To think swimming pools are utterly disgusting?

[clutchingatpearls]

Just that really. I love swimming and can swim in a warm sea. But I find swimming pools (posh spas are a possible exception) literally make me feel sick. The plasters, hair, bodily excretions... truly a human soup.

Am I unusual?

It really is...

The competitive hygiene on this site is incredible. I don't understand how people get things done. You can't avoid microbes. Nor should you try.

God you'd think some of this would have sunk in over the past couple of years.

Yes I’m the same, I love the sea and will happily swim in it, but swimming pools just seem so much worse don’t they?
our local one is heated by the crematorium next door (yes, really) and that’s another completely irrational thing that puts me off

What is the point of this thread op?

UK swimming pools are very well used because when they are affordable and accessible.

Obviously those who don't need accessible or affordable, can choose to only swim in warm seas abroad.

I used our local, dated pool which has lots of people like me (poor and unrefined) who really enjoy using it.

I also take three local kids swimming weekly whose Mum can't afford the entry fee or swim lessons. I have taught all three to swim and it is the highlight of our week.

We have never caught anything or suffered any ill-effect due to our poverty stricken pool use.

I am actually feeling sick reading this thread, will probably hide it. I'm not a competitive sheet washer by any means, but I just can't cope with swimming. Ugh.

I can't stand the thought of swimming in other women's vaginal discharge, other people's poo crumbs never mind snot

I don't go in the sea either btw.

I agree. I think everyone with hair should have to use hats. It’s revolting swimming into someone else’s hair.

You do know what chlorine does, right?

Agreed. I force myself to do it but the actual concept freaks me out

I like to live dangerously. I'm a crazy risk taker, living life on the edge.

Those of you of a sensitive nature look away now.

I learned to scuba dive in a public pool, which meant that I spent a lot of time bimbling about at the bottom, where I got a very clear view of all the bits of hair, skin flakes, plasters and other debris that you don't normally see because it's under a meter or two of water.

I got a really nasty type of cellulitis from swimming in the sea on a blue flag beach.

Ugh, I really love swimming and it's great exercise but my fear of stomach bugs has kept me out of public pools for many years now. Yes I know there is enough bleach in there to fell a gazillion microbes, but even so...nope, I can't.

I do miss swimming.

Caught a tummy bug after swallowing a little sea water from a UK beach. Still haven't caught any bugs from a swimming pool...

You need to watch the swimming pool episode of Motherland. It’s so funny and is about how gross swimming pools are. I agree with you BTW - I only use private pools that are exclusively for me and the family and are cleaned after every private swim.

I caught a horrific ear infection from a pool in Spain, it was horrendous.

One of the worst things for your immune system is to shield it from things - so swimming pools with the odd bug aren’t a bad thing.

Depends on the pool really. The one where my kids have lessons is properly grim (but the teaching is better), the one that I swim in is much better but I try to go in the morning as later in the day it becomes more manky

Omg I hate it. It feels like you're in a giant bath with total strangers. Plasters, bodily fluids, hair... grim. Also have no desire to see everyone's bizarre tattoos and flabby bits.

There, I've said it.

What’s disgusting is the mind washing of humans about ‘cleanliness’. This is not healthy or conducive to healthy life and living.

Do you know how many dead things are rotting in the sea? Where do you think fish, seals, sharks, whales, sea birds etc wee and poo? Think how much human waste gets pumped into the sea on a daily basis. Oil and fuel from ships. Swimming pools are veritably sterile compared to sea water. Also, rich people that use spas are not necessarily cleaner than us poor municipal swimming pool users!

Meh, I swim happily in a lake inhabited by several thousand trout, ducks, geese as well as disgusting male triathletes who I know to wee in their wetsuit. A swimming pool which is treated and monitored (and chlorine smells all the time, not just when activated) is fine, though I dislike swimming through a cloud of peoples perfume and so prefer the squishy mud experience

Yes. Exactly. You are completely correct OP.

In the sea I happily swim about fully covered. If I did this in our local swimming pool I would be considered bizarre.

Disgusting things.

Serious question - people wanting everyone to wear hats, why? People's hair is surely about as clean as their skin? And I don't know about you but I've never been aware of hairs floating around in a swimming pool, though in theory there must be some. What's so disgusting?

I feel this way about pools too. I know deep down they use the chemicals to keep it clean but the hair, plasters etc gives me the ick.

Its the floor on the way in for me.

What about pubic hair? And body hair then?