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

[roisin]

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?!

Is there a shower at work you could use?

There's a Travelodge room (in town) for £19 on the Thursday night. I'm thinking about booking it just for us all to have a proper wash! If it's not all sorted by then I'll be feeling pretty desperate, if it is sorted then we just won't use it.

I'm a wuss aren't I? I don't mind 'slumming it' in the holidays, but for work I like to look smart and do my hair and so on.

There aren't any showers at work unfortunately. Well, only the kids PE changing rooms, and they often have sports clubs before school, so I don't fancy that at all!

Go for it. It's quite nice to mess up someone else's bathroom now and then - even if you have to pay for the privilege.

i definitely did use neighbours facilities (DH did his at work) but i went in the evenings.

if you know a few neighbours, ask all of them so you only inconvenience them one or two days each

Roisin, do you have a garden?

We were without a bathroom for two weeks during redecorations. We did our morning shower in the garden, using a big garden watering can, filled with warm water. you can get a shower out of one can, and a hairwash and a shower out of two watering cans. It will be fun, it will really wake you up, bring you closer to nature, and you might even discover which of one of your neighbours is a peeping tom!

ROFL at the idea of showering in the garden! We do have a reasonably-sized garden, but it's not very private. We are very overlooked by at least 4 close houses, and other buildings slightly further, but on higher ground, would also get a good view too!

We had this problem for a while. FiL is round the corner and DH went there for a shower. I need to be clean and have hair washed every morning and couldn't leave during the morning rush with the kids. I don't feel the same if I shower in the evening.

I strip washed at the kitchen sink before everyone was up. Washed my hair with the mixer tap and a jug. Not the same as a shower but felt more or less clean