Confronted swimmer for pool hygiene

[LindaYog]

My gym has a pool which I’m a regular user of - there are visible signs stating you must shower prior to going in the pool or using the spa facilities.

This afternoon, I witnessed a woman exit the toilet after spending a few minutes in there, wash her hands and proceed to poolside. She did not shower and went straight in to the pool which was busy with families in being the summer holidays.

I (very politely) pointed out to her that there is a requirement to shower prior to using the pool and she simply shrugged her shoulders and looked away.

I wouldn’t usually have said anything, but it’s the fact I know she was using the toilet (and for that length of time, it was clearly not for a pee!) so for me it shows a complete lack of disrespect. Before anyone asks, I know she was in there for that long as they are visible from the changing area.

Can you believe the cheek of some people!!

The fact that the woman took so long may mean that she was constipated so nothing to worry about.

This. I never go in pools because they are disgusting, I suggest you take the same stance OP.

This comment is gold!! Too bad I’d just taken a mouthful of coffee 😂😂

I don’t swim in public pools anymore.
I caught giardia (nasty parasite) from a pool in a private members club. Doctor believed that ‘swim nappies’ are releasing poo particles constantly and only give false assurance that they are safe.
I was ill for a while and had to take a long course of heavy antibiotics to get rid of it. My gut has never been the same.

Why are you occupied with others bowel movements? Get another hobby

do you blow bubbles when you fart?

Her time in the cubicle can by no means predict what she was doing. She might have her period, she might be scrolling IG (or Mumsnet), she might have taken a call/messages from someone ... and as other posters have said, whatever she did or didn't do - just mind your own business... if you think the showering rule achieves hygiene in any respect you should give yourself a head wobble. And if you're still worked up that it isn't being enforced - talk to the pool staff, not other members of the public.

Ok, I have some time to waste! I am a pensioner now, but I know that people much, much younger than me can suffer from similar problems to mine.

My bladder is irritable - as is my brain when reading threads like this, so maybe I am a closet masochist! The irritability of my bladder means that after I have done my first wee, I can already feel my next wee pressing on my - presumably exiting the bladder - sphincter muscle, but it can take 5 to 10 minutes for my bladder's sphincter muscle to think it has enough urine in it to cause the muscle to open again, then after my second passing of urine, my bladder - more often than not - immediately tells me that I need to do another wee! In reality, it is often the 3rd wee that lets my bladder feel empty for about another 1.5 to 2.0 hours.

If I didn't wait for my extra wees, I would either wet myself within the next 15 to 20 minutes, or have to rush back to the ones I just vacated a short while ago, and if there was a queue, I would still end up wetting myself. I always feel guilty about hugging a public loo for such a long time, which is one of the reasons why I hardly ever leave home, where I have the luxury of my own ensuite - also know as a commode beside my bed.

Anyway, to the point I am trying to make @LindaYog, I am often a good/bad 20 to 30 minutes in a public loo, only passing urine, with not even a trace of faeces amongst them. I also carry individual wrapped female wet wipes with me to clean myself after using the toilet paper for the drips! Sorry if this is tmi, but I just wanted you to know OP that there can be at least several reasons for someone - but particularly menstruating, and post menopausal, women - to spend a longer time in the loo than might have otherwise been expected.

@LindaYog do you know if she had a number 1 or a number 2?

I did too!! 🤣

What were you expecting her to do?

Strip naked in full view of the pool, give her bum a good soaping and then bend over so you could inspect her crinkly starfish to check it was up to your standards?

Why were you timing her in the loo anyway?

You're being ridiculous OP. Where I swim no-one obeys the signs saying that you must shower before swimming.

Plus, your double negative "lack of disrespect" = respect!

Oh how i miss the laughing reaction. There are some first-class responses on here!

Was she a tradesperson? I know it’s de rigeur for MNers to monitor their toilet use.

God reading this has put me off going swimming for life. Everyone has bad habits and I didn't think about it until now, but I really don't want to swim in everybody's snot, spit and whatever. At least the pools have chlorine but what about wild swimming yuk.
Like swimming in the sea though and I have loved swimming since I was small, so my answer is to get your own private pool (joke),what luxury that would be. Also why were you watching that women so intensely.

In Denmark swimmers are expected to shower naked before entering the pool, including especially after using the loo. Locals can be observed vigorously soaping every area, and I've seen British visitors sent back to "shower properly" by lifeguards.

We don't live in Scandinavia. You're lucky if Brits stand under a shower long enough to get wet, and even then they keep their swimsuits on so there is no benefit in terms of bottom hygiene.

We're a bit gross when you think about it. Unfortunately, you have to either accept it or stay away from pools.

Tbh OP she wasn’t necessarily having a number 2. She could be on her period, or she could have a condition where she self catheterises or, something else. There’s plenty of reasons why a women would spend a minute longer in the cubicle - and I can imagine being humiliated as she went to enter the pool doesn’t make the experience any better for her. As others have said, it’s a quick rinse by most people - nobody is having a full body scrub before they enter the pool. To quote another MNer - thank goodness for chlorine!

you have no idea if she was having a poo, for all you know she could have been engrossed with something on her phone while she was there.

what were you trying to achieve by calling her out?

public pools are generally cesspits the amount of wee you swim through is phenomenal. One woman’s shower isn’t going to make a difference.

Same in Finland. An American friend was told off for showering in her swimming costume instead of naked. There are signs up everywhere explaining the rule with pictures showing the areas you have to especially wash - hair, armpits, bum.

She was probably in there trying to out-wait the hyacinth bucket woman peering at her across the changing room.

I think it's to rinse off extra sunblock moisturizer deodorant more than to clean the body.

Nor is a shower at the pool! Is she going to get soap and wash her butt of course not! She at best would have walked under it for a few seconds and then into the pool!

Did you have a full shower with soap, OP before going to the pool? Or was it a two second dash like most people ?

You’re being ridiculous!
I never shower before going in the pool and am sure I’ve done a poo that day! I wipe my bum sufficiently. You do know kids pee in pools right?! They’re grim but you have to accept that!