Sharing bath water

[TheseDaysGoBy]

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

Every morning I go in after my sons who are pretty clean tbh. Saves cash, and time. Once they get older and dirtier, nah.

DH and I generally share the bath water at the weekends. He's too dirty in the week and tends to shower. We're not fussed who goes in first. It's a good way to save water and we're on a meter in the most expensive water area in the country so makes sense really.

Me and husband share, I go first though 😀

We shared a bath when I was a child.
One bath a week, on a Sunday evening.My older sister went first, me second, mother third and dad last. Kettles of water were brought up to keep the water warm.
During the week it was a daily strip wash in cold water.

My kids will have my bath water after me now, it's too hot for them to share with me but by the time I've wallowed for an hour it's perfect for them. I don't do anything where I get particularly mucky (if I do I'd have a shower instead) they're 7 & 8 and don't mind it.

I then use the water after for the house plants too.

In the late 80s and early 90s I would use my mum's bath water too.

Yuck! No thanks!

@Papayamya

We used to share a bath and then my parents would jump in afterwards- we then upgraded one of those shower things that attaches to the taps (if you know you know!). I'd do it if I had to but don't think it's aspirational to revert to stuff like that.

Oh yes the rubber tap hose for a feeble "shower" that never quite got all the suds out of your hair. I remember it well! The rubber used to rot and you'd get little leaks of boiling hot water from one side

I couldn't imagine doing this altho my DM did bathe in our water after we had been in it. She would add new hot water to it but she didn't mind. I couldn't imagine doing this with anyone, I've seen the scum floating on top of the water when I was a kid and even after some adults have bathed.

My kids are doing this tonight! They usually have a shower each but DD wanted a bath so DS said he’ll get in after her. She’s not dirty and is mostly just playing with bubbles anyway so by the time he tops it up with a bit of hot water it’ll be fine. And I suspect uses less water than the loooog shower they like too!

I like a hot bath and DHs then gets in afterwards. Nothing to do with income. It’s better for the environment and convenient

@SoloSunrise

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.

Same here. You could boil lobsters in my bathwater. DH occasionally uses it after me. Usually in winter when you have a cold and are shivery and can’t warm up rather than to get clean as he’ll have had a shower in the morning (me too).

My DSs used to share, then slowly it turned into one after another. They still use each other's water and are 7 and 9 now. If they want fresh water they can have a shower but I'm not running a whole new bath every night!

When mine were little I’d put the plug in while they showered, then I’d get in their water. They were not allowed to wee !

As kids me and my two siblings would all go in the bath together and play etc, then just a quick rinse before getting out. As an adult I would never, especially not get in to someones luke warm half clean water. I don’t like baths though, and haven’t had one for at least 25 years.

We do for almost every bath.
I bathe with the baby, then dh gets in after.
We've always done it. We don't have to financially but it's better for the environment.
I wouldn't get in after him, though! He has a manual job and I don't.

We have been w/o a shower for a while (new one this week...yay!).
I don't enjoy having a bath, but if I do then it has to be hot enough to remove a layer of skin and as deep as the overflow.

I just can't let all that water go to waste when DS needs a bath too, so he gets in after me. If he's first then I'll top up with hot water.

Sometimes we don't share if say one of us is really muddy (football - him, running - me). I always rinse off with a cup and the running tap before I get out, regardless of if anyone's been in before me, just to get my long, thick hair really clean.

I am not in any financial difficulties. I think lots of showers these days use enough water to fill a bath anyway, so many people are kidding themselves if they think showers are using less water.

We get showers each morning, but with baths It's not something we do as a rule however if I want a bath and DP wants a bath on the same evening then I will get one first , I like it so I turn red and then when I get out, DP empties half of it and fills it up with cold water , then sometimes DS will jump in with him ... I see nothing wrong with it

I hate baths at the best of times (can't actually remember when I last had one) so sharing bath water is very unappealing.

Not gross at all. My DH likes his bath red hot, so sometimes I’d jump in after. It’s not just about saving money it’s being environmentally conscious too. No more gross than going in a public swimming bath

I will add baths are more for relaxing then cleaning, apart from DS (which is why he gets in last)

@Meandthesky

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

I think that’s a myth nowadays, what with power showers / mains pressure water cylinders and or combi boilers. The flow rate on a reasonable shower is around 13 to 15 litres a minute, so an 8 minute shower is 100 to 150 litres. A modern bath takes 150 to 200 litres to fill (mind you, they are much smaller than they used to be in the interests of water efficiency). A long shower probably uses more water than a bath at times.

Used to as a child, also used to as a student when me and now husband lived together. Not done it since but yea would definitely consider it going forward as a money saving measure. I have a bath larva hot so it is always plenty hot enough after I get out, just have to avoid shaving my legs!

Op I could have written your opening post. I also grew up in the 90s and mum would always save the bathwater for sibling and I. I honestly don't see anything wrong with it as long as people are generally clean. I think we stopped when my sibling and I hit our teens and started shaving / having arguments about hair strands etc!

I live alone these days and always feel guilty when I finish a bath that all that almost-clean water gets wasted down the drain! When I eventually buy my own place I'll look at getting a grey water system installed.

It depends if anyone has done a wee or cut their toe nails in it. Then I would think twice. Otherwise, count me in,

Yes, do this most nights. We all have showers in the morning so the bath is solely for soaking and reading; we might use bath salts but no actual washing takes place so there is no soap scum to contend with. DH always goes first as he's a bit squeamish about bath-water sharing, then me or DS14 in any order.