Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
MissyB1 · 09/03/2023 22:08

LindorDoubleChoc · 09/03/2023 21:40

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

Soothes my aching bones and joints, I wallow and read my book. I use bubble bath for sore muscles.

purplepencilcase · 09/03/2023 22:15

Yes, I share with dd (8) & ds (10) altogether then dh will get in afterwards. So that's 4, then sometimes I put the dog in after us all and wash him.
I like the fact we're saving water and energy!

Bigmirrorssmallrooms · 09/03/2023 22:20

I don’t see an issue with sharing a bath with a child, or topping it up and getting in after a small child. Although I didn’t do the latter myself

but I do find the idea of getting in a bath where a full grown adult has washed themselves in the water and using the dirty water to wash myself as grim. A whole family using one bath of water Is worse but I get with costs of water and energy for many this is the only way .

HereComesMaleficent · 09/03/2023 22:32

Yes I share with DS8. Theres only us two.

He gets in a tepid shallow bath (his preference) with 2 cap fills of dettol and bubble bath. Then I top up with hot water and bubble bath.

Caiti19 · 09/03/2023 22:33

MoggyMittens23 · 09/03/2023 21:37

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

Show quote history

We are kindred spirits. 😆

Caiti19 · 09/03/2023 22:37

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.

This is the best thing I've read in ages. Dad, Mum, 2 brothers, sister...... and random guest. 😂

Orangepolentacake · 09/03/2023 22:37

ew stewing in other‘s people dirt soup 🤢.
but I don’t like baths in general

singer15 · 09/03/2023 22:38

I hate baths, but if showers weren't an option, the only way I'd share bath water would be if we couldn't afford to run fresh water or had to carry the water in a bucket or something. Otherwise, no, not for me.

xogossipgirlxo · 09/03/2023 22:44

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.

"I found this out at a sleepover where they expected me to go in last 🤮🤮"

😬😳

Igenix4 · 09/03/2023 22:46

We do this however I get in first and chuck both kids in afterwards, I get thrush if we do it the other way round

flipdaburger · 09/03/2023 22:49

Whenever these threads come up I always think of that No Doubt song where Gwen Stefani sings "I'd love to wash in your old bathwater"

We do it. Don't do it to save money but just because it's efficient. It doesn't bother any of us, I don't find my children or husband repulsive and tbf I don't particularly bathe to clean but rather to relax.

PrincessesRUs · 09/03/2023 22:56

I do this - except I hop in quickly first, I like it quite hot, I have a quick wash whilst the kids are running around upstairs then I get out and into pjs whilst the kids are in together. Sometimes we're all three in together but that's getting to be a bit of a squeeze! Frankly I'm so used to kiddy wee I don't care if the baby pisses in it!

FourFour · 09/03/2023 23:45

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

This, absolutely disgusting.

Original poster
FUSoftPlay · 10/03/2023 00:12

Caiti19 · 09/03/2023 22:37

This is the best thing I've read in ages. Dad, Mum, 2 brothers, sister...... and random guest. 😂

Show quote history

Yes you’ve got to be close! I wouldn’t do this!

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 10/03/2023 00:16

Cat fell in the other day - does that count as sharing?
Love a nice bath, the water is usually not v warm by the time I get out.

Rebel2 · 10/03/2023 00:44

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.

I'm curious now what oils he uses as that sounds like my perfect bath!

Rebel2 · 10/03/2023 00:47

We sometimes shared at uni, I can't for the life of me remember why

At one point 2 of us had broken ankles and were in plaster, and we weren't allowed to bath with the door locked (halls) because well it wasn't safe
Giant bathroom so it used to be three of us, one in the bath and two sat chatting so we could lock the door and still be safe! Would share the bath water then

TooBigForMyBoots · 10/03/2023 00:57

Not willingly. However my 5yo son insists on looking after me in the bath so I don't drown. This usually ends with him stripping off and getting in with me.🙄😏

He checks I'm out /if he has to share it before he pees in it. He loves peeing in the bath. The only thing he loves more is cake.

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 10/03/2023 01:11

Jesus, my stomach actually lurched. Team Grim.

Northernsouloldies · 10/03/2023 01:45

It was definitely a thing growing up in the 70s however I don't think Dw would want my manky water nor would I want hers.

ashitghost · 10/03/2023 01:52

yes. My son, then me, then my daughter. Needs must.

OCDmama · 10/03/2023 04:01

Omg my standards are clearly very low. I share a bath with DD2, who always stands up to do a wee in it the second she gets in. I wee in it too 😬. Started when I was pregnant and couldn't be bothered to get in and out the bath for the loo.

I promise we look and smell like clean normal people though! Just had a second DC and baby bath is useless so I hop in with him now too, and just pray he doesn't poo!

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 10/03/2023 06:18

Love how people are trying to make out that if you don't want to share the bath water with your family that you must find them disgusting.

Mistymoonsinastarrysky · 10/03/2023 06:30

FourFour · 09/03/2023 23:45

This, absolutely disgusting.

Show quote history

I completely agree.

Paperexcelandpens · 10/03/2023 06:42

This has genuinely put me off my breakfast, talk of thrush and people weeing in shared baths. Just grim.