DS spending far too long in the shower every single day

[goaskmum]

With rising living costs I am concerned about the length of time my DS spends in the shower everyday, usually he spends about 15-20 minutes in it which imo is far too long, funny how me and the rest of our household are in and out within 5 minutes!

I have asked DS several times to reduce the time he spends in the shower and he does nothing about it, he shows a complete disregard to the increasing living costs.

This is more a WWYD - I have said to him that if he wants to spend that length of time in the shower he is going to have to contribute to the gas costs every month as I can’t keep up with it all , I am also considering switching off the boiler when the 5 minute mark passes.

I don’t really know how else I can deal with his selfishness!

@pedropony76

Gosh this is so depressing. Timed showers? Sounds like prison!

Honestly!! A timer with 4 minutes on? What the hell is that about?! I personally don’t think a 20min shower is long at all but surely you can come to a compromise and say after 10mins you’ll be turning the hot water off or however it works in your house

20 minutes is bloody ages to spend under the shower. One of the arguments regularly made in shower vs sink wash threads is “but a shower is so much quicker!” 🤣🤣🤣

Turn down the temperature on the boiler so it costs less to run. Not so much so it's cold but you can turn it down to 50 degrees or so.

@CounsellorTroi haha very true. I know the whole point of a shower is jump in, wash your body, jump out but some people have music on whilst they shower and make it a wholeeee thing! That’s the only reason I don’t think 20mins is so long

@pedropony76 yes some people do treat it like a vertical bath! Each to their own.

I timed my shower this morning (non hair wash/shaving day) and from the time I turned the water until I got out was 10 minutes. That's waiting for the water to heat up and having a full shower. I really don't think that's unreasonable!

A daily 4 minute shower isn't a hardship FFS

It would be for me. I have no idea how people shower so rapidly. I only do the basics as well so wash hair (no conditioner) and wash body (never shave) there is no way I could do that in 4 mins. I am away to shower now do I'm going to do it as fast as I can and time it

@Cyw2018

The shower is my private relaxing/thinking/meditative space, rather than simply a means to get clean. I would give up many other things way before reducing my daily shower time.

Maybe this is the case for your son, but not the rest of your family. When I was at home my parents would shut the hot water off when they deemed I'd been in the shower for too long (they thought it was a hilarious thing to do), despite there being no financial issues (DF earning 6 figure salary 25 years ago). I found it distressing and cruel, and remember it vividly.

OP are you cutting back on the things that are good for your mental health yet due to rising costs?

Wasting water and electricity, both of which are expensive resources, is never a good thing. Good things for your mental health: Going for a lovely long walk - free Reading a book - free once the book has been purchased Talking with friends - free

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

When I lived in Aus, as soon as you poured on the water you start shampooing / conditioning / washing your body. I could shampoo and condition my hair in three minuets, leaving another minuet to body wash. If I was washing my hair I would not shave. Oh and that is with buckets in the shower (to water your garden with).

Honestly I am amazed that some people need 20 minuets to wash their hair and body. I have been back in the UK for years, and whilst I dont time it these days its always less than 10 minuets.

@crackingreward

A daily 4 minute shower isn't a hardship FFS

It would be for me. I have no idea how people shower so rapidly. I only do the basics as well so wash hair (no conditioner) and wash body (never shave) there is no way I could do that in 4 mins. I am away to shower now do I'm going to do it as fast as I can and time it

Ok, I take it back. I just took 5 mins 18 seconds from shower on to shower off, normal shower no rushing. I can easily see how someone with shorter hair and better co ordination could do it in 4!

I have never timed it before but if you asked I would have thought I took 15-20 mins

At 22 I'd have no problem expecting him to pay towards bills especially if he's taking the mick.

I honestly have no idea how long I'm in the shower.. I only notice DSes if they seem to be taking an age and we need to be getting ready for school.

Water isn't 'used up' when you have a shower, it's infinitely recyclable, so I'm not going to worry too much - especially since I live in Ireland where it never stops raining, and have my own well and septic tank so am well aware of the 'circle of life' as it pertains to water!

Now I regret being on what is possibly the most boring thread ever

Mumsnet is really fucking weird about other people's showering habits.

I'm by no means rich and there are definitely things I do to save money and energy consumption. Timing showers - not my own, and certainly not other people's, is, however, not one of them. There are few enough joys in life as it is.

If it bothers you that much, put your kid's rent up to cover the cost, but watching the clock to time a grown adult's personal hygiene routine to the minute is like something Uncle Harvey would do in The League Of Gentlemen.

Omg this is new to me! If shaving my legs etc then my showers are about 20 minutes. I guess 10 minutes or just under without!

Make sure you have water saving shower head, saves loads of water

Lots of people here over-invested and over-interested on the masturbation habits of their sons.

So what if he's having a wank in the shower.

Wierdos.

@Mummumtum

He’s probably having a wank

Honestly, this was my first thought.

@user1477391263

You don't need a constantly running shower to shave your legs---shower briefly and fill a small container of water. Stop, soap up your legs and shave, dipping your razor in the container every few strokes to clean it. Then hose off with the shower at the end.

Hair, similar. Shower briefly and stop to work shampoo/conditioner through your hair, then turn the shower back on to rinse.

Some of you lot need to try living in a place without endless water supplies.

I take it you don't have an electric shower, if I turned my shower off to shave my legs, then I would have to wait an even longer time for the shower to cycle through it's red hot/freezing cold getting back up to temperate using far more water than if I just leave it running.

It will be interesting to see how the bills later this year will change some peoples habits.

The cost depends on whether it is an electric shower or using hot water that has already been heated by gas central heating. An electric shower will be much more expensive.

Some people take longer than others in the shower. Fine to make him pay more, if he’s putting the bills up, if you want/need to. Switching off the boiler is just weird. No idea why you can’t sort this out between yourselves.

I take longer than 5 minutes, probably more like 15-20 minutes. Most of the time I’m not even aware of when my kids are in the shower, never mind how long they take.

It will be interesting to see how the bills later this year will change some peoples habits.

Maybe it will change mumsnet too. No more threads looking down on anyone that doesn’t shower 25 times a day.....🤭

If you have a combi boiler then put a tap on so he gets a cold shock!

Increase his board by £30 at least.

I had a visit from Thames Water, advising me on ways I could keep my water bills down, and was presented with, among other gadgets, a small sand timer which measures 4 minutes. I sometimes spend a little longer in there, but not that much......I think increasing his bill may give him pause for thought.