What are The Differences Between a Bath and a Shower?
We all have preferences for how we bathe, but you will clean yourself in a bath or in a shower, depending on your preference. When you discuss washing with others, you may find these two terms are used together as though they have the same meaning, which isn’t the case.
The process of each method is a little different, so based on your personal preferences and what you have in your home, it is important to understand the differences that exist between the bath and the shower.
What is the Difference Between a Bath and a Shower?
The biggest difference is how you wash your body with these two different methods. In a bath, you are submerging your body except for your head and washing in a tub of water. With a shower, you are sprayed with water to wash off soap, dirt, and debris from your body.
When you take a bath, the water is warm and you do all of your cleanings at the same time in the same place. During a shower, the water runs constantly and leaves the area through a drain.
Other Differences
There are other differences that are found between the bath and the shower. These include the following:
- position
- tub vs. shower head
- water pressure
Position
When you are in a bathtub, you are lying down and washing because it allows you to stretch out. In the shower, you are stretched out, also, but you are standing. You have to do a lot of bending to reach different parts of your body while trying to stand.
Tub vs. Shower Head
Some bathrooms have a built-in shower and tub in the same space. You can stand in the tub and turn on the shower or you can turn on the water and take a bath. Other bathrooms may have just a standing shower available or a bath tub with no shower attachment.
Water Pressure
The water in the bath tub doesn’t have a lot of pressure, since it is still and you are lowering yourself into it. The water doesn’t move and just surrounds you during your bath. With a shower, the water is constantly moving and the pressure of the water is hitting your body all over, which can be comforting.
There are some shower heads that allow that pressure to change and the way the water sprays so that it is softer or harder, depending on your preference. With a bath, you only have the water running out of the faucet into the tub.
Benefits of a Bath
If you are a bath taker, there are several benefits that you get to enjoy with this process, which is why some prefer this method regularly.
- Use less water
- Relieving muscle fatigue
- Relieve stress and anxiety
- Can last longer
Use Less Water
When you take a bath, you may less water than with a shower. The water you have in the tub is what you will use and it isn’t constantly running. You can control how much water you want to use, especially if you plan to go in there and soak for a while. There are those individuals who can take super quick showers, but the majority spend enough time in the shower letting the water run and it is excessive.
Relieving Muscle Fatigue
If you are having back pain, leg cramps, or pain in other places, a nice warm bath will relax the muscles in your body. This can help reduce the pain you are feeling and give relief so that you can keep going with your daily duties. Because of the relief it provides physically, many people enjoy a better night’s sleep after a bath.
Relieving Stress and Anxiety
Just like your body muscles, your nervous system can get tense and be painful. When you soak in a bath, you are able to relax your nervous system as well, which reduces the stress in your body. If you are having a lot of anxiety, a warm bath will help you release some of that, especially when you pair it with essential oils.
Bath Last Longer
With a bath, you have the ability to wash and soak as long as you like, which is not true for a shower. You do not have to worry about water running steadily and being wasted. If your home has a limited hot water heater, this also preserves the hot water within your home.
Benefits of a Shower
If you do prefer a shower, there are some benefits that a bath doesn’t have.
- Washes dirt and grime from your body
- Opens pores
- The flexibility of hot to cold
- Quick and easy for a regular routine
Washes Dirt and Grime From Your Body
Once you wash off your body, the water and the grime go directly down the drain. It doesn’t linger in the water like with a bath. You are getting clean water on your body constantly.
Opens Pores
Because showers tend to steam up more than baths, they have the ability to open your pores and expel toxins from your body during the showering process. This alone is one of the main reasons why showers are preferred over baths by a lot of people.
The Temperature Flexibility of Hot to Cold
Because the water is running and you are not sitting directly in the water, you can make the temperature for your shower a lot warmer or cooler than you can a bathtub of water. A really hot shower will help with muscle fatigue and congestion that you may experience if you are sick.
If you want a cold shower, you have that option too and there are benefits. With a cold shower, you can awaken your nervous system and allow it to jumpstart. This helps with reducing anxiety later and promoting better emotional health. Cold showers encourage endorphins and that reduces the possible depression that may be lingering.
Quick and Easy
If you are rushing and in a hurry to finish getting ready, then a shower is probably the best option for you. They encourage you to wash and rinse rather quickly so that you can start your day and get out the door at the right time. It is very easy to linger in a bath, especially when your body is encased by warm water.
What If I Want to Mix Up My Routine?
If you have both a tub and a shower head in your bathroom, you can mix up your bath routine. Depending on the time of day and the day that you have had, there are times when a shower may be the right option or you need a long bath instead where you can relax and let your body unwind.
You also need to make sure you have both in your home to mix up the options. Some homes do not have both, and if you are traveling, you could get a hotel room that has one over the other. In many of these cases, there will be a shower before there is a bath tub.
What If I Am Not Comfortable With Showers?
There are some cases where folks do not like the idea of not being able to control the water above their head. In these cases, these individuals usually take baths regularly and shower periodically when they do not have another option. If you spend your time only taking baths, you will still be clean and comfortable afterwards. This is the reason why most children start off taking baths and then work their way to showers later on.
Is Bath Water Clean Since It’s Stationary?
There are some folks who are afraid to take baths because they do not think the water is clean. It is true that the water around you will have the dirt and oil you washed off in it, and continuing to lie in the bath water is not preferred. It is still clean water, however, and if you have both shower and tub combo, you could stand up after your bath and give yourself a final rinse for good measure.
The Choice Is Yours
It is clear that there are differences between a bath and a shower, and frankly, there will be a variety of opinions on each one. However, choose the method that works best for you and makes you feel the best after you are done.
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