If your New Year’s resolution is to cycle more, but the absence of a shower at work threatens to stop you commuting by bike, why not build your own workplace shower?
Our own take on the idea transforms a standard loo into a fully-functioning hot water shower. The design combines an upcycled plasterer’s bucket, chair, chin-up bar and plastic curtain to create a functioning shower that can be assembled in minutes. Once finished with, the shower can be packed away just as quickly.
Our idea is tongue in cheek, but the DIY shower illustrates how creativity can overcome a reliance on facilities – in reality, you don’t need a workplace shower at all if you follow a few simple guidelines.
- The number one rule when cycling to a workplace without washing facilities of its own, is don’t skip a shower before you leave home. When you arrive at work, find a discreet spot and wipe yourself down with
disposable baby wipesa flannel (see advice posted in comments below) - Cyclists in continental Europe tend to ride their bikes slower when they commute to work – it doesn’t add much to the journey time and you don’t sweat
- The easiest way to get access to a shower if there are no washing facilities at your place of work is to join local gym
- It doesn’t solve the problem of getting clean, but keep a supply of shirts at work. Wool stays clean the longest.
Cycle to work
ETA cycle insurance covers thousands of commuter cyclists – including many who are part of the Cycle to Work scheme. At no extra cost, it includes new-for-old replacement, cover for accidental damage, third party insurance, personal accident cover and if you breakdown, we will even come out and recover you and your bike. Find out more
Ethical cycle insurance
On the face of it, one cycle insurance policy is much like another, but the devil is the detail. How much excess you will be charged is just one of the things that varies wildly between providers. Another is so called ‘new-for-old’ replacement – many insurers use this term, but if your bicycle is more than a few years old, devalue it severely. This means you are left out of pocket when you come to replace it.
With ETA cycle insurance, however old the bike, if it’s stolen you get enough to buy a new model.
For over 29 years we have been providing this kind of straightforward, affordable bicycle insurance. Little wonder The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be Britain’s most ethical insurance company.
jahews
Being ethical hardly includes wiping yourself down with disposable wipes.
The ETA
We had in mind the baby wipes that are plastic free and made form 100% bamboo fibre, but you’re right, we should have suggested a flannel instead and we’ve updated the article accordingly
frieda schicker
There are no such things as disposable baby wipes whatever the manufactureres claim, and they form a damaging part of the fat blockages in our sewage system, as everything sticks to them but they DONT dissolve, so a wipe down with a flannel, which you can rinse is the way to go.
The ETA
The baby wipes we had in mind are plastic free and made from 100% bamboo fibre so they are biodegradable, but you are right that none are suitable for flushing. We far prefer the flannel idea
Briony Baxter
Really sad to see that you advocate “wiping yourself down with disposable baby wipes” in your article on DIY showers. They are certainly not flushable and not really disposable as they are going to sit in landfill for a looong time. I take a facecloth which has been moistened in water with a couple of drops of an essential oil stirred in eg. lavender, rosemary or tea tree, in a reused sealable plastic bag and have a good wipe down with that. That does the trick and just needs a quick rinse out in the sink after. Back in the bag and use again tomorrow and the next day…..etc
The ETA
You’re right to say that no baby wipes are suitable for flushing, but some are at least made from 100% bamboo fibre so are biodegradable. We far prefer your idea though
Paul Lovatt Smith
Some of us don’t need a shower. I never did on my 8 mile commute in central london. Just a gentle pace, a change of clothes and a pollution mask.