Our house has a single bathroom. That’s 1 bathroom.
There are ten people living here. That’s a lot of space sharing.
Here are a few of my best tips for making a single bathroom work:
1. Keep it short.
It’s likely that someone else will need to use the room when you do. Keeping your visit short keeps the room from bottle-necking too badly. It also saves water!
We encourage:
-short showers
-short potty trips
-short primping sessions
2. If you’re male and there’s a line, you can either wait or go outside.
One of the benefits of living in the boonies. Dad, Jeffrey, and Bryan all go outside when they need to.
3. Shut the curtain
As long as the shower curtain is shut, someone can be showering while another person runs in for a quick potty stop and nobody will see anything.
Do the showering person a favor and warn them before you flush!
4. Communicate.
Dad always asks if we’re done for the night before he showers. Sometimes I let him know when we are before he asks.
5. Knock on the Door
Bathroom occupants can change quickly. After walking in on Dad when I thought Ellie was in there, I learned my lesson–knock!
6. When Someone Knocks, Answer
There’s nothing worse then standing there knocking when you have to go, and wondering if someone is really in there or if the door got shut on an empty bathroom.
Just call out, “Just a minute,” or something. Just say SOMETHING! Otherwise I will assume it’s empty and walk in.
That might be awkward!
7. Keep it Clean
If you get something out, put it away. If you make a mess, clean it up.
Bathrooms can get disgusting easily, so it helps when everyone pitches in.
8. Keep the Toys Out of the Tub
When Dad first moved in, we had toys all over the tub floor. We just always pushed them out of the way.
It was an eye opener when he asked where he should put them the first time he took a shower. I had no idea–I quickly shoved them into a drawer.
Now, we pick them up when the kids are done bathing, and let them dry on a towel. We have fewer toys get moldy, and less wounds on our feet!
9. Change the Toilet Paper Roll
If it’s empty, change it! If the cupboard is getting empty, let me know.
Do you have many people sharing one bathroom as well? I’d love to hear more tips for getting the most out of this well used space!
