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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you share bath water?

196 replies

FUSoftPlay · 09/03/2023 19:29

Lighthearted - do you share bathwater?

I tend to run a bath for the kids (1 & 3 so young) then often top it up and get in myself or my DH will. Occasionally me or DH will then get in after each other so the bath water will have bathed the whole family. DH joked with DS3 not to tell anyone as they’d think it was disgusting.

So thought I’d find out if we really are totally grim.

YABU - we don’t share bathwater that’s disgusting, you vermin.
YANBU - we do this too.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 09/03/2023 21:29

Yes. We can’t afford to waste hot water

Jolie12345 · 09/03/2023 21:30

TooOldToBeDitzy · 09/03/2023 21:16

The water in swimming pools is full of chlorine, which is supposed to kill everything. It's the changing rooms you have to wary off. Having said that I always shower after going swimming.

I assume nobody adds chlorine to their bath water. I wouldn't recommend it either. I don't think it's great for your skin.

Omg I still can't get over the possibility that there might exist a human on this earth who washes their toilet seat in the dish washer. I guess, if they just put the toilet seat in the dishwasher with no other dishes it probably kind of makes sense as the heat and soap will leave the dishwasher sterilised anyway. But still...

Show quote history

A toilet seat is cleaner than a toothbrush. You get out of a bath and dry the water off. It’s not like you’d get out actually looking dirty. What exactly is it that repulses you? You won’t get sick? Nothing is going to seep into your bloodstream from bath water.

MoggyMittens23 · 09/03/2023 21:31

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 09/03/2023 20:15

My DH will say I'll get in your bath after you but I will just run him another.

Why would you if he doesn't mind? What a waste of water

Snowgoaway · 09/03/2023 21:32

I share a bath with dh quite regularly where we both get in together but I wouldn't get in one afterwards, don't find it grim I just like getting into a hot bath vs what would be a very lukewarm one if it was after.

MoggyMittens23 · 09/03/2023 21:33

Bobbybobbins · 09/03/2023 20:33

Yes sometimes all four of us get in with hot water top ups! (Me, DH, DSx2) Not all at the same time obvs. But then I am sure many of my habits would be seen as below par for MN hygiene standards!!

Who cares?! There are people who don't have clean water to drink let alone for a bloody bath. It's a luxury. We are lucky even if DH or DC has been in it beforehand!

Floralnomad · 09/03/2023 21:34

My husband often gets in the bath after me , I always have the freshly run bath but I like the water a lot hotter than he does . Neither of us is dirty so no reason not to .

Schmutter · 09/03/2023 21:35

We often share a bath, but if I have one to myself, my husband will get into it afterwards.

I always jump into the shower after a bath for a proper wash, as does dh.

Jolie12345 · 09/03/2023 21:37

Schmutter · 09/03/2023 21:35

We often share a bath, but if I have one to myself, my husband will get into it afterwards.

I always jump into the shower after a bath for a proper wash, as does dh.

Absolute insanity to have a shower after a bath. And so wasteful.

MoggyMittens23 · 09/03/2023 21:37

Caiti19 · 09/03/2023 21:23

Timing of this is hilarious. I literally just finished my request to husband to please not fill a giant bath at noon just for himself, and to please run it in evening so kids can get into it first before him. We ploughed through oil this Winter (old and draughty house) and I'm trying to conserve. Always kids first though, and multiple times a week with showers in between. Nobody is minging going into it. We all just love a scalding bath and running more than one a day seems silly.

same here! I will only run one for myself if I know someone else is around to get in after, otherwise it just feels like such a waste. I would feel a bit sick doing it just for one person and would shower instead

Whydothat · 09/03/2023 21:39

Growing up a friend of mine had to share bathwater dad, then mum then 2 older brothers then her. I found this out at a sleepover where they expected me to go in last 🤮🤮
Occasionally my young children bath together for fun but I'd never expect anyone over 10 to share bath water.

Workinghardeveryday · 09/03/2023 21:39

We share baths, me, then dp, then twins one at a time after.

when the twins ask for separate water then they will have it. But given the cost of living at the moment and everyone is bathed and clean every night, then I am more than happy with that!!

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/03/2023 21:40

Haven't had a bath in 10+ years and neither has my dh. Just cannot see the appeal!

Tinner01 · 09/03/2023 21:41

Yes, if one member of the family has a bath another will often hop in after. We aren’t plague ridden! And we only take a bath rarely- prefer to shower- so it’s not like a regular thing.

sanityisamyth · 09/03/2023 21:41

My hot water tank will only do a bath's worth of water so I have one first and the DS(9) has one as he prefers the water cooler anyway.

Viviennemary · 09/03/2023 21:41

Imwas horrified when I found out people did this. Unbelievable.

TooOldToBeDitzy · 09/03/2023 21:50

Jolie12345 · 09/03/2023 21:30

A toilet seat is cleaner than a toothbrush. You get out of a bath and dry the water off. It’s not like you’d get out actually looking dirty. What exactly is it that repulses you? You won’t get sick? Nothing is going to seep into your bloodstream from bath water.

Show quote history

No, I don't think actually it will make you ill. It's just one those things that seem weird purely because it's not something I do or have seen. I'm sure there is nothing wrong with it.

Having said that unless someone has showered before their bath or uses a bidet or something similar there might be residual faecal matter.

But I totally accept that I'm not entirely rational about this and as I said I don't even like the thought of my own bath water.

Regarding the toilet seat on the other hand... uggh just no and I don't care how much sense it makes..

Boogismyname · 09/03/2023 21:52

BourbonBon · 09/03/2023 19:36

Urgh can’t think of anything more gross than sitting in a bath of someone else’s grease, dirt, dead skin cells and bacteria

My thoughts

Mrsmch123 · 09/03/2023 21:52

Nope nope nope🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

Jolie12345 · 09/03/2023 21:54

I love that you recognise it’s irrational 😊

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 09/03/2023 21:56

For me, it's up there with using someone else's toothbrush 🤮

Username721 · 09/03/2023 21:56

I’m amazed at how many people share the same bath of water. I can’t stand the thought of it. Hair, sweat, dead skin and used soap sloshing around in a place you go to relax and clean yourself does not sound remotely inviting to me…yuck.

BreviloquentBastard · 09/03/2023 21:56

No, but mainly because it's just never occurred to me to do so. DH and I never have baths on the same day because we're both languishers, there isn't enough time.

We like different things too. I like lots of bubbles and nice light flowery smells and a middling temperature, he likes oils that smell like amber and pepper and leather and the heat of a thousand suns. We are bathwater incompatible.

TeaAndTwoSugars · 09/03/2023 21:57

I share with my 2 year old when he has a bath, but only because I don't have a chance to shower otherwise (he is very demanding!)
I think its a bit grim but then half the time he pees in there..he loves when I get in with him though so I don't think about it too much..

cravingmilkshake · 09/03/2023 22:01

My 18 month old twins and 3 year old share water (twins first, then 3 year old) but I would never top up after them and get in myself... I would enjoy the luxury of my own bath!

bakewellbride · 09/03/2023 22:01

I happily share bath water and knew before I even opened the thread that the dramatic 'disgusting! How could you?!' responses would be plentiful. Classic mumsnet. I also only wash my bedsheets once a week - on 30, the horror!

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