QLIFE- Admit to peeing in the shower, and you may get some dirty looks—but really you should be getting a gold star for helping to save the planet. Mic makes a compelling case for relieving oneself in the shower that goes beyond morning laziness.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, flushing toilets accounts for 27 percent of America’s water usage. Newer toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush, and older models can use significantly more (as much as 7 gallons). The average adult urinates six to eight times a day, which means that, worst-case scenario, you could be using 56 gallons in the span of 24 hours just by pressing a lever.
As Mic points out, relieving yourself in the shower instead of the toilet is really only helpful if you can multitask. Standing and peeing while gallons of water wash over you—and down the drain—is still wasteful; instead, let it flow while you wash your hair, cleanse your face, or brush your teeth (another water-saving technique).
Bonus: Peeing in the shower also helps you save on toilet paper. And we all know how expensive toilet paper is in Costa Rica.
Still grossed out by the thought? You can rest easy knowing that Glamour sanctioned the practice back in 2009. According to the mag, “Unless you have an infection, urine is sterile and nontoxic.” There you have it.
The Etiquette of Shower Peeing
The five unspoken but very important commandments of shower peeing.
1. Thou must not wee in a dry shower. No matter how bad you have to go, don’t you dare start until the water stream does.
2. Thou must rinse thoroughly. You should make sure you’re washing down a reasonable amount of water after you start your pee. Otherwise your shower’s going to start smelling pretty ghastly.
3. Thou must aim carefully. If you’re going to do it, aim for the drain, not for the walls. You might scoff reading that, but ladies can be just as capable of urine pyrotechnics as men.
4. Thou must not on another. Tandem showering is all fun and games until someone gets peed on. It may be hilarious but it can leave the other person horrified? Yeah, don’t do that. Unless they specifically ask for it. Peeing on another human is not a friendly thing to do. In fact, probably just wait until you’re showering solo.
5. Thou must not pee in a public shower. Come on. This is just good manners.
Over to you. Is peeing in the shower a terrible thing to do? Or totally fine? Use the comments below or visit out Facebook page to tell your story.
