to me I would have told him firmly that my hair was not going into the pool water, so, no, I would not be rinsing it under the shower, then I would have got in the pool.

I doubt he would have done anything more.

dollbaby868 · 11/12/2021 07:38

Many pools don’t have this rule any more because its discriminatory against ethnic minorities and women for whom washing and drying hair can take the better part of a day & can put them off swimming

I was just gonna say what would have happened if you were black then? Would he have still asked you to wash your hair because that's literally impossible to do at a leisure centre. By the time you'd finish the class would be over!

hotmeatymilk · 11/12/2021 07:44

Fascinating number of people on this thread who seem willing to swim but desperate to find a loophole to avoid a quick shower. Probably takes more time to pull all the Confused faces than just scrub a dub dub.

OP, could you wear a swimming cap next time to bypass the issue?

DropYourSword · 11/12/2021 07:53

Amused to read a grown woman needs an explanation on what a shower achieves!

Briony123 · 11/12/2021 07:56

It is actually the reaction of chlorine with urea (in sweat) that causes sore/red eyes, not the actual chlorine itself. This is why you should wash before swimming, it's nothing to do with germs. It also washes any detritus off, so less likely to have bits floating around in the pool.
I don't think it's necessary to wash your hair if you aren't getting your head wet but that's just the lifeguard being too inexperienced to know how to deviate from rules.

CottonSock · 11/12/2021 08:02

This is very odd. I would not be happy to be forced to wash my hair and for no reason.

Motheroftigers · 11/12/2021 08:02

I spent many many years working at a pool, coaching swimming, lifeguarding. Yes you are supposed to shower before you get in but not a lot of people actually do.

I think this approach was excessive OP.

Getting in to the pool un showered is the least of the problems. It's the showering after a good work out in the pool that is nasty as the fat in your sweat gets stuck on to the walls which has to be scrapped off as it turns bright orange and smells like ammonia.

Ekofisk · 11/12/2021 08:13

Old style pools particularly (so where the water is below the level of the surrounding deck) and pools with poor ventilation can get a layer of chloramine gas sitting directly above the water, which irritates eyes, skin and respiratory tracts. You certainly know about it if you’re asthmatic.

So yes, you should wash thoroughly to remove the urea that reacts with the pool chemicals to create chloramines.

EBearhug · 11/12/2021 08:57

Old style pools particularly (so where the water is below the level of the surrounding deck)

I used to work in a pool like that. Our duties included getting in the water to scrub the scumline that would build up over time. I still swam in it. I still do swim a lot.

Ekofisk · 11/12/2021 09:21

EBearhug DS ended up with chloramine induced asthma from training in pools like that.

Fomofo · 11/12/2021 09:22

I do shower before swimming, however I have no problem with people who don't, its such a large body of water, it's state of cleanliness doesn't really bother me. I've done alot of swimming in pools and other over the years and have never got sick

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 11/12/2021 09:26

@Davros

I thought this was going to be about "no horseplay" "no heavy petting"
Me too - very disappointing
Original poster
PearTree123 · 11/12/2021 09:30

Also forgot to mention there was a big group of kids about to get into the pool for a lesson after my class and I mentioned it in passing to the teacher and she said they didn't have to wash their hair they'd just showered themselves iyswim? So just wondering why hair washing was enforced for me but not the kids

OP posts:
Fifthtimelucky · 11/12/2021 09:43

I go to an aqua fit class and am always amazed how some people seem to manage not to get their hair wet at all.

I go at 9am and don't shower at home beforehand. I have a quick shower at the pool before I go in (and do wet my hair) but it's not a requirement and many people don't.

For me, the best thing about a compulsory shower would be that it would get rid of the smell and taste of other people's perfumed toiletries.

JesusMaryAndJosephAndTheWeeDon · 11/12/2021 09:46

The pool I used to use at school had a rule that everyone wore swim hats, the close fitting completely waterproof rubber type. You rinsed your body in a shower on the way in and out and there was a footbath you walked through.

I hated that swim cap, it was so difficult to get on due to my massive head and big hair but actually it was a very sensible rule especially for a small private pool with tight finances.

I would happily wash my hair before swimming as it needs washing afterwards anyway but if you don't want to get a swimming hat.

PuffinShop · 11/12/2021 12:00

@randomsabreuse

In Iceland all the public pools don't have chlorine (probably reacts to the sulphur as it's geothermally heated) - there are individual shower cubicles to wash properly...
No, they do have chlorine. Just less chlorine. Most pool showers are also communal. But it is mandatory to shower properly naked before going in.

The pools are much nicer. I find it disgusting for people to get into pools without washing first.

Ekofisk · 11/12/2021 12:30

I remember having to take outdoor shoes off in the lobby area of Icelandic swimming pools - the changing room floors were so much cleaner (shudders at the memory of Summerhill pool changing room floors Envy boak).

Kanaloa · 11/12/2021 13:51

@dollbaby868

Many pools don’t have this rule any more because its discriminatory against ethnic minorities and women for whom washing and drying hair can take the better part of a day & can put them off swimming

I was just gonna say what would have happened if you were black then? Would he have still asked you to wash your hair because that's literally impossible to do at a leisure centre. By the time you'd finish the class would be over!

My daughter has very long and tight curly hair, quite coarse, which we couldn’t wash in the shower at the leisure centre. She wears a cap.

You can get special caps which are bigger and a different shape that fit Afro type hair, or even if you just have lots of hair you could use one of these caps.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 11/12/2021 13:54

@Fomofo

I think showering before going swimming is odd anyway
You should always shower before swimming. Its really disgusting not to
kistanbul · 11/12/2021 14:00

In Iceland, public pools require you to wash naked with soap before getting in the pool. There are people watching to check you wash EVERYTHING properly. Not as strict in tourist places.

I wish we wish that strict here.

lljkk · 11/12/2021 14:23

Icelanders supervise adults washing their bits? Serious Ick factor in this picture.

Movinghouseatlast · 11/12/2021 14:30

Residue from body lotions, fake tan and hair products block up the filters and also cause the side of the pool to be very greasy no matter how many chemicals are used. Obviously it is the accumulation of all these things from hundreds of people.

I washed out the filter of my hot tub in my holiday let the other day. It was absolutely revolting. I ask people to shower before they use it, and the water is changed after every guest but the filter holds on to all the gunk!

PuffinShop · 11/12/2021 14:40

@lljkk

Icelanders supervise adults washing their bits? Serious Ick factor in this picture.
There's usually an attendant in the changing rooms, yes. Just a member of staff who cleans up, supervises, makes sure lone children are OK, someone you can ask if you need help with anything, yes.

They don't stare at you showering, but if you obviously don't shower you might get stopped, yes. Just as likely to be stopped by another member of the public rather than staff, though.