From stone and wood to the zinc tub
Today, a large share of the population also uses the bathtub as a place to unwind and recharge. In earlier times, however, tubs were mostly used only for washing the body. This purpose, together with the limited manufacturing options of the past, tended to produce rather uncomfortable bathtubs.
The Roman Empire recognised the beneficial effects of water early on and made use of pools built from stone. In the later Middle Ages, people built tub-like containers from wood. With industrialisation, the first tub models made of galvanised sheet iron appeared at the beginning of the 19th century, and the first enamelled steel bathtub came onto the market in 1906. It was not until 1990 that the heavy enamelled steel bathtubs were replaced by lightweight plastic tubs, which caught on not only because of their low weight but also because their base material can be shaped in so many different ways.
Today, well over half of all German households, 65% to be precise, have a bathtub at home. Alongside the very popular plastic models, manufacturers also offer luxurious and exotic bathtubs made of elegant marble or fine copper. Because of their high material and production costs these bathtubs account for only a very small share of the tubs sold.
In good shape
Over time, not only the materials changed, but also the shape and appearance of the bathtub. For a very long time it was rather small and found as a washtub in the kitchen or laundry area. Only quite late, with growing living space and growing prosperity, did the bathtub increase in size. It now stood on feet in the bathroom and had the elongated oval shape similar to today's bathtub models. Today, elongated contoured bathtubs dominate, but they face strong competition from the corner bathtub, which is becoming increasingly popular.
The spacious corner bathtub, which can be fitted with extras such as lighting or a radio, is particularly well suited to wellness and relaxation. Bubbling bathtubs, known as whirlpool baths, are also very popular for wellbeing. They cost more to buy, but their integrated air jets, sometimes combined with water jets, create a special kind of relaxation. Rarer bathtub shapes include sitting bathtubs and extra-large tubs for several people.
The bathtub: more than just getting clean
In today's stressful times, the bathroom has become a small haven of wellbeing, a retreat, for many people. But why do we feel so comfortable in the bathroom? The right bathtub models play a major part in helping their owners relax and recharge. Today's bathtubs, mostly made of plastic and in recent years often bought as corner bathtubs, play a big role here. All that remains is the question: which type of bathtub are you?
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