Showering in a bathtub is straightforward once you understand the basic setup: step in carefully, divert the water from the tub spout to the showerhead, and adjust the temperature before you get under the spray. Most homes with a tub/shower combo already have everything you need. If you’re new to this setup, unfamiliar with the hardware, or just want to do it more safely and efficiently, here’s how it all works.
How the Diverter Sends Water to the Showerhead
The small knob or lever near your tub spout is called a diverter valve, and it controls whether water flows out of the faucet or up to the showerhead. The most common type is a tee diverter: a small knob on top of the tub spout that you pull upward after the water is running. This redirects flow from the spout to the showerhead. When you’re done, turning off the water usually releases the knob back down automatically.
Some setups use a lever on the wall between the spout and the showerhead instead. You flip or rotate the lever to switch between tub and shower mode. Less commonly, you’ll find a three-way diverter with a lever that toggles between a fixed showerhead, a handheld sprayer, and the tub spout. If your tub doesn’t have a diverter at all, you can attach a handheld showerhead directly to the tub faucet with an adapter, which is an inexpensive fix available at any hardware store.
Step-by-Step: Taking a Shower in Your Tub
Start by turning on the tub faucet and adjusting the temperature with your hand under the spout. Lukewarm water is ideal for your skin. Research published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that hot water (around 111°F or 44°C) measurably damages the skin’s moisture barrier, increasing water loss through the skin and causing redness. Cooler or lukewarm water didn’t cause the same effects. A comfortable range is roughly 98°F to 105°F.
Once the temperature feels right, pull the diverter knob up (or flip the lever) to send water to the showerhead. Step into the tub carefully, facing the showerhead so you can gauge the spray before it hits you. Adjust the temperature again if needed, since diverting the water can sometimes shift it slightly.
When you’re finished, turn off the water before stepping out. This resets the diverter and prevents a surprise blast of cold water the next time someone turns on the tub. Step out one foot at a time onto a bath mat, holding the wall or a grab bar for balance.
Making the Tub Safe to Stand In
Bathtubs are slippery. A wet, curved porcelain surface is one of the most common places for household falls, and standing up while water is flowing adds to the risk. A few inexpensive additions make a real difference.
A non-slip bath mat or adhesive traction strips on the tub floor give your feet grip. Look for mats with suction cups on the bottom that stay anchored when wet. Outside the tub, place a absorbent bath mat so you’re not stepping onto a slick tile floor.
Grab bars are the single most effective safety upgrade. Federal accessibility guidelines recommend installing them 33 to 36 inches high, measured to the top of the bar. Ideally, you’d have one on the wall where you enter and exit the tub, and another on the back wall for steadying yourself while standing. They need to be mounted into wall studs or with appropriate anchors, not just screwed into drywall. Suction-cup grab bars exist for renters, but they’re less reliable and should be tested with your full weight before you depend on them.
Shower Curtain and Liner Setup
Without a glass door, you’ll need a shower curtain and a waterproof liner to keep water inside the tub. The liner goes on the inside, hanging so the bottom edge sits inside the tub by a few inches. The decorative curtain hangs on the outside. Use a curved or straight tension rod at the right height so the curtain covers the full length of the tub opening.
Pull the liner closed completely while showering, pressing it against the tub walls at both ends. If it billows inward (a common annoyance), weighted magnets along the bottom hem or a heavier liner material will help it stay put. After showering, spread the liner open so it can air-dry. A bunched-up wet liner is the fastest path to mildew.
Saving Water in a Tub Shower
Showering in a tub is significantly more water-efficient than filling the tub for a bath. A standard modern bathtub holds 30 to 45 gallons, while the average shower uses roughly 17 gallons over about eight minutes, according to a 2016 Water Research Foundation study cited by Portland’s water utility. Cutting your shower to five minutes drops that number to around 10 gallons.
If saving water matters to you, turn off the flow while lathering or shampooing and turn it back on to rinse. A low-flow showerhead (2.0 gallons per minute or less) makes the biggest difference without requiring any change in your routine.
Tips for Small or Oddly Shaped Tubs
Older or smaller tubs can feel cramped when you’re standing in them. A few adjustments help. Position yourself directly under the showerhead rather than toward the sloped back of the tub, where the surface is angled and harder to balance on. If the showerhead is too low, a simple S-shaped extension arm raises it several inches and installs by hand in under a minute.
For anyone with limited mobility or balance concerns, a shower chair or bath bench lets you sit while showering. Place it so the showerhead reaches you comfortably, and pair it with a handheld showerhead on a flexible hose so you can direct the water where you need it. Handheld models attach to the existing shower arm with a standard fitting and typically come with a wall mount to hold them at standing height when you’re not using them by hand.
Keeping the Tub Clean Between Showers
Soap scum, body oils, and hard water deposits build up faster in a tub that doubles as a shower because water hits every surface. A quick squeegee or wipe-down of the tub walls after each shower slows this buildup considerably. Once a week, a spray-on bathroom cleaner and a non-abrasive sponge will keep the surface from getting grimy. Pay attention to the area around the drain, where hair and soap residue collect and can slow drainage, leaving you standing in pooling water mid-shower. A simple mesh drain cover catches hair before it becomes a clog.