Most people balk at the thought of communal showers. If you're feeling a little intimidated, rest assured your peers probably are too. Exercise a little common courtesy, and you'll find that dorm showers are not so bad.
Etiquette for College Dorm Showers
You may dread that first trip to your dorm's showers. Communal showers offer little in the way of privacy. Most students will go to the showers in a robe or a towel, strip off, shower and come back out in a towel or a robe to dry off and dress in their rooms. Each dorm is different, and some floors may only have a few showers, therefore, it is important to exercise some common courtesy.
- Limited shower space means that you may have to wait to shower. Be patient or try to schedule shower time for when fewer people need it. You may have to shower at night before sleeping or shower very early in the morning.
- Bring your own shower supplies. You'll want a small bag or carryall that is easy to hang up where you can reach your soap, shampoo and conditioner.
- Hot water and time are commodities. Don't shower for 30 minutes. 15 minutes is the maximum amount of reasonable time you should take in the shower.
- Wear slip on, waterproof shoes. Crocs are great for this as are flip flops. Unfortunately, communal showers may also mean communal foot fungus, so protect your feet. Don't forget to wash your "shower shoes" periodically.
- Save shaving for the sink or shave when the showers aren't busy. Shaving can be a time-consuming process whether it's your face, your underarms or your legs; don't waste shower time on them if you are using the showers at a particularly busy time.
Shower Toiletries
Remember that college freshman don't typically have a ton of living space. When you're packing, try to think about storage. That might be tricky if you haven't seen your living space before, but common sense will tell you that the Costco size of shampoo isn't going to cut it. What should you bring with you?
- A waterproof shower caddy - either a plastic caddy or a mesh bag
- A towel - if you bring a large one, you can use it as a coverup back to your room
- A robe - for covering up after you shower (if you don't have a large towel
- Shower shoes - either flip-flops or crocs
- Shampoo and conditioner - if you can use the 2-in-1 kind, you'll save space
- Razor and shaving cream
- Shower gel or bar soap - shower gel is decidedly more convenient in a dorm setting
Getting Comfortable in Dorm Showers
Showering in college may be stressful at first, but eventually it becomes commonplace. You'll soon discover a convenient routine that works for you, allowing you to fit seamlessly into dorm life.
