Originally Posted by
Heidelberg Barbie
I was just trying to get into the head of German reasoning.
But seriously.... Most German spas where clothing is not an option require a cleansing shower before entering the spa area. Yes, the human body is germ-filled but it can be washed. Clothing (swim suits included), however, cannot so it comes off. I don't even think shower shoes are worn, at least no one wore them while I was at the Romanisch Bad in Baden Baden.
Most people don't think that extensively about whether the "rules" make sense or not, and how/why they may or may not make sense now -- if they even made sense before.
The pre-pool/spa "cleansing" showers which I see in Central and Northern Europe really aren't very extensive most of the time. Rather, given how such a small percentage of the swimmer/spa-users pre-swim/spa showers seem to involve use of products that help with assisted ionization action to clean the body, I would be surprised if my washed swimwear is any worse in its germ content than the average pre-swim/spa "washed" body jumping into the Northern and Central European bodies of water.
Now if the issue is one of being more "ecologically and environmentally-friendly", then that's another thing. But then it begs the question if those more "earthy" "nature" types are really more "clean" or not and how so.
I'm a big fan of requiring people to shower before getting in a pool/spa, even if it's a half-hearted rinse.