Shower More, Bath Less
Take one less bath a week
According to the Environment Agency, a 5-minute shower uses about a third of the water of a bath – can save 50 litres every time. (Although power showers can use more water than a bath in less than 5 minutes.)
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taunton, GB , 30 Aug 2005
don’t have really long showers though!
also, turn the shower off when you’re putting shampoo on head, or soap on body, or shave legs, or whatever it is you do in the shower! i’ve only just started doing this… amazing how much water i am saving… simple!
i still know one time when a bath is essential tho… on return from Greenbelt (if you’ve been camping, as i have this year… just off to have my bath now… don’t try to stop me…!)
04 Sep 2005
I’ve found it hard to keep to this, as we only have a wall-mounted bath shower at the narrow end of the wall, and it’s really hard to have a shower without water going everywhere. Also I am really dopey in the mornings and a bath lets me lie down!
However I will try to go back to showering on Mondays and any other morning when I’m in a hurry.
10 Oct 2005
Oops shower bust and haven’t got the cash to fix it at the mo.
01 Dec 2005
Isla likes showers, I like baths. In fact I hate showers – but with a busy life it tends to be the easiest way of not smelling. I am trying to think positively that this is good for the planet – perhaps thinking like this will turn a trial into a triumph!
Godalming, GB , 01 Dec 2005
I am showering more often . . . and am having less baths, so have made some progress. This is particularly good for me in Winter, and we still haven’t got the bathroom double-glazed, although we plan to do that soon.
17 Jan 2006
I try to have a shower where possible when not sharing a bath – which has got to help save water!
London, GB , 24 Jan 2006
I haven’t had a bath for almost 3 years!
London, GB , 24 Jan 2006
(perhaps I should have added that the reason is that I use the shower)
Nashville, Tennessee, US , 25 Jan 2006
In the states, we are not big bath-takers, but, when I shower, I always get wet and then turn off the water while I lather up and shave – thinking of and praying for all the people in third world countries for whom clean water is a luxury. Then I turn the water back on to rinse off. it is a bit chilly in the winter, admittedly, but so be it!
07 Feb 2006
Oh dear, this is not going to be an easy one….
26 Feb 2006
We moved into this house in September and I yet to have a bath! (I’m a bit smell yes!) Its all showers here
Salisbury, GB , 18 Mar 2006
Currently in the Philippines so I don’t have any option but to shower – actually its more usually a bucket bath – fill a bucket with water and pour it over with a jug. May I add that the water is always cold! Best tip is to rub some water on your stomach and ears first which makes the cold more bearable.
18 Mar 2006
Sorry’ I enjoy my baths too much’ & we do save energy by not heating the bathroom. We also share the water! . Does this count?
19 Mar 2006
Another easy one as I have a shower not a bath in my bit of the house and I don’t usually take very long except when I have to wash my hair (which is long) and I’m not going to cut my hair in the interests of being generous! Even when I do have easy access to a bath I tend not to slow down enough to think about having a bath. Will commit to trying not to linger to long under the lovely hot water…
21 Mar 2006
I’m going to try this one – Leah is a big fan of baths, but I can probably live without them. Especially if I can get my hands on an aerating shower head, thus saving more precious H2O.
Cambridge, GB , 28 Mar 2006
I love baths, they are my relaxation time. However I am thinking of trying to make up for my use of water by collecting the water for use on the garden, cleaning the car, etc. Has anyone successfully installed a grey water collection system? I don’t just want to syphon off the water, but actually have pipes in place to automatically collect. Currently surfing the web for information, but any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
Cambridge, GB , 28 Mar 2006
I love baths, they are my relaxation time. However I am thinking of trying to make up for my use of water by collecting the water for use on the garden, cleaning the car, etc. Has anyone successfully installed a grey water collection system? I don’t just want to syphon off the water, but actually have pipes in place to automatically collect. Currently surfing the web for information, but any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.
03 Apr 2006
I shower everyday and although I promise myself a bath now and then it very rarely happens. I think Mr. Moosegirl has a bath once in a blue moon. But Baby Moosegirl doesn’t shower yet at all as she is too young. I will reduce her water allowance for the moment!
06 Apr 2006
Bath maybe once a month. Just to be able to relax and have time out is good for the soul. Other than that I shower
03 May 2006
I can’t understand anyone wanting to sit about in a bath! Wallowing in your own filth – yuk!
02 Jun 2006
For those looking for a grey water collector for the bath – have a look at watertwo.co.uk. They won’t win awards for web design but they make a bathwater diverter that you fit to the waste pipe from the bath/shower that allows you to attach a hose and water the garden or fill a butt. It operates from ground level by two pull cords to divert the water one way or the other. Needs some diy plmbing but I’ve just fitted one to the outside pipe as I’m in the Surrey water area that has just announced the drought order.
21 Jun 2006
I only take short showers, mostly with cold water. The key to enjoying cold water showers is to concentrate during the first ten seconds and to breathe very deeply. Once your body is wet, you’ll love the sensation!
21 Jun 2006
Hi everyone, I have not had a bath for about four years now… no I do not smell! I love my showers, and have banned my housemates from using the bath, which took a while! When we get our new place I’m going to install a grey water diverter from our shower also.
30 Jun 2006
As an experiment, I’ve recently been keeping the plug in so I can scoop the water out and use it on our house/balcony plants. Nothing’s died yet and it shows you can recycle grey water even in a flat. When we move, I’m going to look into diverting it into a water butt.
10 Sep 2006
This one’s easy for me as I don’t have a bath, but I’m going to try turning off the water whilst I’m shampooing, lathering etc.
18 Sep 2006
I’m trying to catch water in a plastic tub while wetting my hair, shampooing and then rinsing again while still catching water in basin. I then use the caught water to bathe with (ie; using washcloth and soap to lather and then rinsing). We live in an apartment and don’t pay for water per se like homeowners do but I still try to be cognizent of my water use. Just because you don’t feel it in the wallet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t conserve.
Redditch, GB , 22 Sep 2006
Only have a bath about 3 times a year, relaxing they may be, (especially with a few drops of aromatherapy oil) until it comes to drying off which wakes me up again. Showers are really much more pleasant no sitting around in the dirt you are trying to remove and satisfaction of saving water.
Lancaster, GB , 30 Sep 2006
Now I just need to persuade hubbie not to fill the bath so high…
31 Oct 2006
We both shower rather than take baths, but for the kids (5 & 7), bathtime is a key playing time and a good time to chat to them! We will however, try and make those baths shallower!
During the hosepipe ban, we did try and scoop some of the water out onto the garden – the carpet did get a bit of a watering too.
31 Jan 2007
I’m going to focus on turning off the shower while I’m soaping/shampooing as our shower seems quite powerful. We’re in a rented flat so can’t fit a flow restrictor, but if I switch off the shower when I’m not actually under it, I think that I’m doing my bit.
13 Apr 2007
i dont even own a bath so this is easy for me! ruth
Swindon, GB , 03 May 2007
I don’t own a bath,though I will try and speed up the time I spend in the shower
13 May 2007
If you like a bath in the morning because you are feeling dozy, try putting on a world music CD and doing some “freestyle” dancing. Once the blood is circulating you won’t want to laze in the bath and the day will start with a shower and a sense of love for your fellow human beings around the globe.
Bristol, GB , 13 Jul 2007
I can’t remember the last time I had a bath!
23 Aug 2007
J is a bath woman, G showers, using low power setting, which isn’t baskable, but still gets him reasonably clean, and puts plug in to have a bit to sit in.
Little Green Fee, GB , 06 May 2008
Has anyone thought about how much water we’ve saved up to now? Must be loads.
Bicester, GB , 28 May 2008
Manage to shower most of the time – but there are times when on;y a bath will do to restore my sanity!! A long hot soak with no interruptions – makes me almost human. Younger kids still bath – but share the water.
02 Jun 2008
Most peoples skin cannot stand all this hot water. A nice oldfshioned soap and a basin of nice hot water will do on most days and one shower and one bath a week keeps me still smelling of roses
newcastle, GB , 11 Jul 2008
will mstart to take shours as i bath far to much great read of all your experiances
newcastle, GB , 11 Jul 2008
will start to take showers as i bath far to much great read of all your experiances
Chester, GB , 14 Jul 2008
I love my baths, however have not had one now since January as the plumber installed a new bathroom suite. The bath was is shallow, there is no point in having one, so I now shower as do my daughters! I also switch off the water in between soaping etc so save even more!
London, GB , 22 Apr 2009
i limit my baths to one a month, and have done for as long as i can remember, and it makes me really appreciate it. I put on candles and chilled music, and enjoy a relaxing half an hour.
haven’t tried the cold showers, maybe in the middle of summer, doesn’t seem so daunting then…
Hawick, GB , 06 May 2009
The last time I took a bath was months ago when my overworked muscles needed a warm soak. Usually I shower in our wonderful thermostatically controlled unit and then only twice a week unless I’ve been doing sweaty or dirty work.
10 Aug 2009
I couldn’t see myself lolling in a bath nowadays – always something useful to be doing. If you’re looking to help save the planet, I’d ask you to take a look at the following website – if you’re a GB resident – to take advantage of a couple of UK Government free ‘give-aways’:
http://www.shower-smart.org.uk
Could you pass the good news on? This will help us to keep the costs of alerting the general public to a minimum and leave more in the pot for the next project.
Many thanks.
Kingston upon Thames, GB , 11 Feb 2010
I very rarely bath nowadays, showers are so much quicker and easier, and of course it’s kinder to the planet’s limited water supply too ;)
03 Mar 2010
I just had my first epileptic seizure and so I’m not allowed baths anymore :( so may be a bit of a cop out but I still generally only shower to save water!
09 Mar 2010
Ignore my comment above, I found it hard to start but it’s second nature no, especially as we have a better shower thanks to my plumber hubby. I shower Mon-Fri but still treat myself to baths on weekends.