Showers - how long?

[chillipenguin]

I can't believe it's come to this but I'm buying a kitchen timer for the shower. I have two DSD, a teen and nearly teen with long hair. They spend ages in the shower. Then there's me and DH and our shared LO.

Basically what I'm after is how long do you think is a realistic time to limit showers too.

A basic shower and a washing your long hair shower.

Ok thank you. I shall invest in a flannel.

I probably have the water on for one minute to get wet, then turn it off and soap-up and scrub, then two minutes to have a good rinse off.

This is in a warm room, with water that runs hot nearly immediately (there’s a return loop constantly circulating how water from the boiler), so probably not much use if it takes five minutes to get warm.

It costs me 50p for a 20 minute shower. I've reduced it to that by washing my face in the sink and applying shampoo before turning the shower on. But maybe start with 10 or 8 mins

About five minutes if I'm washing my hair, sixty seconds flat if I'm not.

If you look at your water suppliers website, they may have some freebies.
We got a shower timer, hippo bag, teeth brushing timer, some pipe insulation and a universal sink plug.
The shower timer is 4 mins, it’s longer than you think.

We also have a bucket in the shower (a collapsable one!) that catches the first bit before it warms up and we use it for the loo.

In 3 minutes?

Where or how will they shave their legs then?

In the bath. Where they can take their time. Don't want them shredding themselves by rushing.

My experience (have very thick hair) is that these are ineffective for hair washing. You just have to leave it to run much longer because air does not wash hair.

I think for full shampoo and condition in shower you've got to be talking at least 6/7 minutes. But as I say, I have thick hair. If you've fine hair you don't need to lift up layers to get water to the bottom. Compared to fine haired people I am effectively washing my hair 3 times.

Where or how will they shave their legs then?

electric shaver.
much savef too.

We have a 4 minute sand timer from the water company. I can do 4 minutes including washing my long hair. I get in wet my hair and body, shampoo, rinse, shampoo, rinse, turn off water, condition, apply shower gel & face wash, water back on, rinse everything off.

Interested in following this thread as we just had our oil tank filled up and it was £2000 (usually around £1.4k). It would be nice if it could last a little longer this time, obviously. Family of 4, average 5x showers a day. Most of us are only in there for about 4 mins (it's a rainfall power shower so really blasts the shampoo out quickly) but the youngest likes to stay there for ages so I think we might have to start using a timer!

NB the leg shaving thing - totally fine in the shower. I take a small bowl in to catch the water then use that to shave whilst the water is off and the conditioner is working into my hair.

I haven't RTFT so I'm sorry if someone has asked this.

I looked at all these products and thought some were really good ideas. But the toothbrushing timer - does anyone really leave their tap running whilst they brush their teeth? I wet my brush, turn off the tap, brush my teeth (timed cos electric), turn the tap on and finish. Am I weird?

But the toothbrushing timer - does anyone really leave their tap running whilst they brush their teeth?
Never - I'd be surprised if people do that. I think the taps that turn themselves off after a while ought to be made compulsory, in a vanity basin.

We don't have a bidet but I bought a sitz basin for nether regions if required. Seeing pp about strip wash could use this as basin of water for rest of wash then place on loo for washing derriere.

Do you have a penis beaker though?

I can shower, wash and condition long hair, shave legs and underarms, in under two minutes of running water - the shower takes a minute to warm up and the rest is done in the remaining minute.

I timed myself months ago when setting an example to teenagers on how having a shower wasn’t, in fact, an activity that can take up a whole evening to the exclusion of all other chores and commitments.

Try being in the shower if you use the Curly Girl Method. Takes forever.

Shave legs at bathroom sink using very little cold water to rinse razor!

I Curly Girl. Well no-poo for me so basically co-wash. None of the other cast stuff etc. So I believe we have the advantage as not an extra rinsing for shampoos. It’s the combing through that takes time. No need to have shower running for that. So I pop the plug in. Turn shower on for a thorough soaking. Turn shower off. Condition. Wash face with face wash. Wash all body with puff and shower gel dipping in my little puddle if needed. Shave also dipping if needed. Comb hair through. Yes takes a while but shower isn’t running. Then turn shower back on for a good rinse all over. I have a narrow bath. I use about 3 inches of water total. I’ve been doing this over the last month. I’ve been monitoring my gas usage (water by gas combi boiler) and it appears I have cut my monthly gas usage by between a third and a half 🤭!!! Definitely worth doing!!

This equates to roughly £26 per month on new cap. 😉

Working in care homes, most residents only get a daily strip wash, with a shower or bath once a week.

Personally don't have a bath in my flat, only a shower cubicle, a bath is a once a week luxury at my parents' house 😁