Across North America there has been a string of intense heat waves. Day after day of hot, humid weather makes every moment and every motion downright unbearable. For the A/C-free, these are trying times. Many of these folks, myself included, have resorted to consecutive cold water baths, using the same water all day long.
Unlike having a cold shower, soaking in cool water lowers your body’s core temperature, providing greater relief of the hottest of days. It wasn’t until this recent heat wave that I made the switch and noted the difference for myself. Of course, I couldn’t bear wasting all that water each time I needed to cool off, so I leave the tub full and use the same water throughout the day (giving my feet a quick rinse in the sink before taking the plunge). At the end of the day I use the “gray water” for the garden!
So…is it green or is it gross?
(Image: House & Home)
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can't it be both?
Guess it's not gross as long as the water isn't.
It sounds like a great idea to me, basically the same as a child's wading pool.
Anybody who thinks this is gross has most likely never gone swimming in a natural body of water [or never given too much thought to it]. Lake swimming is far more disgusting than re-used bathwater. All that fish poop (and quite possibly some people poop...), dead fish, mud; not to mention the lots of other icky things that aren't so natural. Yet swimming trips are so much fun, and when you're in the water you really don't care what other things may be in there with you. Besides, wouldn't the amount of dirt in the water be similar if you're taking 5 baths throughout without changing the water versus one bath at the end?
It's certainly greener than refilling the tub every few hours just because you may have a tiny ick factor. Besides, I'm fairly certain heat-stroke isn't very green...but I could be wrong there...
As long as you are the only one using the water it's fine. I thought from the title you meant the entire family sharing the same bath water which would be nasty :)
not gross. Even if it is more than one person (within reason).
Not gross, just like a pool minus the filter but it's just for one day. If it's multiple people in your family partaking, I'd just say to put your bikinis or boardshorts on....
Where I live it can get up to 45 degrees celsius in summer (I think thats 115 F?). The power grid isn't built to have lots of people using lots of electricity all at once with the A/C and at least once during a heat wave there will be a power outage. So getting in a tub filled with cold water (well as cold as what comes out the tap) is the only way to cool down, and it works! I hadn't thought of reusing the water through the day, even though my entire state has been in a drought with lots of water restrictions until recently. I'd probably maybe share it with partner, as in getting the tub with him, but I'd empty it out afterwards. I only have small tub at the bottom of my shower any way.
Another tip is take a towel in there with you, soak it in the water and drape it over your head. Cools you down even quicker!
a friend's neighbor gets in a cold tub with his clothes on and walks around in cold wet clothes to prolong the cooling effect.
Anyone who thinks one day of reusing bathwater is gross has body issues. You're not a walking toxic waste dump, seriously! You live in your own skin cells all the time, you're not going to be harmed by a tiny, tiny amount of them dissolved in an entire tub of water.
If you're really worried, you can always stand up in the tub when done and turn on the shower for a few seconds to rinse off.
Why not try a Chilly Tube. You don't have to stay home in the bathtub to stay cool. Take the cool with you! www.chillythings.ca