Gym-goer takes 25-minute "everything shower" at their $130/month gym, ignores repeated knocks on the door: 'Gym showers are for getting the basics done, not spending almost 30 minutes deep conditioning your hair'

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JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
Dec 12, 2025 10:00 AM EST

Should there be a time limit on gym showers? 

It's always good to be courteous, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Last year, my hot water was out for a couple of weeks (I know), and I definitely used the shower at the gym. I tried to be conscious of my time in there, but I also desperately needed a hot shower. But just like gym equipment, showers are shared by everyone. You don't want to be that guy who spends all day in there, angering his fellow gym goers. But what constitutes how long? What if it's in the middle of the day and there are four other showers available? 

That's why this story became such a hot-button discourse, because nobody could agree whether or not this person was taking advantage of the system or not. The way she saw it, she was exercising her right to use her very expensive gym shower. The way others saw it, she was doing way too much and wasting valuable resources. Others clearly needed to be in there, given all the knocking, but that didn't stop her. 

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  • A woman with a towel on her head stands in a bathroom mirror.
    via Unsplash+ (Oleg Ivanov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • Read on to decide who you thought was in the wrong here. If you can't shower at home, shouldn't you be able to use the one at your expensive gym? Read what commenters had to say and decide what you would have done in this situation. 

  • Am I in the wrong for showering too long at the gym?

    So for context I go to a really small but expensive gym, about 130$ a month. It's a rural town and there aren't many other options. The building has 5 single stall bathrooms with a shower in each. There are no options for a just toilet or just shower room which makes it difficult when you need to
    via u/kmnnr
  • use the bathroom in a pinch. I recently lost access to water in my house and decided to use the shower at the gym after my workout. I took my time, I did an everything shower (for the girls that get it) and just enjoyed the luxury water pressure for maybe 20-25 mins. During that time the door was loudly and aggressively
    via u/kmnnr
  • knocked on at least 5 different occasions. I didn't say anything to the knocks but felt annoyed for feeling rushed when I pay so much money just to go to this gym. On my way out someone was standing by the door with there arms crossed and a sour look on their face. I didn't say anything because I hate conflict but was I the asshole for taking my time with my shower??
    via u/kmnnr
  • Edit to add: this was in the middle of the day, it was not busy when I was working out or when I first went in the bathroom. There are no time limit rules in the gym for bathroom use.
    via u/kmnnr

  • Commenters couldn't quite agree on this question.

    Fai... • 18h ago Edited 18h ago A 25-minute "everything shower" at the gym is crazy work. Especially when there is limited space and people were knocking 5 different times. Gym showers are for getting the basics done, not spending almost 30 minutes deep conditioning your hair, exfoliating, and shaving every crevice of your body. YTA.
    via u/Fair_Theme_9388
  • Uubilicious_The_Wise . 18h ago Everyone else using the gym pays to use it too so your annoyance at "feeling rushed" when you "pay so much money just to go to this gym" is a moot point and does not override their annoyance at having to wait 25 minutes for a stall when they pay so much to use this gym. 25 minutes in the shower is too long when you're not at home.
    via u/Uubilicious_The_Wise
  • A woman with a towel on her head stands applying lotion to her face.
    via Unsplash+ (Gantas Vaičiulėnas)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • YTA here in my opinion. That was a very selfish, inconsiderate move on your behalf
    via u/Uubilicious_The_Wise
  • Pol... 18h ago Edited 18h ago For $130 a month I think that facility should add more showers/ toilets so you don't feel inconvenienced, but also, if there's FOUR other shower/toilets why couldn't that person just wait and use the other rooms??? Why do you have to be an asshole when there's 4 other people
    via u/PollutionPractical55
  • either doing the same thing or possibly will be out in the next 5-10 mins. Even if it wasnt the same person then they can wait for the next person to leave the other showers... If I'm paying $$$ triple digits for anything MONTHLY then I WILL be using the amenities to my advantage given that's
    via u/PollutionPractical55
  • what they're there for. Also for someone to actively hear someone showering what makes them think you would just run out and give up the room you were just in mid shower - soap in hair/body and with all your stuff. NTA.
    via u/PollutionPractical55
  • . JiuJitsuBoy2001 • 18h ago YTA. Taking a long shower in the comfort of your own home is one thing, but if people are pounding on the door FIVE TIMES you are clearly disrupting things for others. They also pay for the facilities you know.
    via u/JiuJitsuBoy2001
  • Odd-Worth7752 18h ago . YTA. Hogging the shower for 25 minutes? Come on.
    via u/Odd-Worth7752
  • OldBoyShenanigans 18h ago What you pay and how many stalls isn't the problem here. Everyone is paying the same price, not just you. And 20 minutes is excessive in a public shower. Did you really need to do "everything" - I gather you were shaving legs, arm pits, bikini area - that you should have skipped. Quick hair wash and latherup. Ten minutes max.
    via u/OldBoyShenanigans
  • You didn't mention if the other 4 stalls were in use or not. And how long you've lost. water in your own home. If the toilets are in the shower stalls, you really should have been more considerate.
    via u/OldBoyShenanigans
  • Richardfitswelll • 18h ago So there are five shower/bathrooms? You admittedly took quite a while but wouldn't one of the other four have opened up since they were likely being used by someone NOT doing an everything shower or a no. 2?
    via u/Richardfitswelll
  • jmgolden33 · 18h ago INFO: Did the other four stalls all happen to be taking long showers as well? Why was this person so focused on your stall?
    via u/jmgolden33
  • rotundanimal • 18h ago There's nothing to suggest it was one person knocking the whole time
    via u/rotundanimal
  • . Alone-Firefighter283 • 18h ago It does seem a little selfish to take that long when you know there are only 5 showers, especially if the gym was busy
    via u/Alone-Firefighter283
  • • ZFG_Ranger 18h ago Uh yeah you're an asshole. The showers at a gym are for a quick shower after working out, not for a 25 min everything shower as you said. The water at your place went out and you decide to make it other people's problem? Get your shit fixed and take 25 min showers at home for fucks sake.
    via u/ZFG_Ranger
  • SalaudChaud · 18h ago Hogging a limited resource during a busy time is very much an asshole move. Ignoring whomever it was knocking compounds the assholery - you knew it was busy, you knew people were waiting, but you did not care.
    via u/SalaudChaud
  • If this story had been written from the point of view of a gym member who knocked repeatedly on the shower door because some selfish person was "doing an everything shower" during an especially busy time at the gym then I suspect almost every reader would say they were not the asshole and you were. Because you are. YTA
    via u/SalaudChaud
  • Solid_Quote9133 • 18h ago 20-25 mins is too long for a gym shower That should be a 10 min shower at most. You are at the gym YTA Seriously what you doing, shaving???
    via u/Solid_Quote9133
  • ArtBitch420 • 17h ago 25 mins isn't even that long to shower and get dressed. Especially considering potential hair types.
    via u/ArtB****420
  • Khantahr 18h ago 5 separate bathrooms and $130/month? Fuck no, NTA. That's highway robbery, take your time and enjoy it.
    via u/Khantahr
  • SafetyFluid8535 • 18h ago Question-how busy was it? Normally I'd say NTA for a 20- 25 min shower. BUT if it's a busy time of say, and you know it's likely all 4 other stalls are in use the entire time, then you shouldn't do an everything shower at that
    via u/SafetyFluid8535
  • time. It's the same as using the treadmill more than 30 min - if you want to do a long run that's fine if it's quiet but you'd be annoyed if you were waiting for a treadmill and everyone was cycling thru 30 min each except one person running a marathon. And the bathroom is worse because, like you said, it's rough if you need to pee.
    via u/SafetyFluid8535
  • Informal_Dimension... . 17h ago wow didn't think I'd be in the minority but NTA! you're allowed to use the amenities provided for you. if they knocked that many times it says the other stalls were also occupied for the same amount of time. why should it be your problem?
    via u/Informal_Dimension93

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