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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sharing bath water

158 replies

TheseDaysGoBy · 21/03/2022 18:26

When I was a child and growing up (1990s) to save money my mum would bathe first, then my brother or I would use the water to bathe when she finished whilst it was still warm. We didn't have a shower. I know this is something families used to do years ago when people hadn't much money and there was no central heating so it took more to fill a bath with hot water. This was normal to me.

I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are on shared bath water these days, especially for those on low income, and if any of you still do it or have done to save money, especially with the current energy situation? My partner enjoys his baths and I prefer showers but with the current situation, I would like to keep an eye on our energy and water usage and don't see anything wrong with using his water after he's bathed but he would probably think the idea is gross so I haven't. He's clean and doesn't have a job which makes him dirty.

YANBU - it's fine to share bath water with my kids/partner, as long as it's still warm and not filthy
YABU - no, I wouldn't share bath water with my kids/partner

OP posts:
GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 21/03/2022 18:29

Me and my brother and sister would all share baths as kids.

I would do it with my partner now also long as he wasn't filthy, but he's a bit 'ick' about that so we don't.

AHungryCaterpillar · 21/03/2022 18:29

My mum use to make us share bath water growing up (she had 6 kids) but there’s no way I would do it myself I have 4 kids we don’t share bath water. I don’t have a shower unfortunately

ShowOfHands · 21/03/2022 18:31

People on MN get very het up about it. Human soup, other people's fluids, filth etc.

Irl, I think people still do it. They use soap and aren't utterly bogging in the first place.

JS87 · 21/03/2022 18:32

We share bath water. I go in first as I like it hot and then dS goes in after me and sometimes dh after him with a hot water top up. Personally don’t see anything wrong with it but I’m sure most people on mums et will come on to say it’s disgusting.

Whoopsies · 21/03/2022 18:33

I often leave the kids bath water in, they only have it half full, and then top it up with the hot after I've put them to bed for me!

DontWiltMySpinachPlease · 21/03/2022 18:33

DH and I do it. Have done for years. Never been an issue.

Meandthesky · 21/03/2022 18:34

Would it be more energy/water efficient for everyone to have showers? Except maybe in very big families

LizBennet · 21/03/2022 18:34

I've shared a bath before with DP, and he's also thoroughly clean.. I'd get in after him tbh 🤷🏼‍♀️

SoloSunrise · 21/03/2022 18:34

DH and I do it but I always go first. My excuse is that I'm cleaner because I have a quick shower in the morning and he doesn't. I also like it hotter!
Yes my children shared baths when they were little. When they got older they had showers.

coldfeetmama · 21/03/2022 18:34

I did this as a child

And only once a week - Sunday night , 2nd hand bath , clean best and pyjamas 😂

My 3 children would pile in together when very small but then showers took over as they grew to school age

Never did us any harm

ChocolateIsAlwaysTheAnswer · 21/03/2022 18:34

I used to know a family of 4 who did this. Personally I would not.

Clarabe1 · 21/03/2022 18:35

My DH gets in the bath after me because he says I am ‘clean’. I would take a sponge and soap to the canal and have a wash there before I would get in after him!

BanjoKnockers · 21/03/2022 18:35

I'm guessing that unlike the seventies when I grew up sharing bathwater most people nowadays take showers, in which case three people can shower in nice clean water and still use less than sharing a single bath.

Dorathedragon · 21/03/2022 18:35

I used to do it when the kids were little, just topping up their water with hot for me. Nobody baths in our house we all shower but I don’t think I would do it now anyway.

LoganberryJam · 21/03/2022 18:35

I'd have no problem with this at all, it's a good way to save money on both water and energy to heat the water.

rainyskylight · 21/03/2022 18:36

I think the kids should go first though as long as they don’t pee in there. Adults have more body fluids to wash. Little children don’t have smelly sweat. So they should go in first, shallow water. And adults come last and top up with the hot tap.

TheMarmaladeYears · 21/03/2022 18:37

DH and I always did. He'd decently take second bath. When we replaced the bathroom we put a new and functioning shower in and nowadays I rarely take a bath. It really didn't seem minging and I'm quick to judge on matters of dirt.

RubyFruitSunday · 21/03/2022 18:38

DH and I do this. He likes it scaldingly hot and then gets out when its cooled down, by which time its perfect temp for me.

We shower to get clean though and have a bath to relax, I don't think I'd hop in if he was washing himself after the gym or something!

floppybit · 21/03/2022 18:38

We grew up doing this and I still do it now! I'm so used to it that letting the water out after only one person has been in it seems so indulgent (ridiculous I know!)

SerendipitySunshine · 21/03/2022 18:38

Yes, better for the environment too.

Clarabe1 · 21/03/2022 18:39

@rainyskylight

I think the kids should go first though as long as they don’t pee in there. Adults have more body fluids to wash. Little children don’t have smelly sweat. So they should go in first, shallow water. And adults come last and top up with the hot tap.
God you are kidding aren’t you? Children are dirty little beggars Grin I once watched a kid pulling a line of snot out of his nose and playing with it in the swimming pool on holiday. I still can’t get on one to this day- nor the sea, I remember how I used to wee in it when I was little.
speakout · 21/03/2022 18:41

I dont mind sharing bath water with my OH- as long as I go in first.

I wouldn't want to wash myself with his bum juice.

DillDanding · 21/03/2022 18:42

We do this all the time. I have a bath in the evening then my husband will jump in afterwards.

If I have been to the gym, I'll have a quick shower first and we will both have had a shower in the morning anyway.

DrSbaitso · 21/03/2022 18:43

Completely understand why it might be necessary and environmentally it's a good idea, and obviously it's worked for many generations, I'm sure it gets you clean enough...

...but I really dislike the idea and wouldn't do it if I had any other option.

LizBennet · 21/03/2022 18:43

Bum Juice

You may want to have that checked with a Doctor 🧐