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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GUEST WANTS SHOWER CURTAIN INSTALLED.

231 replies

Tartantotty · 08/05/2024 08:15

I have a friend coming to stay with me for over a week in the Summer. She has sent a message asking that a shower curtain be installed in the en-suite bathroom she will use for the duration of her stay. She will pay.

Due to the shape of the bath etc it would be tricky to install a curtain and spoil the look of the place, I'm reluctant to do this, especially as she's getting free board and lodging in Edinburgh during festival time. AIBU reasonable in refusing? PS: She is a very large lady - no one else has complained about this, so guess it's due to her size.

OP posts:
KateMiskin · 08/05/2024 11:09

RobBeckettsGiantTeeth · 08/05/2024 10:45

I think the OP set up this whole thread with the purpose of inviting fat shaming.

Show quote history

I think so too. But if real I would say a polite: No thank you. We like it as it is. And provide bathmats.

Blanketpolicy · 08/05/2024 11:10

I dislike baths, love a shower in the morning to wake up to, freshen up and start the day, a bath with a hand shower is awkward and uncomfortable whatever size you are and it would start my day on a bad footing. Bathrooms should prioritise practical over pretty, she is not unreasonable in wanting a shower curtain, but unreasonable to demand it.

BabyRaindeer · 08/05/2024 11:10

Lilly11a · 08/05/2024 08:17

Is it possible to get a telescopic pole - we have one of these and it doesn't need any fittings so you can just remove after she leaves

@Tartantotty she can buy a telescopic pole off Amazon, strong enough for proper curtains they are by iDesign But let the CF buy one!!!

Shower Curtain with Magnetic Hem
IDesign Telescopic pole

ZiriForGood · 08/05/2024 11:11

If it is a bath with a handhold shower attached and with no curtain/screen, I suppose the only way to not splash too much is to sit down in a bath while showering. And this might be very uncomfortable if she fits there only tightly/not at all and have to deal with squeezing in and getting up.

If there is a convenient edge to sit on or a chance to stand there safely, she would splash a lot without some kind of shield.

I don't think it is really unreasonable to ask whether this can be improved and offering to pay for the solution, especially when there is a good chance that temporary curtain can be added without drilling

TabithaTimeTurner · 08/05/2024 11:19

Flopsythebunny · 08/05/2024 11:07

Did you think that was funny?

Show quote history

Well I laughed and I’m not exactly svelte.
Thought Tessie was funny too.

Those saying her size is irrelevant, it obviously isn’t or OP wouldn’t have mentioned it. My guess is OP has one of those glass screens and maybe it doesn’t shut properly when her friend is in it, so leaves a gap for water to drip down. Maybe her friend wants the glass screen open and a shower curtain in its place?

poetryandwine · 08/05/2024 11:25

Your house, your rules, OP, but I still don’t understand the set up.

A shower over the bath is fine. But do you have any kind of water barrier at all?

I cannot see what this woman’s size has to do with anything. I am not large at all. The only way I can keep water from splashing out of an area the size of a bathtub is by using a hand held shower whilst sitting/kneeling down in the tub. Not my favourite, though I would cope for free board during the Festival. On second thought perhaps a very large person would find this difficult?

crumblingschools · 08/05/2024 11:29

Is there a shower already, or is just the hand held attachment?

samarrange · 08/05/2024 11:31

Tartantotty · 08/05/2024 08:31

Thanks all. I will write her and tell her that this is not possible. She is lucky to get free accommodation at I time when I usually earn a bit of extra money on Air bnb. I guess she wants the curtain because the bath is small and guess she doesn't want to splash water all over the place.

If you currently have no way to stop a shower user from getting the floor wet, you are going to lose review points on your Airbnb ratings ("Lovely bedroom but we felt unable to shower because we didn't want to get water everywhere — avoid this property if you cannot take baths for any reason"). And now your guest is offering to pay for your bathroom to be upgraded. Unless there is something truly unique about the bathroom, there will be a way to do this. Ask a local builder or handyman for ideas and a quote.

annabianca · 08/05/2024 11:34

Do you have a proper shower in the other non en-suite bathroom?

CommentNow · 08/05/2024 11:37

"You're welcomed to bring a spring loaded, non marking telescopic pole and curtain and we can put it up when you arrive. Not keen to buy or screw anything permanent into the wall"

poetryandwine · 08/05/2024 11:40

ZiriForGood · 08/05/2024 11:11

If it is a bath with a handhold shower attached and with no curtain/screen, I suppose the only way to not splash too much is to sit down in a bath while showering. And this might be very uncomfortable if she fits there only tightly/not at all and have to deal with squeezing in and getting up.

If there is a convenient edge to sit on or a chance to stand there safely, she would splash a lot without some kind of shield.

I don't think it is really unreasonable to ask whether this can be improved and offering to pay for the solution, especially when there is a good chance that temporary curtain can be added without drilling

Sorry, @ZiriForGood I wish I had read your post before writing

GreenTreeFlower · 08/05/2024 11:49

An extendable shower rail and curtain costs less than £20 kid from Amazon and the guest has offered to pay for it. Is that a possibility. I don't think it's rude to ask assuming she said please. It makes her life easier but also stop water going everywhere. I don't get the outrage to be honest.

You can get extra long poles if needed. Or you can easily do a makeshift arrangement.

It take a few mins to order and you don't even have to put it up. Just leave it on her bed and she can do it.

Posting this thread will have taken longer 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Also, if you don't want her to stay or if you are pissed off that she isn't paying anything then why don't you ask for a contribution?

Nanny0gg · 08/05/2024 11:56

Tartantotty · 08/05/2024 08:31

Thanks all. I will write her and tell her that this is not possible. She is lucky to get free accommodation at I time when I usually earn a bit of extra money on Air bnb. I guess she wants the curtain because the bath is small and guess she doesn't want to splash water all over the place.

Does it have a screen?

If not, why can't you do the telescopic pole?

It would make sense if you regularly rent it out

allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld · 08/05/2024 12:07

@ViscousDog How does a lock prevent the water from flooding the floor? the poster has not said that her guest wants to stop the water flooding the floor!! I get the impression that the guest might, in fact, be a beached whale!! if the guest only puts a couple of inches of water in the bath, then it will be fine!

GreenTreeFlower · 08/05/2024 13:26

@allthemiddlechildrenoftheworld
I get the impression that the guest might, in fact, be a beached whale!!

Nasty way to refer to overweight people.

maddening · 09/05/2024 00:06

Tartantotty · 08/05/2024 08:31

Thanks all. I will write her and tell her that this is not possible. She is lucky to get free accommodation at I time when I usually earn a bit of extra money on Air bnb. I guess she wants the curtain because the bath is small and guess she doesn't want to splash water all over the place.

What is the current set up of the bathroom that means her size would make it unusable? Do you have an alternative bathroom?

Ponderingwindow · 09/05/2024 00:11

So what currently stops water from the shower from getting into your bathroom and causing damage?

saltinesandcoffeecups · 09/05/2024 00:25

Peachy2005 · 08/05/2024 09:21

It will be this kind of setup. No shower screen so you have to sit or hunker in the bath and still be careful or water will get everywhere so taking a standing shower is impossible. Your friend’s size is irrelevant: it’s an old-fashioned UK thing, from the days when people took more baths or washed their hair leaning over the bath - proper showers were rare. Our family bathroom in our rented house is like this (never use it) and we just looked at another house with the same arrangement (wish I had taken a pic as bath, sink and toilet were floral-patterned!). It’s still OPs house and choice and expecting her to change it is CF behaviour by her friend….but friend’s size is irrelevant!!

Oh god I still have nightmares about this setup. At 16, I was staying in a host family’s home in France and encountered this. I had no idea how to accomplish a shower with a handheld shower head and no curtain.

I did my best but there was water everywhere. The worst part was they only gave me 1 small towel so I had to prioritize drying myself or the bathroom. I chose to be a good guest and chose the bathroom.

Idontjetwashthefucker · 09/05/2024 13:16

RobBeckettsGiantTeeth · 08/05/2024 10:45

I think the OP set up this whole thread with the purpose of inviting fat shaming.

Show quote history

Totally and some people cannot help but oblige

AntisocialPotNoodle · 09/05/2024 14:06

It's very telling that my comment was deleted but all the fat shaming comments and ridicule have been allowed to stand. Do better @mumsnet

lemming40 · 09/05/2024 17:43

Get a telescopic pole and a cheap shower curtain. Will cost £20 max.

Snowflakeslayer · 09/05/2024 18:01

Tartantotty · 08/05/2024 08:15

I have a friend coming to stay with me for over a week in the Summer. She has sent a message asking that a shower curtain be installed in the en-suite bathroom she will use for the duration of her stay. She will pay.

Due to the shape of the bath etc it would be tricky to install a curtain and spoil the look of the place, I'm reluctant to do this, especially as she's getting free board and lodging in Edinburgh during festival time. AIBU reasonable in refusing? PS: She is a very large lady - no one else has complained about this, so guess it's due to her size.

Would be a hard no from me, will she pay for it to be removed, holes filled, sanded, room re-painted etc.
What a cheek!

Grapw · 09/05/2024 18:12

Has she stayed before...because she sure knows a lot about your bathroom facilities? It is a lot to ask of someone to change their home for a guest, there is accommodating and then there is down right unreasonable. For a free stay I would put up and shut up if I were her, she has no right to change your home, there are plenty of over priced hotels!

AllyArty · 09/05/2024 18:13

I’d tell her that the preference is to leave the bathroom as it is and if it’s not suitable for her and she wants to find somewhere else to stay then that’s absolutely fine.