Showering Before Getting in Pool

In addition to showers, pools should have also have a “Bidet” installed on each “WC” in the restrooms. A Bidet (also known as a “washlet” or “douche”) is a personal hygiene appliance which can really help with eliminating the risk of recreational water bacteria and they're quite common in Japan and europe. upload.wikimedia.org/.../JapaneseToiletBidet.jpg While we're on the subject of personal washing habits and techniques, the Japanese have a rigorous bathing regimen which starts with a mundane shower, then a neck deep soak in a hot tub. Even in high school gyms, the shower/communal hot tub arrangment is a quite common amenity. Although showers are great for rinsing off sweat and other gunky stuff, I like the Japanese approach of having a real bath (getting completely submerged with those back-tickling and scrubbing jets also)!!! :D Dolphin 2

I've always heard that just rinsing off all the lotion, conditioner, deodorant, and what-have-you helps water stay clearer and helps keep pH levels more stable. I don't know if that's true though. I always shower before going into the pool at the Y because that's the rule. But at home - I just hops in!

At the fitness center I use the bathroom stall is such that you unavoidably notice when someone takes a dump and subsequently enters the pool without washing. I recently noticed this, and the person appeared to be well paid and educated too. I guess unhygienic behavior is just a way of life for some.

I have noticed that the people who don't shower are often the same ones who keep their heads above water the whole time to avoid wet hair. I'll splash them a mouthfull of water the next time i see them:D SDK with high feet pointed at the face

Now can someone list the benefits of not taking a shower I just don't think running water over myself for two minutes before getting into the pool is going to improve the water quality. Unless everyone took a lengthy soap shower all it's probably doing is wasting water. My experience is that when a shower is required, most people just "get wet" and not much more anyway. I was actually surprised the other way. Virtually no one I swim with showers before entering the pool.

Many years ago, while passing through town, I stopped in Columbia, Missouri, to swim with the Masters group there. They swam at the University of Missouri (MU) pool. This was their old 6-lane, 25-yard pool. They had a very strict "shower before swimming" policy. In each of the locker rooms they had an attendant stationed with a view of the group showers (the type with multiple shower heads on poles, in one big open area). They required a full shower, with soap, before swimming and the attendant's job was to watch everyone to make sure they really did it. I don't remember for sure but I think they also required this to be a nude shower, without a swimsuit. Three years ago MU opened a beautiful new aquatic center (think Indianapolis, 20 years newer). We have hosted several swim meets there. At one of those meets I was standing on the pool deck telling someone about the showering requirement they had for their old pool. The manager of the new facility overheard me. He told me that he was one of the "shower attendants" when he attended school there. He said it wasn't the most pleasant job in the world. Interestingly, they don't have that shower requirement in the new aquatic center.

I feel like I need to take a shower after reading D2's post.

This is actually an important topic, given the discovery of viable MRSA in the water in beaches: www.webmd.com/.../beaches-may-be-safe-harbor-for-mrsa I bet it'd survive in pools for a period of time as well. Given that MRSA causes open wounds, I doubt showering would actually minimize the risk of transmission whatsoever. People with active infections simply need to be kept out of pools.

So in addition to showering before you actually get in the pool, please shower at home too. It’s nice to go in the locker room without getting an "olfactory assault” on your nose!!! :D Dolphin 2 Why in the world would I shower before I shower? O-C-D

I just don't think running water over myself for two minutes before getting into the pool is going to improve the water quality. Unless everyone took a lengthy soap shower all it's probably doing is wasting water. My experience is that when a shower is required, most people just "get wet" and not much more anyway. I was actually surprised the other way. Virtually no one I swim with showers before entering the pool. Right on. I'm sorry, but showering before jumping into a vat of chlorinated water is wasteful of time & resources. Do people shower before using cardio or weight equipment in the gym?