Everyone knows how to work a regular bathtub or shower. It’s as straightforward as turning on the tap, putting the plugin, waiting for it to fill up before adding your favourite lotions and potions and climbing over the side, settling in and relaxing.
However, problems can arise when people with limited mobility have trouble manoeuvring over the bathtub wall. If you experience this, a regular bathtub or shower can be a dangerous part of your bathroom, causing slips, falls and injuries if you’re not careful.
But what’s the solution? A sure way to fix these issues and make your bathing experience a safer, more manageable one is to invest in a walk-in bath. But we often get asked how these walk-in baths work and whether they’re right for you. So, let’s get right to it and investigate what is a walk-in bath, the different types, and how they work so you’re completely aware of what you’d be signing up for if you got one.
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- What is a walk-in bath?
- Different types of walk-in baths
- Step-by-step guide to using them
- Why you might need one
- The cost of walk-in baths
What is a walk-in bath?
A walk-in bath is similar to a regular bathtub in many ways. These clever inventions are essentially a tub with a watertight door that allows the user to step into the bath rather than over the bath. The door can then be closed before filling the bathtub with water. When the individual has finished bathing, the water can be drained, the door opens, and they can safely exit.
As an investment piece for your bathroom, it’s only natural that you will have some questions, such as what are the advantages in comparison to a regular bath? Before we discuss these points, let’s look at the different available options.
The different types of walk-in baths
There are many options available when it comes to choosing the right walk-in bath. The most common you will likely come across are:
- Full-length bathtubs
- Sit up bathtubs
- Front opening doors bath
- Side opening doors bath
- Inward opening doors bath
Before choosing your walk-in bath, it’s worth exploring these options in more depth to find the one that’s right for your needs and bathroom space.
A step-by-step guide to using your walk-in bath
1. Open the door and step inside
Some walk-in baths will have inward-swinging doors while others have outward-swinging doors. The choice is entirely up to you and what suits your preferences and bathroom space.
2. Close the door and run your bath
Once you’re comfortably sat, close the door to your walk-in bath to seal the bathtub before turning the tap on. You’ll have to sit inside the bath while it fills up, but this shouldn’t take too long.
Even better, our baths have the option to include a bath filler. Rather than finding the right temperature by twisting your taps, you can use the bath filler to automatically fill your bath at the right temperature. Once you’ve chosen your temperature, it won’t change until you choose to change it, thanks to the safety control.
3. Sit back, relax and enjoy
Once you’re happy with the temperature and level of water, turn the tap off and sink into your luxurious bathing experience. Depending on what you’ve opted for, you may be able to enjoy some additional features too. For example, here at Mobility Plus, our walk-in baths provide the options to have:
- Easy temperature control
- Support hand bars
- Stylish and modern designs
- Low entry doors
- Spatherapy: This is a series of jets used to pump out bubbles of clean air, creating a gentle massaging effect that relaxes muscles and can help those suffering from aches and pains.
- Chromotherapy: This is a light-based therapy that helps the mind and body to relax. Light waves are a form of energy used to promote healing within the body.
- Drain the water: Once finished, it’s time to drain the water, open your sealed door and step out of your walk-in bath.
Why do you need a walk-in bath?
As you get older, you may start experiencing reduced mobility, or you may already be experiencing this due to an illness or injury. When this occurs, the everyday task of getting in and out of the bathtub becomes difficult and all the more dangerous. However, this doesn’t mean you should miss out on the relaxation of soaking in a warm bath.
There are many advantages to a walk-in bath that a regular bathtub cannot provide, such as:
No lowering into the bath
A walk-in bath has watertight doors that allow you to get in and out of it by walking in and out. This avoids having to climb over the side and lower yourself, which you may struggle to do with limited mobility. Doing this can also increase the risk of slipping.
Different sizes for different needs
Walk-in baths are often compact by design and can be made so that the user can sit up while bathing. However, walk-in baths also reflect the more traditional bathtub design. These are full-length, allowing you to lie down and submerge more of your body while bathing.
A comfortable and easy bathing experience
Walk-in baths are designed to create a much easier, more enjoyable and comfortable bathing experience, particularly for those with mobility issues or the elderly. For example, the low point of entry means that you can enter and exit the bathtub with ease, while the hand grab rails provide another point of contact to make the experience more manageable.
All features in one package
Walk-in bathtubs offer a range of features in one model, saving you the hassle of having to purchase each safety feature separately. Rather than buying modifications such as handrails, temperature controls, safety valves and non-slip flooring, you get it all in one model when purchasing a walk-in bath. This makes buying and installing your bathtub easier without having to make modifications along the way.
Deeper water
With a walk-in tub, you don’t need to step over the side. This means walk-in tubs can provide a deeper water depth in comparison to traditional bathtubs. In some cases, walk-in tubs can provide up to four feet of water, making for a much more comfortable bathing experience while still being securely seated. Many walk-in baths often have extra functionality, such as hydrotherapy jets and heated seats. The water is much deeper, so you can enjoy these features while being comfortably sat.
Make hydrotherapy part of your everyday
There are many benefits of using warm water daily. For example, to reduce aches and pains, soothe any sore areas caused by arthritis or speed up the healing process of any injuries. As well as this, baths are a well-known place to switch off from the outside world and relax. By relaxing your mind, you can also relax your body, making your walk-in bathing experience one you’ll look forward to every day.
What’s the cost?
While a brilliant investment, the cost of a walk-in bath can vary depending on the features that you want to include as part of the package. Some of the most common factors that can affect pricing include:
- The extra modifications you choose for your walk-in bath
- The style of bathtub that will suit your bathroom space
- Whether you want to include any more luxurious additions such as spatherapy or chromotherapy
Many useful additions are designed specifically for those with limited mobility or to create a disability-friendly bathroom space.
Take your pick
As the UK’s leading supplier of walk-in baths, we can help you create a safer, more enjoyable and relaxing bathing experience in the comfort of your own home.
If you want to find out more about how walk-in baths work, or if walk-in showers or wet rooms are more to your liking, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.