# Bathtub Alternative **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 21, 2013, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889 "2013-01-21T07:17:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![victorianfarmgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f14d63/32.png) [@victorianfarmgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/victorianfarmgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/1 "2013-01-21T07:17:24Z")
After a completely exhausting apartment rental hunt, I’ve settled on the one that meets most of my criteria including price and location- not easy in such a competitive market as the one I’ve been searching in. Only problem is- no bathtub. I know a ton of people don’t enjoy taking baths and prefer showering, but I am absolutely in love with baths. They’re always very relaxing for me. The bathroom has a typical cheapy shower stall… with a square of shower floor and then the 3 shower walls around it. Is there ANY way I can rig it so I can take something akin to a bath? Something that I have thought of would be to take a very sturdy rubbermaid-type storage bin or animal feeding trough thing that is large and put it in there and fill it up… I know it sounds crazy but I’d probably be willing to at least try it. I’m pretty petite- 5’ and 100 pounds so I don’t think it would need to be huge. I know some may say just go get another place with a tub in it but almost everything else I’ve look at is very high-priced or trashy or in a bad part of town. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/2 "2013-01-21T08:13:42Z")
Without seeing the layout or even a description, you’re giving us no idea what is possible. A standard US bathtub is 60" x 30" - 5 feet by 2 2/1 feet. Drains are right, left, or center. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. You will need something designed to hold water - it pushes outward in all directions. I’m going to guess that you do not have the skill and/or tools and/or inclination to build a water-tight tank and elevate it so it drains into the existing drain. There are your criteria: Must be able to hold water for indefinite periods Must have some way to fill (a garden hose on the shower head connection would get you cold water - by the time it got anywhere near full, it would be cold) Must have a way to drain. Not every hole will work as an effective drain. If you do not understand why that is, you should not try a DIY solution. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/3 "2013-01-21T08:37:41Z")
Agreed - if you’re thinking of building this inside a shower cubicle, loading could be a problem, even if the container is rigid enough to contain the water - filling it will take forever from a shower; draining it will be a pain, and you’ll still only have a box of water, not a bath you can relax in. A better option might be to treat yourself to a night in a hotel once a month - pick one with nice baths. ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/4 "2013-01-21T09:07:37Z")
I work with metric! but would you fit in this one?.. [http://www.babygadget.net/2008/10/transform\_your\_shower\_into\_a\_b.php](http://www.babygadget.net/2008/10/transform_your_shower_into_a_b.php) ---
**Author:** ![victorianfarmgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f14d63/32.png) [@victorianfarmgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/victorianfarmgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/5 "2013-01-21T09:27:04Z")
Oh my gosh, Jesta! I could kiss you!! Yes! That would really work! It would fit the shower space perfectly, would be easy to move around and fill up, and I could easily sit down in it and enjoy a good bath. Thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![Jesta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Jesta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jesta)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/6 "2013-01-21T12:51:39Z")
> [@victorianfarmgirl](#): > > Oh my gosh, Jesta! I could kiss you!! > > Yes! That would really work! It would fit the shower space perfectly, would be easy to move around and fill up, and I could easily sit down in it and enjoy a good bath. > > Thank you!! No problem! I mainly lurk here for the variety of subject matter, but when I read of a petite farmgirl wanting to get wet and naked, of course I’m going to do what I can to help! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/7 "2013-01-21T14:45:32Z")
If you do a search on portable bathtubs, you’ll find things like [this](http://www.ocelco.com/store/pc/EZ-Bathe-Portable-Bath-Tub-with-Accessories-p3761.htm?gclid=CKaA-vLX-bQCFQ_hQgodG1MAdw). ---
**Author:** ![applebetty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4af34b/32.png) [@applebetty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/applebetty)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bathtub-alternative/647889/8 "2013-01-22T02:51:58Z")
If you have a good outside area you could use one of [these](http://www.tractorsupply.com/rubbermaid-reg-structural-foam-stock-tanks-100-gal-capacity-2229901) with some of [these](http://www.tractorsupply.com/allied-precision-bucket-heater-1000-w-2170534). Maybe hang up some sheets or black plastic, or wear a bathing suit.