# Are bathtubs important? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2014, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820 "2014-07-23T04:28:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![oft\_wears\_hats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@oft\_wears\_hats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oft_wears_hats)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/41 "2014-07-23T17:39:32Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > I’m remodeling a bathroom and instead of a traditional shower/bath I’m thinking of just putting in a shower which will take up less space. > > What do you all think? It just seems to me that except for children, nobody uses a bathtub. Everyone takes showers. At least one bathtub is useful because you can wash your clothes in it if the washing machine goes out. Of course, I suppose you could also just purchase a washbasin and stash it away for emergencies. ---
**Author:** ![psychobunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/54ee81/32.png) [@psychobunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychobunny)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/42 "2014-07-23T18:16:11Z")
This is just my opinion, but I think that a lot of people who are buying like the _idea_ of a tub, even if they would rarely use it. I wouldn’t remodel to get rid of all the bathtubs, but if you are doing the master bath you could probably be OK as long as there is another bathtub accessible for those who like to use it. I know I’ve never used my bathtub(s) even though I wanted one when I bought for resale value. Then again, my bathroom situation is a little crazy: Master bath (huge soaking tub and large corner shower) Guest bath (tub/shower combination) Lower level (3/4 with shower only) Main level (1/2 bath/powder room) So-that’s one bathroom for me, one for guests, and I guess one for each cat. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/43 "2014-07-23T18:24:40Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Well we do have one tub already. The house has 3 full baths. One just has a shower, one a tub/bath, and this one DID have a tub/bath but as I said, I’m considering doing just a shower since its a small space. I don’t think it’ll hurt the resale value (whenever that becomes relevant) as long as you’ve got one bathroom that still has a tub, since most people mostly take showers, and only occasionally desire a bath. And between now and the time you sell, whenever that might be, you’re the only person whose opinion matters. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/44 "2014-07-23T22:34:55Z")
I work in a lot of fairly opulent McMansions and it seems every one built in the last 20 years or so has a spa-style, whirlpool master bedroom tub, in addition to other bathtubs in the kids’ or Jack and Jill bathrooms (which get used a lot, especially when there are children in the house.) I have never, in all my years, seen any evidence that anyone really uses these things. Or at most, just uses it extremely infrequently. But it seems a mandatory feature and certainly a selling point. As **psychobunny** says, it’s more about the _idea_ of a big tub rather than any need or utility. My house is modest and older and I’m usually the only one in it. It has one bathroom which contains a sink, loo, shower-tub combination and a linen closet. I do use the tub for a nice soak once in a while and since I can only soak in one tub at a time (and how many families take baths at the same time?), I wouldn’t personally see the point in having more than one. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/45 "2014-07-23T22:45:32Z")
> [@Dangerosa](#): > > In U.S. realtor terms, the first is a half bath. The second is a bath, the third is a master bathroom - the type not mentioned is a 3/4 bath - one with a shower but no tub. Urbanredneck is talking about making a full bath into a 3/4 bath. > > We never use the word toilet for anything but the toilet fixture itself - and even then its sort of a rude word (I just had middle schoolers in England for a tour, and they all thought it was rude to use the word toilet to refer to the room - odd, isn’t it). We might call it a powder room. We were also really confused by the word ensuite for a while (the grown ups) until we figured out the Bed and Breakfasts were telling us that their rooms came with private bathrooms. (Its a good word for that, just one we don’t use). I’ve been hearing “en suite” for a bathroom inside another room for a while on US housing shows. That’s what makes it a master suite! Which apparently must have double doors at the entrance nowadays too. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2014, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/46 "2014-07-23T23:58:08Z")
Many of the housing shows on HGTV are produced in Canada, and it’s on those shows that I hear the term “en suite” being used. I think the US equivalent is attached bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![MeanJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanjoe/32/5693_2.png) [@MeanJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanJoe)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/47 "2014-07-24T01:06:42Z")
> [@psychobunny](#): > > This is just my opinion, but I think that a lot of people who are buying like the _idea_ of a tub, even if they would rarely use it. . Anecdotal and purely my opinion but I agree entirely. We are about to start a big renovation to our 2nd floor including a new master bath and a new guest bath. For the master bath, one of my wife’s “must haves” is a Bain Ultra bathtub. That is a $5K and up bathtub boys and girls. This will be a freestanding tub and separate from the shower entirely. My wife is absolutely in love with the idea but in the 5 years I’ve known her she has taken exactly 1 bath that I recall. Okay, I’ll be generous and call it 3 baths in 5 years. Naturally being the smart woman that she is, she counters my argument by pointing out we’ve never had a Bain Ultra tub before so this will be different. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/48 "2014-07-24T02:53:51Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’ve been living without a bathtub for over nine years, now. I can’t say I miss it on a day-to-day basis, but I always find myself taking a bath whenever I stay at a hotel. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned on the SDMB is that [you shouldn’t take baths in a hotel](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7050837&postcount=33). ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/49 "2014-07-24T04:44:45Z")
The thing about those big, giant tubs. Do you know how much water and most importantly, hot water it takes to fill them up? Then afterwords you have to clean them so really they can be a big headache. And those jets in a jacuzzi tub. We once put our kids in one with a little bubble bath and the thing literally had suds overflowing! We could barely see our kids. And those heaps of suds took forever to go down. Very embarrassing because it was at a relatives house. My parents are elderly and they put in one of those special tubs called a “safety tub” which have a door and you go in and can sit down. It has a hand shower and its great if you are a caregiver and must give someone a bath. On showers - my inlaws have a mcmansion and there shower doesnt have any door or curtain. (Google “doorless showers”). You walk around a corner and there it is. I suppose the idea is to be romantic and 2 people can shower at the same time. I kind of like it though because you dont have to deal with shower doors or curtains dripping or getting moldy. One of the strangest showers I ever saw was in this mcmansion and the showerhead was suspended from the ceiling and the water cascaded straight down. Sort of like this image([https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpnY4Q1IMQUpLOhR\_b9ozThA3kIE7QBH7KqT1bc-MCDqqemh9xHQ](https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRpnY4Q1IMQUpLOhR_b9ozThA3kIE7QBH7KqT1bc-MCDqqemh9xHQ)). Kind of cool when your at a resort but really impractical in someones house. I doubt it was used much. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/50 "2014-07-24T07:11:09Z")
How does a tub with a door work? Do you get in and sit there whilst it fills with water? ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/51 "2014-07-24T09:20:35Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > How does a tub with a door work? Do you get in and sit there whilst it fills with water? Yes, it seals so no water goes out. Its designed for a person with limited mobility, like in a wheelchair, so they can take a bath. But they cost between $3000-$5000. You would be amazed at how many elderly trip and fall and hurt themselves while getting in and out of ordinary bathtubs. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/52 "2014-07-24T10:04:46Z")
There is a LOT of crazy talk in this thread. I’ll just paraphrase my spiritual mentor, Mr. Floyd: _If ya don’t have a bathtub, you can’t make any gin! How can ya make any gin if ya don’t have a bathtub?_ 'Nuff said, I trust. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/53 "2014-07-24T13:58:42Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > The thing about those big, giant tubs. Do you know how much water and most importantly, hot water it takes to fill them up? Then afterwords you have to clean them so really they can be a big headache. Just rinse them properly and if the water is very hard don’t let them air-dry. No need to clean later. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/54 "2014-07-24T22:56:07Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > There is a LOT of crazy talk in this thread. I’ll just paraphrase my spiritual mentor, Mr. Floyd: > > _If ya don’t have a bathtub, you can’t make any gin! > How can ya make any gin if ya don’t have a bathtub?_ > > 'Nuff said, I trust. That’s what the bidet is for. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/55 "2014-07-25T13:55:10Z")
Acc to my realtor, ginormous tubs are becoming a selling detractor. People today prefer showers. In fact, she said given a choice between squeezing in a tub and a shower, most of her clients would prefer a larger shower. But a normal sized tub is okay. We just bought a house with a ginormous Jacuzzi tub and we plan to get rid of it when we renovate. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/56 "2014-07-25T15:41:46Z")
We just converted our master bathroom from a tub/shower combo to a nice shower-only setup, fully tiled with glass doors. The other bathroom, the one in the hallway that guests use, will remain a tub/shower combo…my two-year-old takes baths, not showers, and anybody with young kids will agree that at least one bathtub is pretty much mandatory. My wife is a real estate agent, so every upgrade we make to our house is an informed decision with regards to how it affects resale value and buyer appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Arabella\_Flynn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@Arabella\_Flynn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arabella_Flynn)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/57 "2014-07-25T20:42:04Z")
The appeal of a bubble bath is lost on me, but I do find tubs useful. I occasionally wash the rat cage in one. It beats hauling the thing all the way down the stairs and out into the street, and hoping none of the other residents have hidden the garden hose.\* But if you’re keeping one, ideally the biggest nicest one, I can’t see why you can’t lose the rest, if you want the extra space. - Literally speaking. None of them are dating me, so I couldn’t care less what they do euphemistically in their free time. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/58 "2014-07-25T20:47:42Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Acc to my realtor, ginormous tubs are becoming a selling detractor. People today prefer showers. In fact, she said given a choice between squeezing in a tub and a shower, most of her clients would prefer a larger shower. But a normal sized tub is okay. > > We just bought a house with a ginormous Jacuzzi tub and we plan to get rid of it when we renovate. We have a nice shower and [this tub](http://thedesignhome.com/2011/03/sleek-and-modern-egg-shaped-bathtub-viaggi/) in our master bath. Even though we rarely use it, it looks great. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/59 "2014-07-25T21:33:29Z")
Should one buy a property without a bathtub, it would matter little since — after getting the proper discount to pay for the installation — one could always put one in. However I would have the darkest suspicions of the cleanliness of the sellers, who after all would have touched everything in the place, if there was no bath, and they relied on showers. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820/60 "2014-07-25T21:40:51Z")
Um, what? Are you suggesting that people using showers only are dirtier than those who take baths? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-bathtubs-important/693820.md?page=4)