Swimming is an age-old past time that can be a great exercise or just a fun activity for an afternoon in the sun. If you’ve ever been to a public pool or a gym, you probably noticed that they had a sign requesting that you shower both before and after your swim.
You may think that this is excessive and wonder why it is necessary. There are good reasons for washing yourself twice whether you enjoy a quick swim or a long session. We have listed some of the benefits of the two-shower system below.
Shower Before and After Swimming: The Truth
Courtesy
The main reason to shower before jumping in the pool is to show courtesy to the other swimmers that are sharing the water with you. If you fail to shower, you will still have sweat, oils, and other traces of dirt and bodily functions all over your body. When these react with the chlorine in the water, they create that signature smell that you may think is only the chlorine.
In fact, the smell comes from the chemical reaction created by the irritants. Consider that you wouldn’t want someone getting in the pool if they were dirty or full of illness. You should treat the other patrons the same way you would expect them to treat you. This applies to lakes and beaches as well.
Prevent Negative Effects
Another benefit to ridding yourself of external toxins before jumping in the pool is that the side effects of the chlorine reaction can actually be harmful to your skin. When your body has these substances on them and is exposed to chlorine, you can suffer from rashes, itchiness, dryness, and eczema. Do yourself a favor and rinse off all that dirt to prevent all of these nasty effects!
Leave Bacteria Behind
Showering after you swim is important because it will help you rid yourself of any foreign agents that you may have picked up from the pool. This is especially true if someone else went in without showering. It is vital to shower after swimming in a natural body of water because there are more contaminants that can stick with you after you get out of the lake or ocean.
Taking a quick shower after your dip will help you to get rid of the germs and bacteria that come from other people and animals as well as sitting water. Be sure to follow swimming pool shower etiquette. This means rinse off, including your hair. You should shower with your suit on and off to remove as much chlorine as possible.
Get Rid of the Chlorine Smell
Chlorine has a strong smell that could sit with you for hours if you don’t take a shower after your swim. It is a strong chemical and its reactions create a distinct, unpleasant odor. If you shower after swimming in a pool, you will help get rid of that strong odor.
You will also able to get back to your everyday tasks without worrying about how you smell. Shampoo can really linger in your hair, so make sure to bring shampoo and shower gel with you to the pool.
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As the resident shower expert at ShowerJournal.com, Wayne Lee loves to share the helpful tips and tricks he’s picked up over the years during his job as a handyman.