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Coping without a bathroom for a week or two.

44 replies

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:33

In a couple of weeks, our bath and shower are being ripped out and replaced. We need to get it done as there's a leak under the bath that is causing the ceiling downstairs to cave in, and we can't fix it without pulling the old bath out. However sadly we only have one bathroom (although thankfully a downstairs loo) but we will need to cope without a bath or shower for a few days / week (hopefully not more than 2 weeks). There are 4 of us, me, DH, and 2 DDs who are 6 and 4. Original plan was to pop over to my Mums on my days off work to use her bath every now and then, and then strip wash in-between, but due to lockdown we can't do that now. I'm not certain, but I don't even think because of lockdown we can book into a local B&B for the night (to use their bath in the room)! We've got a large plastic tub which I reckon I can make into a temporary 'bath' for the kids as I tend to do something similar when we've had caravan holidays, but not sure how us adults will cope. In particular I've got long, thick hair which I normally wash each day but struggling to work out how to manage this. I can use the odd hit of dry shampoo but find it makes my hair quite greasy so do need to do 'proper' washes of it I think somehow. Has anyone found a creative way to cope without a bath / shower during refurbishment works?

OP posts:
onyourway · 09/01/2021 21:34

Do you have to go anywhere in the next two weeks, like work?

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:35

Yes I'm a nurse so need to go to the hospital to work. DH works from home.

OP posts:
theoneiam1 · 09/01/2021 21:36

Can your Mum become part of a bubble with you? Support or childcare so you can still see her in lockdown and use her facilities?

OneEpisode · 09/01/2021 21:36

Any chance of a shower at work?

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:38

My Mum is already bubbled with someone else so I don't think I can make her into a support bubble for us.

Not really much chance of a shower at work either sadly.

OP posts:
nervousnelly8 · 09/01/2021 21:40

Fill the plastic tub with warm water and wash your hair over the sink. It's not ideal, but survivable for a couple of weeks. You'll appreciate your new shower all the more!

DelphiniumBlue · 09/01/2021 21:40

Kitchen sink with plastic hose attachment for hair? Or wash it using jugs of water?

negomi90 · 09/01/2021 21:41

Hotel or air BnB even with lockdown they're still open if you really need them and that counts.

hemhem · 09/01/2021 21:42

Will you still have hot water in the house? If yes then I'd do a mix of tub baths for the kids and sink/strip bath for the adults. I used to wash my hair in my sink as a student, brings back memories. Get a little plastic jug and you're sorted!

OneEpisode · 09/01/2021 21:42

If your home was uninhabitable you would be allowed to move, eg to your mums. The alternative might be plaiting your hair as best you can, washing as best you can (as the dc are) and ask the builders to provide what they can ASAP.

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:43

Yeah I may have to ask DH to wash my hair over the sink. Will be interesting....

OP posts:
Happytentoes · 09/01/2021 21:44

Basin wash with a shower attachment or portable camping shower for hair wash?
Can you hire a camper van with a shower in it ?
Last time I just showered at the gym but that’s not an option right now.

Any good friends with a spare bathroom which you could a couple of times - sanitising before and after ?

peapotter · 09/01/2021 21:45

Strip washes all the way.

Hair is trickier. Cut it off? Wink

You can wash your hair in a sink. Might need to get the dd to help you. Can you get one of those rubber showers that attach to the bath taps and fix it to your kitchen or toilet sink? Like Argos 276/6177

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:47

No-one with a spare bathroom sadly. We moved away from family / friends to move to a cheaper area, so all close friends / family are a 30 - 40 min drive away (even further for DH's family). Pre-lockdown it would have been easier as would have been allowed to still travel to my Mums, or go to the local leisure centre to have a swim and use the showers, but lockdown has thrown a spanner in that.

OP posts:
IaltagDhubh · 09/01/2021 21:47

This attached to the kitchen tap?

ThorFull · 09/01/2021 21:47

Oh gosh, I’m thinking of having the same done and we only one toilet. Kids the same age.

I suppose we’ll have to wait till summer or Easter maybe, and hope we can go and stay in a hotel somewhere. Not sure I could cope with school and work if I’m not in my own house.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 09/01/2021 21:47

Thats really awful. How can you do your job safely if you can't shower properly? I work in a hospital and shower before and after work because of covid. You can wash your hair in the kitchen sink using a jug. I've done that before but ask your manager if you can use a shower at the hospital. Even a patient shower would do.

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:49

Oooh thank you for the Argos link @peapotter That's a good idea.

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:50

Thank you @IaltagDhubh for that link to. x

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:52

That sounds tough @ThorFull If you can wait I'd definitely wait until post-lockdown and try and time it for the school holidays so you could stay in a hotel or caravan nearby or something.

OP posts:
bluebluezoo · 09/01/2021 21:52

Yes I'm a nurse so need to go to the hospital to work

Hospital will have shower facilities somewhere.

Ask someone who cycles to work.

I’ve worked in hospitals and universities all my life and never come across anywhere with no showering facilities. Possibly in a different department.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/01/2021 21:53

Use the showers at work. That's what I've done hen my shower has been unusable.

Sprig1 · 09/01/2021 21:53

Could you set up a solar shower in the garden? You will have to fill it with warm water from the house rather than rely on the sun but that could work. It will be chilly though!

KitKat1985 · 09/01/2021 21:53

I can ask @Shehasadiamondinthesky My manager is quite nice so she may agree that I can use the patient shower.

OP posts:
BeigeFoodLover · 09/01/2021 22:19

We showered in the garden with a thing over the kitchen tap through the window, it was grim, but the realty was only a week without the bath/shower.

If you can get a hotel for the time the room is totally unusable, I would really recommend it, especially as I bet you could really do with a decent bath/shower after work x