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Do you bath or shower?

(64 Posts)
grandtanteJE65 Mon 05-Aug-19 14:39:39

Reading the other day about a lady whose husband sometimes took two baths a day got me wondering.

Do people really still take a bath every day?

Here in Denmark no-one would dream of doing so. People shower to save water and to keep their water rates down to an affordable amount.

If you have a bath tub at all, and many people don't as there isn't room in a flat, you bath once in a while as a great luxury.

Am I right in thinking that bathing is still more common than showering in the UK?

Greyduster Wed 07-Aug-19 20:25:55

We had our bath taken out in favour of a walk in shower because neither of us used the bath - only GS when he was younger, but now he prefers to shower. We try and avoid staying in places that have over bath showers, because, having a dodgy hip, I have difficulty getting into and out of a bath now.

Floradora9 Wed 07-Aug-19 16:48:11

Bath never used in our house since the DGC were small we all shower and , speaking for myself, not for too long. A friend went to her GP because of her very dry skin . Wnen she admitted she sometimes had three showers a day the reson was obvious .

Fennel Tue 06-Aug-19 16:56:14

That sounds like our arrangement Charleygirl.
I do miss a bath, but keep remembering a newspaper article a few years ago.
An old lady, living alone , was having a nice hot bath, but she couldn't get out. She shouted etc but no-one came. After about 48 hours a kind person in the cafe she used to frequent noticed she was missing and found out where she lived and rescued her.
She had survived by topping up the hot water, and drinking cold water. Never gave up hope!

Charleygirl5 Tue 06-Aug-19 14:23:47

It is years since I last had a bath. I had mega problems getting out of a bath so I had the bath removed and a lovely walk-in shower fitted and I have never looked back. I have a portable stool in my shower because I can not stand safely.

I prefer to have a shower before I go to bed.

Esspee Tue 06-Aug-19 14:06:34

I love a bath and have at least one, often two per day. I do tend to combine it with a shower to give a final rinse and when I'm washing my hair.

notanan2 Tue 06-Aug-19 13:57:20

Of course it doesnt ? your liver and your kidneys release impurities. Your skin releasea heat and moisture and oils and salts. All a bath does is wash them off. They are not "impurities" but some bacteria like them. Showers do the same job.

Sitting in hot water just vasodilates you making you feel slightly light headed which is the "relaxed" feeling.

mumofmadboys Tue 06-Aug-19 13:50:42

I don't think the comment 'releases the impurities that build up in your body making you feel cleaner for longer' has any scientific basis.

JanaNana Tue 06-Aug-19 12:29:36

I have a long luxurious soak in the bath twice a week and shower on the other days. The bath water releases the impurities that build up in your body making you feel much cleaner for longer. The shower in our house is over the bath and I put the plug in first so my feet get an extra soak at the same time. Dread to think of a time when I won't be able to use the bath for a soak any longer, it's one of life's little luxuries. My husband reads books in the bath and spends as much time as possible in it topping up the hot water.

Tweedle24 Tue 06-Aug-19 12:05:07

We had our main bathroom altered to accommodate my husband’s disability caused by Parkinson’s. The bath was removed to make room for a walk in shower. I doubt that the bath had been used more than half a dozen times anyway. We both preferred a shower.

While suffering from an injured shoulder many years ago, I succumbed to the temptation of a big rolltop bath in an hotel and predictably could not get out without help. It caused my husband great amusement and me to swear never to use a bath again.

glammanana Tue 06-Aug-19 12:00:09

When we moved here I thought I would miss my bath but it was the best move we ever made,we now have a large wet room and I find showering so much easier and quick,I can start by washing my hair then lather up with my smellies whilst conditioner is working on my hair finish off with a good rinse all over, all good for me.

M0nica Tue 06-Aug-19 11:52:56

not even if you wash your hair in the bath.

M0nica Tue 06-Aug-19 11:52:41

quizqueen, if you bath regularly the water isn't scummy.

quizqueen Tue 06-Aug-19 11:45:39

I hate baths and the thought of sitting in scummy water as I wash my hair daily. Mine is only used when the grandchildren stay over.

EllanVannin Tue 06-Aug-19 11:35:02

Showers are so quick and easy, thorough too because your back can be done if you can't move your arms much in a bath, or slide down to do it that way.
Hair can be washed at the same time while showering, which is what I do. So much more convenient.

PernillaVanilla Tue 06-Aug-19 10:17:14

We have both and after a week of quick showers to get ready for work or after the gym a long soak in the bath is a total luxury for me. Lots of lavender scented stuff in the water,a hot flannel over my face and a cup of tea or a gin and tonic to the ready there is nothing to beat the relief and comfort of lounging there in the warm water. My best bath ever was in a huge roll top bath at The Pig on The Beach,a huge bath for two with a bottle holder and views out to sea over the Dorset stacks - Old Harry clearly in view. (that is the name of the stack, not some old pervert peeping in!)

henetha Tue 06-Aug-19 10:10:51

I haven't had a bath for years. Showers for me. It's not like I wouldn't like a bath, I would, but-
a) there is no bath installed here, and
b) I wouldn't be able to climb out of it unaided anyway.

tanith Tue 06-Aug-19 08:19:41

How can you not get every bit of you wet/clean in a shower? I’m puzzled, can someone please explain how?

Pittcity Tue 06-Aug-19 08:05:32

I agree that a shower gets you cleaner. I shampoo and condition first then use an unflavoured bar of soap (old fashioned and eco friendly) to lather up all over. Rinsing involves taking the shower head in hand and pointing it in the right direction.
Quick, easy and clean.

BlueSapphire Tue 06-Aug-19 08:02:30

Only showers for me; not had a bath for donkeys years. When we had our bathrooms done a few years back had the bath taken out of the main family bathroom and a big walk-in shower put in instead. I love a nice shower, and would not feel clean if I did not have one every morning.

mumofmadboys Tue 06-Aug-19 07:40:45

Much prefer baths. Have one every morning but not too deep to be mindful of water used. DH prefers showers. We have a large ensuite so can both use bathroom at the same time for washing.

M0nica Tue 06-Aug-19 07:19:31

notanan2, but if you do that in the shower, you end up washing that area with or washing into that area the shampoos and shower gells you use on your skin as a whole. I have skin allergy problems and that area is particularly sensitive, so I would not risk using a sponge.

In the bath, I use very small quantities of bath products that I know do not irritate my skin and I do not use soap and water, I let the water and the bath product do the work.

downtoearth Mon 05-Aug-19 21:45:32

Have a shower over bath prefer to shower every morning,but bath handy if and when legs need shaving,then its a quick sit down do the deed and shower

notanan2 Mon 05-Aug-19 21:28:59

But similarly I wouldnt just lie in a bath and expect the water to do all the work, I still get a soapy flannel and get the soap where its needed same as a shower!

notanan2 Mon 05-Aug-19 21:27:57

Im wondering if some posters are showering wrong? grin

You dont just stand there and hope everything trickles where it should lol, you need to leather up!

notanan2 Mon 05-Aug-19 21:26:27

Flats in the UK usually have baths (with a shower attachment) rather than a proper walk in shower

I dont agree that women bathe more than men. Most men I know prefer baths.

In my household its 50/50

I wouldnt buy a property that didnt either have a bath or the space to have one put in