Showering Before Swimming: Is it Really Necessary?


We’ve all seen those signs at public pools, the ones that instruct swimmers to shower before entering the pool. And, you may have wondered whether or not showering is really necessary or advisable before entering a pool. The answer is a resounding yes. Showering before hitting the water, whether it’s in your own pool or a public pool, is wise for many reasons.   


Keep Contaminants Out of the Water

The human body is naturally quite dirty. It’s positively loaded with things that can contaminate a pool upon contact. Things like remnants of lotions and perfumes, trace amounts of human waste, loose hairs, sweat, and more can all be present on the body at any given time.

When you stand under the shower for a moment before entering the pool, you get rid of most of these contaminants. This keeps the pool’s water cleaner and safer for everyone to use.

Keep the Pool Smelling Fresh

Fortunately, when it comes to those trace amounts of contaminants that do get into the water, the chlorine in the pool will typically get rid of them and their harmful effects.

However, the harder chlorine has to work, the stronger the odor it will give off. And, since most people don’t like the stinging smell of heavy chlorine, you can keep the pool’s odor more neutral and less unpleasant by choosing to shower before entering the water.

Make Others Comfortable

Many people worry about germs and contaminants in the water they’re swimming in. If someone sees a person get into the pool without showering, it’s easy to feel disgusted, uncomfortable, or worried about what has suddenly been put in the water.

So, even if you think your body is clean and free of contaminants, it’s still a good idea to take a quick shower. At the very least, it will make other people feel better and allow everyone to enjoy their pool time fully.

As you can see, showering before swimming isn’t just some arbitrary rule. It actually exists for good reasons, so it’s a good one to follow, whether it’s in your own pool or a public pool.

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