It’s a debate that’s divided the internet – is showering or having a bath more hygienic?
While some people claim to only soak in the tub, others claim this means you’re stewing in your own ‘foot soup’.
Now, an expert has finally settled the argument and revealed the best way to truly get clean.
And it’s bad news for those who prefer a long, relaxing soak.
‘When you have a bath the water is not changed so all you are doing is redistributing the bacteria living on you to different body sites,’ Dr Primrose Freestone, a clinical microbiologist from the University of Leicester, told the Daily Mail.
‘Meanwhile a shower is a continuously changing stream of water which washes away potential germs.’
Surveys have found that 59 per cent of Brits prefer a shower over a bath, with many citing that it makes them feel cleaner.
Dr Freestone added: ‘Showers clean skin more effectively than baths. We shower to remove dirt, sweat, oil and odour–causing microorganisms – mostly bacteria – from our skin. This personal hygiene is important in maintaining general health and avoiding skin rashes and infection.’
Some people argue that having a bath is the same as ‘soaking in your own filth’. Others say that showers are better – for both hygiene and the environment
The debate first kicked off on internet forum Reddit when someone asked: ‘Is showering more hygienic than bathing because you aren’t sitting in a foot soup?’
One person commented: ‘I know some people think it’s gross but I prefer a bath. I rarely take showers.’
Another added: ‘I’d love to only take baths but my hair wouldn’t like it. There’s no good way to shampoo and condition in the tub.’
One user argued that baths ‘are for pleasure only’, rather than to get clean.
Some said they shower immediately before taking a bath, to get rid of grime before relaxing in the tub.
‘Assuming if you shower regularly, a bath isn’t going to be any less hygienic even if you do dip in directly,’ someone wrote.
Another said they thought baths were more hygienic ‘because it gives your skin time to soften and exfoliate more effectively.’
And someone else added: ‘I always do a quick shower after a bath. Bath is for chilling and relaxing, letting the hot water work on your muscles. After my bath, I shower to wash off the soap and whatever clings to me.’
Dr Freestone said that when you have a bath, all you’re doing is redistributing the bacteria living on you to different body sites (stock image)
Dr Freestone said that while bath water alone does indeed move bacteria around the skin surface, there is still some cleaning of the skin as sweat will be washed off.
‘Plus, there will be removal of some of the re–distributed bacteria coating the body when you towel dry,’ she explained.
‘However, it is important to remember to regularly wash your towel as bacterial communities will grow in number over time if you do not, making the towel unpleasant in texture and smell.’
She said that showering after a relaxing bath covers both wellbeing and skin hygiene needs.
‘Showers remove more skin microbes and dead skin cells than a bath as the water is a constant stream and therefore provides a friction force to the skin,’ she said.
‘Also, showers can help to wake you up, remove any sweat or bacteria you’ve picked up from your bed sheets during sleep. This is especially useful to do if your sheets weren’t freshly washed when you went to bed.’
However, there are some ways that bathing can be more beneficial to health, she added, as they help people relax, ease aches and pains, reduce tension and improve blood flow.
‘If hygiene after a bath is a concern, then you could always then take a shower,’ she suggested.
In the UK 59 per cent of people prefer showers to baths, according to a poll. Reasons include convenience, feeling cleaner and saving water
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No matter how clean you get in the bath or shower, experts have previously warned that a common bathroom item can be spreading germs and making us ill – the bath mat.
‘Bath mats are an overlooked item that can hold onto moisture and bacteria,’ experts at Plumbworld said.
‘They soak up water every time you step out of the shower, and if they stay damp, mould can quickly start to grow underneath, especially on mats with rubber backs that trap water.
‘The best way to avoid this is to wash bath mats weekly on a hot cycle and dry them thoroughly, either outside or on a radiator. Try not to leave them flat on the floor when they’re wet, as that traps moisture.’
