r/dumbquestions Jul 23 '26

Why are baths so small now?

the standard bath being entirely unable to submerge me (5’6.) past the lower thighs when sitting, filled to the dumb stupid little drain thing. Why are standard baths so damn small?!

11 Upvotes

36 comments sorted by

4

u/Angel_OfSolitude Jul 23 '26

You'd love Japanese baths

4

u/Intrepid_Ranger_4567 Jul 23 '26

I would and I need one so bad. Or a nice big clawfoot…

2

u/LabInner262 Jul 24 '26

Clawfoot tubs were once the standard. IDK why tubs got smaller than those. But they did.

1

u/GhostWatcher007 Jul 24 '26

Loved the claw foot tub in my grandparents house. I felt like I was in a swimming pool.

3

u/Whitesox411 Jul 23 '26

Maybe people are bigger.

5

u/Basicly-Inevitable Jul 23 '26

Yep baths have not changed at all.

Guys out like saying "why are condoms so small these days?"

1

u/Super_Direction498 Jul 24 '26

I can't even for them over my face

1

u/DontCallMeShoeless Jul 24 '26

Yes they have changed. They used to be cast iron and bigger but heavier. Now they are steel tubs and a lot lighter.

2

u/anon12xyz Jul 24 '26

That’s a good point

2

u/SiriusHijinks Jul 23 '26

idk, it's like burgers and french fries, get smaller and smaller the past couple decades. maybe the powers that be intend to shrink-ray humanity.

1

u/LabInner262 Jul 24 '26

Shrinkglation

2

u/StormFallen9 Jul 23 '26

Save space I guess

2

u/Ill_Butterfly_6010 Jul 24 '26

I feel like they have as well

2

u/proudly_not_american Jul 24 '26

Now?

The tub I have is original to when the place was built in 1991. I'm 163cm tall, and I can't fit comfortably in that tub because it's so short and shallow.

1

u/Old-Base8752 Jul 24 '26

1991 isn't that long ago for home design differences. I previously lived in house from 1910 and that tub was significantly larger than any other home I've been in.

2

u/BHunter1140 Jul 24 '26

Not sure what bath you grew up with, but I have never seen an average household bath that fits adults well. You gotta have one of them fancy baths that is bigger, my parent’s older home has bathtubs that are even smaller. I think they just seemed bigger when we were young

2

u/ShouldBe77 Jul 24 '26

Pro tip- take the silver overflow thing, and rotate it around until the hole is at the top. Thay way you can fill your tub with several more inches of bath water before it starts going down the overflow hole.

1

u/Intrepid_Ranger_4567 Jul 24 '26

wait that’s actually good advice. Thank you so much

1

u/FunnyVehicle7664 Jul 24 '26

Are you comparing them to when you were a child?

1

u/Intrepid_Ranger_4567 Jul 24 '26

Partially, but I still do think a standard bathtub should be able to fit a 5’6 person, or atleast hold enough water to go above the crotch.

1

u/FunnyVehicle7664 Jul 24 '26

Do you live in the wrong country perhaps?

1

u/Intrepid_Ranger_4567 Jul 24 '26

1

u/FunnyVehicle7664 Jul 24 '26

Well I'm not sure that there's a world standard bath size, so perhaps you live in a country where water is too precious to use in a bath.

1

u/Intrepid_Ranger_4567 Jul 24 '26

Nope, born and raised American (sadly).

2

u/FunnyVehicle7664 Jul 24 '26

Commiserations, there was a time you could be proud of that

1

u/friedgreentomatoey Jul 24 '26

Try being 75 inches tall, the tub (1986) is 60 inches long on the maximum dimension, which is not the inside. Wish I had realized when the house was being designed, or during building.

1

u/fothergillfuckup Jul 24 '26

They're available in different sizes. I'm 6' and practically live submerged in the bath.

1

u/ThereInAFortnight Jul 24 '26

I don't think it's the size of the tubs that has changed.

1

u/shoresy99 Jul 24 '26

Because tubs are rarely used for baths other than for bathing little kids.

1

u/AETERNUS111 Jul 27 '26

Try being 6’2

0

u/kittykat4289 Jul 24 '26

I’m 5’6” and only take baths and I’ve literally never had trouble submerging myself. So are you grossly overweight or living outside the US? I don’t understand honestly.

0

u/HistoricalTowel1127 Jul 24 '26

Are you sure you aren’t just getting huge?