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Original poster

Coping without a bathroom for 2 weeks

45 replies

SpamhappyTootsie · 16/08/2022 07:33

We’re having our (only) bathroom totally ripped out and everything new put in. Plumber said 12 days in all for the job - I assume this is working days so might be looking at more than a fortnight. Because of the work that needs doing we will only have a working toilet in there for that time.
I’m really looking forward to the new bathroom but the logistics are keeping me awake at night already and it’s 3 months off yet!

We can travel to a relative’s house for showers and in fact I could move there for the duration, but that wouldn’t be fair on DH who would be left juggling wfh and dealing with the dog.

How have people in this position coped? Any portable showers etc you can recommend? I’ve had the bright idea of a camping toilet in a spare bedroom so we don’t have to disturb the tradesmen while they are doing their work.
We get on well with neighbours but not to the extent of asking to use their toilet or shower.

OP posts:
Summerholidays204949393 · 16/08/2022 07:35

Do you have gym memberships to use their showers? Toilet wise if your at work Monday - Friday it shouldn’t be an issue as the builders won’t be in when you are home? Or do you both wfh?

WhyCantPeopleBeNice · 16/08/2022 07:36

Do you have a driveway? If so could you borrow someone's caravan for the duration?

Member of a gym to use their showers?

UnaOfStormhold · 16/08/2022 07:38

Is there a gym nearby you could get a month's membership at for showers, or do your workplaces have shower facilities? A flannel wash at a sink can be pretty effective in between.I think a camping toilet indoors would be pretty unpleasant so I think you'll just have to disturb the workers.

dudsville · 16/08/2022 07:40

That's a rough situation. I think the biggest hurdle could be if you get your period. Definitely accept offer of relatives shower. The portable loo sounds like a good option but a bit grim. It's only temporary.

Whycantibetangy · 16/08/2022 07:42

We’ve just done this but it was more like a month! We have a downstairs loo and used the gym, had a shower rota at relatives not too far away and strip washes at the kitchen sink. It was bloody awful not gonna lie but now we has a lovely shiny bathroom ☺️

Original poster
SpamhappyTootsie · 16/08/2022 07:43

Camping toilet would be strictly for wee only and emptied after every use. (I am not the poo troll!)
@dudsville that is my biggest fear! It would definitely be a case of me going to stay with relatives if that happened.
We have a local leisure centre. I could see what their rates are and maybe do the swimming I’ve been promising myself (after a shower, obviously!)

OP posts:
Yazoop · 16/08/2022 07:44

I had this done last year… our neighbours kindly let us use their shower. And we also headed to the gym / pool a couple of times. Luckily, we have a 1930s outhouse attached to our terrace which has a working toilet so we could use that as a loo (dodging the spiders 😫). Realistically it will be hard to get the workmen to work around your toilet breaks all of the time (a lot of the time the water will be off, the toilet unattached etc)

Could you potentially hire a portaloo and then use neighbour/family/friends/gym shower?

Original poster
SpamhappyTootsie · 16/08/2022 07:46

@UnaOfStormhold my workplace has a shower but it’s a school so I would have to get there super early. I know staff have used it for sudden power cuts at home on occasion - might see what my line manager says.

OP posts:
PlantsAndSpaniels · 16/08/2022 07:46

Temporary loo sounds good. Flannel wash and then shower at family's every few days. It'll be a lot cooler in 3 months so unless you exercise daily, missing a shower won't be a problem like it would be now in the heat. You can get camping showers which you can use out a bucket of water/kitchen sink through the window to garden but imagine it will be too cold.

Or if you have a massive driveway, you can rent a temporary bathroom near us almost like a portaloo but with a shower.

Singleandproud · 16/08/2022 07:51

I had my bathroom done last year, my toilet was never out of action, he left it plumbed in until he changed it over.
Showers etc we went to my parents for but I had it done over the summer holidays so it didn't interfere with getting ready for work (teacher).

I had my kitchen done in November and that was a bigger hassle.

MicksMate · 16/08/2022 07:58

Make sure you've got a blind up in the kitchen so you can strip wash in there.

Supermarket for a loo if need be.

User639921 · 16/08/2022 07:59

I would probably get a camping toilet as backup, they are quite cheap, you can buy bags and gel stuff from Amazon to go in them, your toilet will probably remain pretty usable throughout but it is best to have some sort of backup.

gogohmm · 16/08/2022 08:01

We had a downstairs loo and our plumber was my dad - as we had a separate bath and shower he was able to have one or other operational. It took 6 days total of which I was without the shower for 2. There were 6 people in the house (including my parents), we coped. Dad used to fit them all the time and never left people without a working toilet overnight or a shower for more than 2 days

pennysarah · 16/08/2022 08:07

We used the gym for showers. Toilet was left plumbed in each night (although no door on bathroom!). The bath was actually in situ and useable if very careful relatively early on (before tiling/sink etc was complete).

BlooberryBiskits · 16/08/2022 08:09

Hi - I had a bathroom refitted in past home. I was out at work so lack of access during the day wasn’t so much of an issue

The portaloo is a very good idea : I think workers would be annoyed if you were in there interrupting them all the time. Do you have a garden? If so can it go there in a tent?

mostly, fitters realise you need the loo left on so will leave it until one of the later things to switch (if it’s in same location) so you would access the loo at night

I managed the shower situation by a combo of flannel washes and showering at the office every couple of days. As you can go to relatives too I think you will be fine!

personally I would not stay elsewhere as builders sometimes need to consult you about things/if you are not there they may skip out & do other jobs : but just needs one of you to be there really

PowerPack · 16/08/2022 08:11

I've had this situation twice in two different houses. It would be unusual for them to leave you without a working shower of bath for the whole duration. We only had c. 24 hours with nothing. You had to be careful as the walls weren't tiled etc, but you could use the bath.

I spent as much time out of the house as possible and I would certainly go to the relative during the day if you can and DH find somewhere else to work.

Freddiefan · 16/08/2022 08:14

We had a downstairs loo so that was not a problem. Instead of a shower we used a big plastic jug and stood in a paddling pool next to the kitchen sink. I poured a jug of hot water over my head, had a good shampoo and soaped myself down and then another few jugs of water.

diddl · 16/08/2022 08:20

We fitted a shower head attachment to the tap in the utility room & stood/kneeled in a paddling pool to shower!

Awakened22 · 16/08/2022 08:37

Definitely get a temporary loo - I didn’t and whilst the plumbers were fine with me kicking them out every time I needed to use it, it was a bit awkward and I found I was drinking less water to minimize how often I’d need to go! Showers I just stretched out and used friends/relatives.

Original poster
SpamhappyTootsie · 16/08/2022 09:46

Some great ideas here, thank you everyone. And everyone who answered on my accidental duplicate thread too.

Will look into porta-shower, definitely. Be a bloody quick one outside in Nov Grin
Have a decent sized paddling pool and a sturdy kitchen blind.
Will be telling neighbours we’re having work done as it will be noisy at times in an end terrace with bathrooms together. If they offer use of their downstairs loo and shower then all the better but I wouldn’t outright ask them.

Can’t use relatives if any coughs or colds (CEV) so I want a useable backup at home with it being winter. Air BnB veeeerrrry tempting but would be stuck if work overruns, which I’m almost certain it will.

Kitchen next year - will be a breeze with my lovely new bathroom to hide in! Grin Grin

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 16/08/2022 11:30

It seems a long time to me. We’re replacing our downstairs loo and basin next week and he’s turning it round in a day.

Original poster
SpamhappyTootsie · 16/08/2022 11:38

It needs completely gutting and a few new floorboards, BlossomToes, as well as removing some existing tiling, built in cabinet thing, skimming walls, half tiling all of it, moving radiator, installing extractor fan, new ceiling with down lights etc etc.
Because I want a freestanding bath they have to do the flooring first, otherwise they could have plumbed in a new bath earlier. I started to change my mind but he said “Is that just because you have to wait, because you’ll end up regretting it if you really want a freestanding bath”. And I do want a free standing bath because I had one in a holiday cottage and it was gorgeous <impressionable>
Nothing has been done to this bathroom for at least 30 years Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
SpamhappyTootsie · 16/08/2022 11:39

It’s possible the bath will be ready slightly before the shower, though, I suppose.

OP posts:
Blossomtoes · 16/08/2022 11:42

Yes, that’s a lot of work, isn’t it? I’d have loved a freestanding bath but the bathroom’s not big enough 🥲

parietal · 16/08/2022 11:48

for washing, think of what people did 200 years ago before there were indoor baths etc. sink full of hot water, squat in a baby bath, pour hot water over self. you'll look just like this

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Edgar-degas-the-tub-1886.jpg