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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

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Original poster

What is the etiquette on using someone else's bathroom?

33 replies

roisin · 23/02/2009 21:42

We are having a new bathroom fitted next month. It is supposed to be done Mon-Fri, but I am a bit sceptical, as it's quite a big job (not straightforward).

We have been told they won't leave us overnight without a toilet plumbed in, but no promises on anything else.

Now my boys are 9 and 11 and they are quite happy not to wash at all ever , but I need a shower and hairwash every morning.

If someone else asked if they could shower at my house I would agree through gritted teeth, because our mornings are busy and run military style to a precise timetable. Despite dss's allergy to water there is still usually someone in the bathroom at all times between 7.10 and 8.10 (when I leave), so having an extra guest would be a pain.

The people that we know well in the street also have families and children, so presumably are in a similar position. But the people without children I don't know so well to impose on them.

What should I do? Knot my hair into dreadlocks now?!

OP posts:

kalo12 · 23/02/2009 21:43

don't hae a shower, or you could go to the swimming pool

MissisBoot · 23/02/2009 21:44

Are you a member of a gym?

funnypeculiar · 23/02/2009 21:44

Could you have your shower in the evening? Friends on our road came over to ours in the evening in a similar situation - much less stressful all round

BaDaBing · 23/02/2009 21:44

Can you wash hair in the sink and have a "wash" as best you can in the morning, then a proper shower at neighbours in evening when things are a bit calmer.

Don't envy you, I can't bear the idea of going to work without a shower and clean hair!

CactusJack · 23/02/2009 21:45

go to parents?

ellingwoman · 23/02/2009 21:45

Wash and hairwash at the kitchen sink (like they did in the olden days)
Go on,you know you can

LadyOfWaffle · 23/02/2009 21:46

Go swimming a few days? We are in the same situation - our shower has gone for the time being, as has our sink. The loo will be a straight swap , as is the bath so after a good scrub they are functionable until the next morning!

reindeermum · 23/02/2009 21:47

I would make do with lots of warm buckets of water. Definitely would not ask the neighbours as I would not want any of them to ask me (even though they are all very nice.) Would be a massive inconvenience and annoyance in the morning.

You could also go swimming/other sports as much as possible that week to use the showers there. Do you belong to a gym? The council run ones normally let you do pay as you go sessions so you could just go there for a few days and use the facilities. The boys could definitely just make do with buckets in the kitchen for a few days.

Original poster

roisin · 23/02/2009 21:53

We don't belong a gym, but I could go to the leisure centre/swimming pool which is close by, but it doesn't open very early, so I wouldn't have time to swim, just to have a shower iyswim. They'd think I was bonkers, wouldn't they?!

It's the first thing in the morning bit that I'm really dreading, as my shower wakes me up and starts my day.

No parents nearby unfortunately, so that's not an option.

It's going to be buckets and the kitchen sink, isn't it?! Yuck!

OP posts:

Original poster

roisin · 23/02/2009 21:53

Thanks all for your input.

OP posts:

bodiddly · 23/02/2009 21:57

definitely shower in the evenings at the leisure centre - thats what we did!

12341234 · 23/02/2009 21:58

I wouldn't mind n eighbour - would just give them a key and tell them when it wasn't being used - evening or after morning rush.

Legacy · 23/02/2009 21:58

Have you got any sinks with two taps (rather than a mixer). Buy one of those push on shower heads from Boots.... (for hair at least...)

Legacy · 23/02/2009 21:58

wet wipes for a morning freshen up??

homicidalmatriach · 23/02/2009 21:59

Rent a room in a cheap motel just off the motorway - stay there till the plumbers have left. Do not worry about children or husbands - any soap dodgers can safely be left at home. Refuse to return till bathroom is finished. Simple

Seriously if you hire 28 days ahead of time you can get travellodge rooms for £8 a night!

oregonianabroad · 23/02/2009 21:59

hotel?

oregonianabroad · 23/02/2009 22:00

x post, homicidalmatriarch!

PandaG · 23/02/2009 22:00

any mileage in showering at work? presume PE dept has showers?

friend of mine works in a school in admin capacity, and on the days she runs to school showres when she gets there.

ingles2 · 23/02/2009 22:01

leisure centre... you don't have to swim, just use the showers. I've done it at work for years, dh thinks I'm swimming!

ahundredtimes · 23/02/2009 22:01

Well I've had a whole family come here for showers, for a whole week. Didn't bother me IN THE SLIGHTEST. Is only a shower!

Either come use mine, or ask if you can pop round a friends in the evening. This family came in the evening, was much easier.

I can't even begin to think why someone would mind actually

ingles2 · 23/02/2009 22:02

if you're in rural Kent roisin, I've got a spare shower

brimfull · 23/02/2009 22:03

my friend had her bathroom replaced and it took 3 weeks
she went to the gym but her dh and dc's came to ours in the evening
Just stick you head under the tap..you'll survive

catMandu · 23/02/2009 22:04

pretend you're camping.

MaryAnnSingleton · 23/02/2009 22:06

we had a new bathroom put in last year and the lav was taken out and new one plumbed in immediately...we were only without a bath/shower for one night so all washed at the basin,including hair washes...I would be reluctant to use someone else's bathroom really as I hate being a nuisance, but that's a bit silly - am sure your friends wouldn't mind at all.

choosyfloosy · 23/02/2009 22:06

Well, we had 7 months with a cold tap at home... for most of it, we weren't there - other people extremely kindly lent us their houses (while they were away), we stayed at a Travelodge (excellent but you have to consider food - either you smuggle cooking facilities in and out, eat out every night or eat cold food every night) and stayed at dh's parents (wonderful from my POV but he subsequently cut off contact with them for 4 months!)

If you can possibly afford it, rent short term or go to a hotel. If not, you are just going to have to use a jug at the kitchen sink. Buy some flannels.

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