Yes, you can usually shower during a boil water notice, as long as you do not swallow the water. CDC guidance says adults can bathe and shower if they take care not to swallow any water, and babies and young children are better off with a sponge bath. What you cannot do is drink the tap water, brush your teeth with it, or use it for cooking until it has been boiled or the notice is lifted.
Boil Water Notice: Can I Shower?
Showering is generally OK because the concern is swallowing germs, not touching them. A few cautions from CDC guidance:
- •Keep your mouth and eyes closed and do not swallow water
- •Give babies and toddlers a sponge bath instead of a tub bath
- •If you have open cuts, wounds, or a weakened immune system, ask your doctor first, and cover cuts with waterproof bandages
- •Use caution with anyone who tends to swallow bathwater, including young children
What Needs Safe Water
- •Drinking and preparing drinks
- •Brushing teeth
- •Making ice (throw out ice made before the notice)
- •Washing fruits and vegetables
- •Cooking and baby formula
- •Pet water
How to Boil Water the Right Way
CDC says to bring water to a full rolling boil for 1 minute (3 minutes at elevations above 6,500 feet), then let it cool and store it in a clean, covered container. If you cannot boil, use bottled water. Cloudy water should be strained through a clean cloth or allowed to settle before boiling.
Dishes and Laundry
Laundry is generally fine. For dishes, wash and rinse in safe water, or use a dishwasher with a hot wash and heated drying or a sanitizing cycle. When in doubt, follow the specifics in your own utility's notice.
⚠️ Important: Your local water utility's notice always comes first. It may add steps that apply to your system. CDC's boil water advisory pages (cdc.gov) have the full guidance.
Will a Filter or Softener Help?
Not on its own. A water softener adjusts hardness minerals and a typical drinking-water filter is built for taste and specific contaminants. Neither is a substitute for boiling during a notice unless the product is specifically certified for microbiological removal. After a notice is lifted, run cold taps for a few minutes, flush the ice maker, and follow the utility's instructions for your appliances.
If the notice made you wonder what is really in your tap water, our free in-home water test is a good place to start.
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