# Would you get into an indoor pool at the gym? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 12, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611 "2015-01-12T05:44:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/1 "2015-01-12T05:44:13Z")
My doc suggests I use a pool to exercise, easier on the joints. I do belong to one of those giant gyms with an indoor pool. You can go in for a swim anytime, but they also have scheduled water aerobics classes. I’m hesitant because I feel the place is a cesspool of infection. I’m no germaphobe, but I’m clean and want to remain that way. Am I being silly? Would you get in a gym’s pool? Have you? Any warnings besides wear flip flops? Any horror stories? ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/2 "2015-01-12T05:45:51Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > My doc suggests I use a pool to exercise, easier on the joints. I do belong to one of those giant gyms with an indoor pool. You can go in for a swim anytime, but they also have scheduled water aerobics classes. > > I’m hesitant because I feel the place is a cesspool of infection. I’m no germaphobe, but I’m clean and want to remain that way. > > Am I being silly? Would you get in a gym’s pool? Have you? Any warnings besides wear flip flops? Any horror stories? Have you _seen_ one of those gym pools? They use so much chlorine that nothing can survive in there. Same goes for indoor hotel pools, I’ve never had a second thought about using them. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/3 "2015-01-12T05:47:36Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > My doc suggests I use a pool to exercise, easier on the joints. I do belong to one of those giant gyms with an indoor pool. You can go in for a swim anytime, but they also have scheduled water aerobics classes. > > I’m hesitant because I feel the place is a cesspool of infection. I’m no germaphobe, but I’m clean and want to remain that way. > > Am I being silly? Would you get in a gym’s pool? Have you? Any warnings besides wear flip flops? Any horror stories? Assuming that the pool is chlorinated (and it undoubtedly is), there’s much less bacteria in it than on any other piece of equipment in the gym. Go for a swim. Without flip-flops, even. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/4 "2015-01-12T05:50:06Z")
I swim in my gym’s pool all the time. As mentioned there’s enough chlorine in there to make your eyes water just entering the room, goggles are a must. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/5 "2015-01-12T05:55:46Z")
I don’t think they’d even allow you to wear flip-flops in the pool. (Do wear them in the lockerroom, though – having suffered from both athletes foot AND plantars warts, I can’t stress this enough!) It’s always been my experience that indoor pools use more chlorine than outdoor pools. Take the plunge! ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/6 "2015-01-12T06:03:25Z")
I’ve swum in dozens of YMCA pools, and never had any sort of problem of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/7 "2015-01-12T06:07:00Z")
Only do this if less than 15 people have died in the last year because of waterborne diseases they caught in the gym pool. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/8 "2015-01-12T06:17:21Z")
Whatever you do, protect your eyes. I went swimming in a pool that used bromine instead of chlorine and that cost me a trip to the emergency room because I didn’t protect wear goggles, had a reaction, and couldn’t see until they anesthetized my eyes. Whatever they put in, they will do so at much higher concentrations than you would in your pool simply to make sure everything is dead. My answer, therefore, is yes, but with the caveat above. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/9 "2015-01-12T06:40:34Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > I’m no germaphobe, but I’m clean and want to remain that way. > > Am I being silly? Would you get in a gym’s pool? Have you? Any warnings besides wear flip flops? Any horror stories? Nice username-post re: footware. If it’s about avoiding dirty things rather than contracting germs, I’d advise not to use any public pool. Another SD thread made it evident that it’s common practice for adults to pee in the pool because they’re too lazy to go use the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/10 "2015-01-12T06:54:00Z")
I wouldn’t think twice about it. Never have, also have spent much time in various public pools, sorry no horror stories to share. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/11 "2015-01-12T07:39:50Z")
I’ve swum in indoor pools at the Y and my high school had an indoor pool. Never had any fears about it. Also, pee is sterile, and the amount of pee in a pool at any given time is going to be diluted in thousands of gallons of chlorinated pool water and filtered, besides. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/12 "2015-01-12T10:12:24Z")
I swim at my gym’s indoor pool frequently. I haven’t died yet. Wear goggles. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/13 "2015-01-12T13:55:46Z")
Sorry to say I think you are completely a germaphobe with a statement like “I’m clean and I want to remain that way.” a) you’re not. b) a gym pool uses so much chlorine you’re like 10x more sanitary going out than going in. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/14 "2015-01-12T14:07:38Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I’ve swum in indoor pools at the Y and my high school had an indoor pool. Never had any fears about it. Also, pee is sterile, and the amount of pee in a pool at any given time is going to be diluted in thousands of gallons of chlorinated pool water and filtered, besides. And now you’re dealing with homeopathic pee. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/15 "2015-01-12T14:17:24Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And now you’re dealing with homeopathic pee. That’s the strongest pee of all! ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/16 "2015-01-12T14:22:33Z")
I used to swim at my local gym, until I realized it was dimly-enough lit and poorly-enough cleaned that I could barely make out the lane line at the bottom (lap-swimming pool, so only about 5’ deep). No, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/17 "2015-01-12T14:29:50Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > And now you’re dealing with homeopathic pee. so would swiming in homeopathic pee prevent one from peeing?😃 ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/18 "2015-01-12T14:37:45Z")
If you want to be completely certain that the pools chemical levels are as they should be, buy your own test kit and see for yourself. It only takes a couple minutes and is actually kind of fun. Do this sneakily though, taking the water sample to a private place, so no one will know what a germaphobe you aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/19 "2015-01-12T14:52:28Z")
The flip flops are for the floor, not the pool. I don’t want athletes foot. I haven’t really been into the pool room since it was built and we took the tour, 5+ years ago. I don’t know what chemicals they use but I’ll ask. I hadn’t thought about how strong the chlorine probably is. Goggles sound like a good idea. The idea of a constantly wet environment with lots of sweaty people just turned me off. But hmmm… Ok I’m convinced I’m just being paranoid. Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611/20 "2015-01-12T15:40:37Z")
Also, if want to prevent hair damage from chlorine and metals in the pool water, wet your hair with tap water and apply conditioner before getting in the pool and wash it when you get out. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-into-an-indoor-pool-at-the-gym/709611.md?page=2)