1. How often should you shower?
Showering every day is in fact not recommended. Many people enjoy the feeling of washing dirt and sweat off their body every day. But the rushing water also washes away the skin's protective layer, the skin flora. Countless microorganisms live on our skin, but they do not make it dirty or unclean in any way; instead they form a protective barrier against pathogens. Dermatologists therefore recommend taking a thorough shower only every two to three days. If you do a lot of sport in summer and sweat accordingly, you can of course shower every day; but if you jump into the shower cabin every morning purely out of habit, it may be worth questioning that routine.
2. Showering during a thunderstorm
Showering during a thunderstorm can indeed be dangerous. When there is thunder and lightning outside, you automatically have a healthy respect for electric shocks. The people who should avoid the shower above all are those living in an older building: there, the water pipes may still be made of metal and can therefore conduct the current if lightning strikes. In a new building, on the other hand, the pipes are often made of plastic and do not conduct electricity. In addition, the individual pipes are all connected to the main earthing point. In newer homes, showering during a thunderstorm is therefore safe.
3. Water consumption when showering
“A shower uses less water than a full bath”: is that really true? In fact, water consumption depends heavily on your own habits: how long do I shower, how often, what kind of shower head do I use, do I leave the water running while I lather up? If you own a combination of shower and bathtub such as the complete shower cabin, the consumption is different again.
A full bathtub holds around 160 litres. An average shower head uses about 15 litres per minute. With a shower consumption of 15 litres per minute, this means:
- 3-minute quick shower: 45 litres
- 5-minute wash: 75 litres
- 8-minute wash with the water running throughout: 120 litres
- 15-minute relaxing shower: 225 litres
4. Showering during working hours
Showering can actually be part of the job and count as working time. This does not apply, however, to the office worker who fancies a little refreshment in the lunch break. In 2015, a court in Oberhausen ruled that a mechanic who has to wash off dirt and the smell of oil every day should be paid for part of this time. Strictly speaking, in his case it is the time spent putting on and taking off his work clothes that is paid, not the shower. In many occupations, changing clothes is generally regarded as part of the work, and for hygiene reasons showering can also count as working time.
5. Alternating hot and cold showers
You also keep hearing about the wonders of alternating hot and cold showers and cold showers in general. They are said to give the immune system a boost and combat cellulite as you get older. Unfortunately, neither claim can be proven. A cold shower does have an invigorating effect and can, for example, leave you feeling fresh and awake in the morning. But it does not protect you against the next wave of flu, nor does it firm up your skin.
©istockphoto.com/Anna Omelchenko
©istockphoto.com/Dr-Strangelove
