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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How long do you take in the shower?

143 replies

HmmOk · 14/08/2023 06:58

Wondering now with awareness of how much energy costs/ the planet etc if it has impacted on how long you spend showering?

If I'm washing my hair (not every day) it takes me maybe 10 mins or just under. Non hair wash days take just a few minutes. Sometimes I'll shower twice on very hot days or days I'm more physically active or heavy period etc.

So say I take 12 mins in the shower every day on average across the week. Is that reasonable from a climate resources perspective, do you think?

How long do you spend showering?

OP posts:
Cakesandbabes · 14/08/2023 07:03

Daily shower few min.
Wash my hair, exfoliate etc, and ponder about life and plan fucking off to beach life in Thailand instead of working till 68+? 15-20 min

DustyLee123 · 14/08/2023 07:03

12 minutes ? It doesn’t take that long to double wash your hair, slap some conditioner on and shave your bits. You need to at least halve that.

Catsmere · 14/08/2023 07:03

Much the same as you, OP. The water isn't running all the time, though. I turn it on when wetting and rinsing my hair, and to wet and rinse my body. While I'm shampooing/conditioning or waiting for them to soak in, or soaping myself, the water's off.

panko · 14/08/2023 07:04

3 minutes. The water board gave me a free timer last year

OhYouSweetSweetFool · 14/08/2023 07:04

around 6 mins inc shampoo & conditioner.
We are on a water meter.

The80sThe80s · 14/08/2023 07:04

3 mins or max 5 mins if washing hair.

The80sThe80s · 14/08/2023 07:05

My timer stuck to shower glass has reduced shower time.

Catsmere · 14/08/2023 07:05

Oh plus I don't shower or wash my hair every day, so it's much less altogether. Being in Australia, land of frequent droughts and water restrictions, I'm well used to this.

BingoBastards · 14/08/2023 07:07

Probably about 10. That's including washing the shower afterwards.

WannaBeRecluse · 14/08/2023 07:08

It varies but I shower for as long as I want to.

Badbudgeter · 14/08/2023 07:09

I’m skint so have been enjoying 3 minute cold showers at home. I don’t wash my hair. I use the shower at the gym and it’s a solid 15-20 minutes. It takes ages to rinse conditioner out.

BoardSurfing · 14/08/2023 07:12

As long as I want/need. I’m not changing that.

Greenvelvetdress · 14/08/2023 07:14

DustyLee123 · 14/08/2023 07:03

12 minutes ? It doesn’t take that long to double wash your hair, slap some conditioner on and shave your bits. You need to at least halve that.

It entirely depends on your type of hair... Some people's hair is much harder to wash and condition

Original poster
HmmOk · 14/08/2023 07:15

DustyLee123 · 14/08/2023 07:03

12 minutes ? It doesn’t take that long to double wash your hair, slap some conditioner on and shave your bits. You need to at least halve that.

No, it's 12 mins on average allowing for 2 showers some days.

I definitely can't wash my hair in 5 mins though!

OP posts:
ThinWomansBrain · 14/08/2023 07:16

I usually bath rather than shower, but I was away last week and only had a shower - as PP above, I don't keep it running while I'm shampooing/conditioning etc. and take the sower head out of the holder to rinse my hair.
About 3 minutes.
At home I have a shower over the bath that I don't use a lot, I have showered with the bah plug in just to see how much water from showering - it wasn't an awful lot less.

Original poster
HmmOk · 14/08/2023 07:18

I run the shower for a minute or so before getting in otherwise it is cold Blush Is that so bad? In fairness I'm including that in my overall shower times.

If you are stopping and starting the water, are you just sucking up the cold water for the first minute when you put it on?

OP posts:
grass321 · 14/08/2023 07:19

This thread has been an eye opener. I'm going to time myself this morning but it can't be more than 5 minutes.

If 15 minute showers are the norm, I've been very harsh on my teenagers....

Cakesandbabes · 14/08/2023 07:22

Is stopping and starting efficient for boilers though?

BingoBastards · 14/08/2023 07:22

@grass321 🤣

Yeah teenagers take ages!

Theroom · 14/08/2023 07:26

4 mins if not washing hair. I could cut that down to 3. We have a timer.

12 mins if washing hair (once a week).

So about 6 mins on average.

If you really wanted to reduce water usage you could do strip washes, or shower standing in a tub and use the water on the lawn/to flush the loo.

TealSapphire · 14/08/2023 07:26

As long as I want/need and can get away with ie not be late for work or the hot water running out.

There's enough men on this board hardly showering at all that I'm sure it all evens out 😂

Mydogisagentleman · 14/08/2023 07:27

About 4 minutes I would guess.
Short hair washed daily, no condtioner

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 14/08/2023 07:27

About 3 minutes if I'm not shaving. About 6 minutes if I am. I reckon I only shave on average once a week though. It takes me less than a minute to wash and condition my hair (it is short and very fine though).

Catsmere · 14/08/2023 07:28

@HmmOk it only runs cold when I first turn it on, not the subsequent times. If I'm washing my hair I may use the cold water for that - the shower head is on a hose, so I don't have to stand under the water to do my hair.

cruffinsmuffin · 14/08/2023 07:30

About ten minutes in the morning, 5 minutes at night most days. Probably about 20 minutes a few times a week as pamper showers 😂 I'm feeling like I must be the slowest of slow pokes reading this thread!

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