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AIBU?

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Original poster

Shaver outlet in bathroom

73 replies

Bibbitybobbityboo86 · 22/02/2022 06:30

We’ve just moved into a new house and my husband is finding it bizarre that there’s no shaver outlet in any of the bathrooms.
I told him it’s not that common to have one and he’s saying all bathrooms have them. He now wants to pay an electrician to have one installed- I think it’s a waste of money.

I know this is a bit random- but any of you have one of these in your bathroom?

Are they standard expectations in a bathroom?

OP posts:

newname12345 · 22/02/2022 07:34

All our bathrooms had shaver sockets, though I admit I've removed the one in the downstairs cloakroom.

Just replacing our main bathroom now and we will be putting in a mirror (or cabinet) with led lighting, anti-mist, shaver socket and possibly bluetooth audio. Would having something like this not seem like a waste of money (though obvious it would cost more...)?

NumberTheory · 22/02/2022 07:38

Octomore
Peas252

Shaver outlets are designed to power shavers. Plugging in anything else can damage the outlet, device or both.

That's nonsense. Plenty of appliances are designed to be plugged into that kind of socket to charge up.

My electric toothbrush and epilator for a start.

Shaver sockets aren't all suitable for electric toothbrushes (or even rechargeable shavers). There are two types you can get, intermittent use and continuous use. Intermittent use are the most common shaver sockets and are not designed to be used with rechargeable toothbrushes/shavers etc. Over time they will overheat and fail, but it may be a long time! More modern ones are often rated for continuous use and are okay for rechargable shavers, toothbrushes, etc.

girlmom21 · 22/02/2022 07:38

We have one in our bathroom. We had it renovated about 5 years ago. The company designed the bathroom and we added whatever we wanted. We have a shaving port (added by them, not us).

We're buying a house with multiple bathrooms and the en suite has one but I didn't spot one in the master bathroom, interestingly. Judging by design all bathrooms were installed at the same time.

Missey85 · 22/02/2022 07:38

I have normal power points that work on anything I wouldn't even know what a shaver one looks like

Monty27 · 22/02/2022 07:38

They'll be putting phone chargers in them next if it hasn't already happened.
I can't imagine a new build not having a shaver\toothbrush charger
I imagine it would be standard

Sausagedogsarethebest · 22/02/2022 07:40

My husband put a shaver outlet in our bathroom when we moved into our house in 1995 and had the bathroom remodelled. He never connected it to the mains though (he's an electrician by trade!) so it never got used. It was only one of the things he was spectacularly useless at.

Purplewithred · 22/02/2022 07:44

I think of them as electric toothbrush chargers and not having one would be a dealbreaker for me.

Peas252 · 22/02/2022 07:44

*That's nonsense. Plenty of appliances are designed to be plugged into that kind of socket to charge up.

My electric toothbrush and epilator for a start*

I suppose your 20 years of working in electrical installation has led you to that conclusion?

I've seen the result of shaver sockets used to charge toothbrushes. They become brittle and burned out inside.

newname12345 · 22/02/2022 07:45

@Monty27

They'll be putting phone chargers in them next if it hasn't already happened. I can't imagine a new build not having a shaver\toothbrush charger I imagine it would be standard

Just checked and it has already happened. Mirrors/cupboards are available with USB sockets and even wireless phone charger mats.

HoldingTheDoor · 22/02/2022 07:45

I can't imagine a new build not having a shaver\toothbrush charger

I have a 7 year old new build. There's no outlet here and there weren't any in the new homes, by two other builders that we also looked at.

ClariceQuiff · 22/02/2022 07:47

None in my house. I use an adaptor to charge my electric toothbrush in my bedroom using a normal socket. DH shaves with a razor blade so has never needed one in the bathroom.

Brefugee · 22/02/2022 07:59

Same here in Spain, normal plugs in the bathroom. Would do my head in to have no plug in the bathroom.

same in Germany. It is very convenient

TheVanguardSix · 22/02/2022 08:06

We have one and use it to charge our electric toothbrush.
Edwardian house.
Previous owners installed outlet.

bigbluebus · 22/02/2022 08:08

Our house was built in 1992 and had one as standard in the main bathroom. The one in the ensuite was part of the light above the mirror (also put in by builders).
We have since had bathroom redone and have put another shaver socket in plus there is one in the bathroom cabinet which is wired in.

suzyscat · 22/02/2022 08:14

I was surprised not to have one in our bathroom (Victorian house) as we always had them growing up (Victorian & Georgian houses.) I bought a plug and charge tooth brushes in another room. It was a pain for my old dental irrigator (water flosser) as I'd have to plug it in with an adapter in the kitchen and use it over the kitchen sink.

I'd like one but whether to install one or not kind of depends how flush you are and how much you use it.

girlmom21 · 22/02/2022 08:15

@Brefugee

Same here in Spain, normal plugs in the bathroom. Would do my head in to have no plug in the bathroom.

same in Germany. It is very convenient

Don't they not to them in the UK because of the whole mixing water and electricity thing with steam/condensation etc?

TheBeesKnee · 22/02/2022 08:21

@newname12345

All our bathrooms had shaver sockets, though I admit I've removed the one in the downstairs cloakroom.

Ooh I have one of these! Long debate about the Bluetooth but ended up not getting that as we have a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. But the cabinet is wonderful!

Madcats · 22/02/2022 08:21

Our house must have been an HMO at some point, so each bedroom has a basin. Each has a light above the mirror with an integral shaving socket.

The bathrooms also have shaving sockets.

BurntO · 22/02/2022 08:23

Never lived someone with on or noticed them in friends homes. I only see them in hotels.

Seashor · 22/02/2022 08:29

I have them in both bathrooms and the en-suite and they are all used. Another one of those things that you don’t think about until you don’t have one.
We have a very fancy pants mirror in the en-suite with lights, Bluetooth and an electric point within it. Maybe that could be an option for you.

Madcats · 22/02/2022 08:30

I'm glad i stumbled on this thread. One of our heated mirrors is looking a bit manky around the edges where the backing for the frosted 'frame' is deteriorating (well out of warranty). I had no idea that they did heated mirror cabinets!

Lulu1919 · 22/02/2022 08:38

We had one fitted in the cupboard the the sink sits in ...so not on the wall ...good for charging toothbrush and shaver .

tintodeverano2 · 22/02/2022 08:40

Yes, but only as the unit we have has one installed already. It's handy for charging the toothbrush. But that's about it!

ChoiceMummy · 22/02/2022 08:47

We have one that was already installed when we moved in. You quite often get them inbuilt into mirror lights. Does he use an electric shaver?

OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea · 22/02/2022 08:50

It isn't common really is it. We did our house up from scratch about 5 years ago so came upon that question. We didn't put one in our ensuite but I did make sure we put one in the main bathroom. Dh didn't see the point but I pointed out we had 3dc growing up and what of one of them favoured an electric razor!

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