Bath vs. shower-for luxuriating, etc.

I was just watching this HGTV on some top bathroom luxury designs. http://www.hgtv.com/bathrooms/12-bathrooms-we-love-from-designers-portfolio/pictures/index.html

Honest I just can't overly excited about having or using a bathtub. Sure one with jacuzzi option is great occasionally. Yes, we do have a bathtub.

I love taking showers, both for daily personal cleanliness and also for the times I need to luxuriate. I find it very efficient also to wash my hair and rest all in 1 sweep.

Note: Didn't live in a home with a shower head until after I left home which means in my early 20's. Once I got used to water running in my eyes...I now love showers.

I do enjoy a good soak in a tub full of lovely scented water. But I always have to shower afterward! Weird, but I can't ever just get out of a bath without showering first. And then I feel guilty about using all of that extra water. So now I just take a shower most days. I LOVE the feel of water washing over me.

I lived in the woods for about 2 years -- we built a log cabin and had no power or running water. I used to heat water up on the stove and by the time I'd poured enough into the old bathtub, the water was cool.

I vowed to myself that if and when I ever made it back to civilization I would take a hot bath every single day. I did that for many many years, then stopped for a while and am now just returning to the ritual. To me, this is one of the greatest luxuries in the world -- warm water, soothing bath salts, low lights and maybe a good read.

(I'm taking a break now because I stubbed my toe the other day -- the left one, the side with the broken leg -- and cut my toe nail across the middle -- OW! But now I'm thinking maybe I should run a bath...)

Good idea DJ. And I'm with you. Baths are a top priority with me. They are what totally relaxes me at the end of the day. I probably take a bath 360 days a year. I take it at night. Eagle, then I take a shower in the morning and wash my hair. I use to wash hair every single day, but have cut back on that. It's just not necessary.

An absolute favorite bath is bubbles, of course, scorching hot water in the winter/a little cool in the summer, scented candle, and a glass of wine. Be careful not to drown! You'll feel like a dish rag when you get out. Then be careful not to fall!

Or, bubbles, great water temperature for the season, light and a good book or magazine.

Hot baths warm me up and take all the tension out of my shoulders.

In the summer, when it's hot and the air isn't on, I take a cool bath before bed and it must reduce my body temperature becasue I feel so refreshed and cool.

Showeeeeeer!!! Only because I simply don't have the time to soak. I tend to fall asleep in the bath as well.

I couldn't have said it better myself Dotsie. I do exactly the same thing except for being in the pool. Then I shower after getting out to rid myself of all that chlorine.

I LOVE tub bathing. But I just don't take the time.....even though I NEED them! Especially a shea butter and epsom salt bath. The shea, of course, for moisturizing. The Epsom salts for my old bones/muscles.

I think I'll take one tonight!

Anyone have a hot tub? We've considered getting one in the past, but we really don't have a private enough back yard. It's a good thing. I'd probably live in it in the winter.

We have one and I love it. We bought it used from a friend and fixed up some of its innards. It's so nice, especially on a cold night, to sink into the heat and luxuriate.

Seems like we only use hot tubs and jacuzzis --in hotels or in our fitness rm. for building...which for latter I haven't done for ages.

HMMM. Wonder if I have a hang-up.

With my life as a professional dancer, I have to say that a jacuzzi saved my career more than once!
I love them!

Dancer

ellemm, your post and dancers make me want to bite the bullet and get one. We have a 30th wedding anniversary coming up. That might make a neat gift, but where to put it? Hmmm. I know I would use the heck out of it.

orchid, public hot tubs are supposedly full of germs and rotten bacteria. We only use them on vacation if they look and smell clean. In Ocean City, MD, we've seen some foul ones that I'd never put my big toe in. Gross! Maybe you're thinking germs when you see them.

If you get a hot tub Dotsie, besure to invest in a high efficiency one. Most dealers will tell you that they do not use much electricity, but they DO! Even the high efficiency ones will make your electric bill run $50-75 dollars more a month depending on what temperature you keep it set on. Invest in a solar cover for the hottub. This will help the heater not work as hard to keep the water warm in cold weather. And from what I understand, you have to clean it often and add certain kinds of chemicals to make the heater more efficient also. My brother has one and has been complaining about his electric bill ever since. I think his hot tub is going to be history.

Keep it turned to cool in the summer months Dotsie when its hot and muggy outside. Its like having a pool to cool off in.

Only turn it on hot when you're inside it and want to work out all the kinks of the day.

Thw water treatments you'll get with it will keep it germ free especially if used only by your immediate family.

My personal feeling is it is worth it, even a little bit higher electric bill. Calgon, take me away!
Remember that one...

Cookie, I never thought about it adding to the electric bill. Thanks for the tip.

chatty, I would do as you suggest. Definitely use it to get warm in the winter and stay cool in the summer.

I'm afraid I'll turn into a prune.

Dotsie, there are so many beauty treatments for skin after your hot tub that it's worth it even for that. It also helps get rid of impurities in the skin and helps with colds and viruses.

So long as it is your family using the hot tub, and so long as you use "green" products in your hot tub, it should work out fine.

It sounds like a perfect anniversary present, no question. I would not do without mine. I even travel and make sure there is one in the room.


Dancer

Fortunately your pruny skin will once again plump up after being out of the water awhile. Use lots of moisturizer because believe it or not water will dry out your skin.

I agree Dancer. Our hot tub is the ultimate healer for tight muscles and tired feet. Those foot massages are heavenly.

Dotsie just have to warn you; a hot tub means a lot of maintenance. They didn’t tell us that when we bought ours. You have to check the chemistry twice a week and change the water at least twice a year. You have to disinfect the tub and the lid, which is muscle work. If you don’t do it regularly the tub can be a carrier of even deadly bacteria. My husband takes care of our tub. It would be too much work for me.

Oh and we manage to maintain it without chlorine. We use oxygen tablets. That is so much better for the skin.

We're at a new hotel here in Portland, Oregon for a short vacation. THe shower head and water is such that it is large and comes out like rainwater --very nice, not a huge powerful jet and saves water. I like this!

Re: jacuzzi & hot tubs, I noticed on a skiing trip in the Rockies, I used the public jacuzzi near the pool for 3 days in a row. Great for relaxing my exercised muscles but after being in the hot water for awhile, my skin was starting to dry abit more. Which meant lots more lotion afterwards since my skin dries out more in colder winters!