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ease of use- bath or shower?

(66 Posts)
jordana Sun 13-Nov-16 09:59:08

Recently I am not finding it so easy to step out from the bath. We do have an electric shower over the bath but am considering removing the bath and just having a 'wet room' if that's what it's called. Just a bigger shower cubicle basically. I think I would really miss my bath but unfortunately we don't have the space for a bathroom and shower room. I don't want these chairs that lift you in and out. If you lovely ladies could say if you have showers only or baths that might help.

Swanny Mon 14-Nov-16 09:50:02

I'm another fan of reading in the bath. Before I retired it was my weekend treat. Working Mon-Fri I would do housework, washing and shopping on Saturday then have a lie-in on Sunday, followed by a pampering soak for an hour with book and coffee. Bliss! Never dreamed by 64 I wouldn't be able to safely get out of a bath.

I tried to duck under a fence pole the other week and got stuck as my knees locked. The family just stood about laughing till they saw me drop to the ground and shuffle under, commando style grin

Jane10 Mon 14-Nov-16 09:56:36

I used to enjoy my Sunday morning soak too. I often had my best ideas in the bath.
No more though. The plumbers are due on the 12th Dec to remove the bath and replace with a walk in shower enclosure. No doors necessary and a double length shower tray. Can hardly wait! No more struggling on my bath board. Phew.

Im68Now Mon 14-Nov-16 11:53:46

Haven't had a bath in some 40 years. The thought of all that dead skin floating about.

Takes all sorts I suppose !!!

Linsco56 Mon 14-Nov-16 12:03:37

I enjoy the occasional soak in a bath, especially if I need to relax and unwind but could live without one if I had to.

Just how much dead skin do you actually shed Im68now?

Charleygirl Mon 14-Nov-16 12:07:41

Jane10 have you considered buying a bath stool? Showering is so much safer for me. Mine is height adjustable and I would have problems washing my hair without it.

Alima Mon 14-Nov-16 12:29:05

Has anyone used one of those baths which has a door in the side and there is a fairly high seat to use? I dread the time, if it comes, I am unable to use the bath. Find a bath so warming and relaxing. Only bother with a shower in the really hot weather to help cool down. Is it only me who feels freezing cold when I step out of the shower?

Im68Now Mon 14-Nov-16 12:53:56

The Thought Of, read the post dear.

Jane10 Mon 14-Nov-16 12:56:17

Charleygirl yes we're going to get a stool for the shower when its fitted.

shysal Mon 14-Nov-16 13:40:22

When the time comes I shall buy a bath lift so that I can still have my morning soak. I am always awake and up at 5am, how would I otherwise fill the hours before I can move around and disturb the neighbours? I follow the bath with an hour's walk, but I don't suppose I shall be able to manage that either sad.
Bath lifts

Katek Mon 14-Nov-16 14:05:23

I have only had couple of baths in 35 years and that was only because we were having the bathroom retiled. It's showers all the way for me I'm afraid, sitting in hot water for ages makes me dizzy then there's the soapy scum that starts to form.....!! We have big ensuite shower measuring 120x80 with siding doors and very shallow tray but have bath in main bathroom for visiting dgc. I don't know what I would do sitting in a bath for ages.

Anya Mon 14-Nov-16 14:20:09

We've had a built in cupboard in the bedroom converted into a shower for a couple of years now since MiL was living with us. This meant we could keep the bath with the overhead shower.

I love a nice relaxing bath before bed and don't have any scum hmm problems!!! Showers are for mornings.

Anya Mon 14-Nov-16 14:23:35

the thought of is just all in your mind then im68now

Im68Now Mon 14-Nov-16 14:29:40

I'm afraid it was but it was enough, it sounds bad when you say "haven't had a bath in 40 years" blush

JackyB Mon 14-Nov-16 16:31:55

I don't like the thought of sitting in my own dirt and think the Japanese have got it right, showering before they get into the bath. Any forward-thinking person should get a shower, as we are all going to be in the position some day when we can't get in or out.

Having said that, my mother, at 97, still uses her bath. Some 20 years ago they had their bathroom re-done and a corner bath put in. As a bath, it's fairly useless, as the ends are vertical - a comfortable bath has sloping ends. But it has a little "seat" in the corner and she finds she can sit on this and wash herself quite adequately. My father, before he died, did, however, need help getting in and out.

I'd love one of those shower rooms, but we have room for a large bathtub and a spacious shower, so we're OK. If there was only room for one, it would be a shower. For a bath, we would then go to the local thermal baths every few weeks. They have rose-themed baths, chocolate, herbs, spices and beer.

jordana Mon 14-Nov-16 23:24:29

We've certainly come long way from a tin bath in front of the coal fire!?

jessye12 Fri 27-Oct-17 14:16:07

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Tottylimejuice Fri 27-Oct-17 14:29:56

We are getting to the stage of considering the fact we really need a seperate shower rather than over bath electric one. But we love a soak in the bath and would really miss that (we dont have room for both), so it did cross my mind to ensure a lovely short break away every month to make use of a bath! (Nice food, relaxing and sightseeing as well of course). Might be expensive though lol.

humptydumpty Fri 27-Oct-17 14:42:05

I love my bath, every night, enjoy a good read and soak. When I broke my leg last year I was desperate to be able to get in and out of it - I'm sure that speeded up my recovery!

PamelaJ1 Fri 27-Oct-17 20:45:13

Alina- my sisters MIL has a bath with a door. She loves it.

pollyperkins Fri 27-Oct-17 23:10:45

I hate showers and have a bath every day - not a long soak but a quick bath (usually.) But when I'm extra tired and I need a relaxing soak a shower just doesn't do it for me. I find it really hard to wash the lower part of my body adequately aprt from anything else! Fortunately I can still get out of the bath fairly easily , in my 70s.

POGS Sat 28-Oct-17 09:50:22

The choice of having a bath or a wetroom/walk in shower is all down to how difficult a persons mobility actually is.

For example I cannot get in or out of a bath due to my mobility so the question is answered for me.

We have a long length walk in shower with a single panel glass screen and it is the best thing we had installed.

We would have chosen the wetroom route but they are more suitable for ground floor fitting and the cost of having one upstairs meant we elected for a long length walk-in shower. Actually if and when we come to sell our house I think it might have been the better option .

One word of caution. The shower is slippy as I found out at a cost as opposed to the wetroom vynil covering which is very safe . Make sure from day one you have an appropriate non slip mat .

lemongrove Sat 28-Oct-17 10:06:25

Have just enjoyed a long hot shower....wonderful, and leaves you feeling energetic not sleepy (unlike a long hot bath!)

rockgran Sat 28-Oct-17 10:30:49

We had a shower put in so that we could have an extra toilet (on my wish list since 1972) and I don't miss the bath unless I have been gardening. When we go on holiday I like to have a room with a bath as a treat.

pollyperkins Sun 29-Oct-17 21:37:51

I can see that I'm in the minority! Bu I really think a bath is easier. Tell me how you stand on one leg and wash under your foot without falling over? Or wash anything without getting your hair wet? (I dont like to wash my hair too often - I think it gets greaser if washed every day.)

Anya Sun 29-Oct-17 22:23:47

I know this is an old revived thread, but just remembered that when I lived in France, my apartment had a walk in bath. You opened the door, sat on a ledge and your feet were at a lower level. Then you closed the door and filled it up with water.

And no, it didn’t leak. We’re going back a long time here but, it was actually very comfortable.