Hogwarts Showers ... and so on

[Chris]

Where do the stuidents at hogwarts get thier showers, do there teeth and so on??:??: Perhaps they have an ensuite for each dormitory 5-6 boys/girls, or perhaps they just have a huge one for all the boys and a huge one for all the girls? or.....
....perhaps they use magic.


poke: are u still alive or have i bored u to death poke: poke:

[Thayet]

Well, we know the prefects have a bathroom, and theres girls and boys bathrooms all around, I suspect some of these bathrooms have baths and showers with locks incorporated, and there most probably is some in the houses, say a girls and a boys for each house, or connected to each dormitory.

[Chris]

I knew there were bathrooms, but i didnt know idf there wete like shower rooms, exept the prefect one, which i wish was mine!

[Godfather Sirius Black]

I reckon they have two per house (boys + girls)
And the Prefect one. And I reckon the staff get one each. Ooh yeh, I doubt it the use toothbrushes.

[Godfather Sirius Black]

"Teetho Cleanus" - how easy it would be......

[Cat]

The bathrooms dotted about (except the prefect one) will be just toilets and sinks (and one ghost).

Maybe there are boys' and girls' shower facilities with each house, behind the individual entrances such as the Fat Lady painting. Maybe a bathroom comes with each dormitory. Students can bring their own toothbrush and toothpaste! The more magical minded might use a Tooth Cleaning Potion or what-have-you.

Hopefully there's no more than just sinks in the Quidditch team changing rooms. Otherwise boys and girls would shower together. Ick.

[Godfather Sirius Black]

Cat how old are you?

[Thayet]

poke: Thats a bit off subject poke: More Hogwarts Express Stuff poke:

Back to the subject...I think that they must have toothpaste of some kind, because they wouldn't use magic for everything.

[Godfather Sirius Black]

Sorry.

[Cat]

Originally posted by Thayet

Back to the subject...I think that they must have toothpaste of some kind, because they wouldn't use magic for everything.

What about potions? Peppermint Potion for Pearly Whites. I can't imagine wizards using some of the ingredients that are put in toothpaste, to be honest.

Godfather Sirius Black, I'm 17. Why, am I being immature? (Don't answer that unless you have something to contribute back at this thread first :D )

[Knight]

Like cat said there are likely toilet-and-sink bathrooms scattered around the "working" parts of Hogwarts. In the "living" parts like te dormitories they probably have the bathrooms with showers. How many there are is difficult to say. Going by the 300-student theory and 6-prefects-per-house theory, if there were a girls and a boys bathroom in each house then about 32 people would be sharing a bathroom. Not an exorbitant number as long as the bathrooms are big enough. Using magic to clean yourself doesn't sound very satisfying.

[dumbleedore]

Am I the only one who remembers the very circular argument had back on Mugglenet over this very same topic? Actually, it might have been here.

We eventully decided that there was a bathroom attached to the dorms, plus a male and female prefect, plus bathrooms like Myrtles.

[Fuchsia]

Since students aren't allowed out of bed at night they must have restrooms & baths in their dorms.

[Chris]

Godfather Sirus Black wants to know how old you are because he's lonely and desperate!

[Qeomash]

Cat, there are showers in the Locker Rooms. Think of the blurb after Gryiffindor's "Grim Defeat". One of the players (not sure who) said that Wood was still in the showers, probably trying to drown himself.

But, thinking along your lines, who says that there is only one shower room? There's probably two, one for boys and girls.

[JoFaye]

I think they do a lot of every day things she doesn't
think is worthy of mentioning. You'd assume anyway.

[dumbleedore]

They mention washing in CoS. After Herbology on the first day they head back to Gryffindor tower for a wash before Transfiguration. (Now, why can I remember that but not that quote?)

[Fuchsia]

You sound like me, dumbleedore. I remember the littlest facts about Vernon Dursley but cannot remember important stuff.
This is good for people who play the trivia games with me because I lose if I don't land on muggle.

[Astaldo]

I think besides 2 in each house, their would be 2 for the teachers, and meany spread amonst the school. (as well as prefects)

[Padfoot127]

ok this might be a bit immature sounding and a bit off topic, but when do they shower? i mean, JK has said stuff like after dinner harry pulledon his PJs and went straight to bed and then he wakes up and goes to class and goes straight to be again. it's like, do they go for days without bathing sometimes? i dunno i'm a bit slow on things but still.

[Ashkins]

I would think there is a bathroom with shower for each of the rooms. 5 boys in Harry's room must share. Or why hasn't Harry run into the twins on his way to wash. Its always somewhere else in the school.

[Machtyn]

plus, you've got to remember, Europeans have a different view about nudity than the supposed American "prudes". But then, again, that's usually for adults and children/teens are usually clothed at the beaches and separated for showers and such.

"Dentis Ablou!" or "Dens Ablou!" (dentis = tooth; ablou = to wash clean)

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

Originally posted by Cat
Hopefully there's no more than just sinks in the Quidditch team changing rooms. Otherwise boys and girls would shower together. Ick.

They're already changing together, aren't they? (And it can't just be the robes. They'll probably be sweaty and want new clothes after the games.) If the stalls have doors on them, and they can cast some kind of spell to keep their clean clothes dry, I don't see any problem with it.

[Ame]

I had always assumed that there were 2 bathrooms in each house (one for boys and one for girls) w/ several showers, sinks, etc. The prefects and headboys/girls got their own bathroom (one each for male prefects/heads and female prefects/heads). As far as Qudditch, Boys and Girls Locker Rooms. And the staff have bathrooms of their own. Not to mention the scattered restrooms.

[mystically_mad]

They would have to have showers and things in the dorms and bathrooms scattered around the school. It is just one of those things that happen but arent said in the story, as someone has mentioned already.

[Sinistra]

I know they actually brush their teeth with toothbrushes, because I have toothbrushes with Harry and Hermione on them!!! :rotfl: :D :p :bigtu:

[You-Know-Who]

Originally posted by Cat
Hopefully there's no more than just sinks in the Quidditch team changing rooms. Otherwise boys and girls would shower together. Ick.

I wouldn't mind showering with some girls :eyebrows: :p

I think there are total off 14 bathrooms, one for each year. And seperated for males and females, so that the kids are more comfortable because they're with of their age...

[EvilMeghan]

I always figured there was a small bathroom in each dorm (14) - sink, toilet, shower - and 2 main ones in the common room. That would be 14+2=16, but since the castle is so big, I imagine they are almost everywhere. And the greatest part about these books is that you can always explain it with "magic." lol :D

[dobbygirl]

Wow, are we desperate for things to talk about or what?

That said, they probably have a couple of bathrooms somewhere in the dormitory you don't have to leave it should nature call at 2 am. I mean really, would you want to walk halfway across the castle just to go to the bathroom? Showers and bathtubs are probably located somewhere else, like the prefect bathroom that Harry used in GoF. And he did lock the door, so I'm sure that the other bathrooms would be like that too.

[houseelf]

I don't think they have showers and such at the Quiddich stadium, because in the second book Harry gets in trouble from Filch because his robes are all muddy. If there were showers and things in the Quiddich change rooms he would of showered there. Right?

[mystically_mad]

Hmmmm, good point.

[Qeomash]

His robes were muddy, it never said anything about him. His feet/botttom of robes could have gotten muddy on the way back up to the castle, while Harry himself was freshly showered.

[Bixie]

quote:
Originally posted by Cat
Hopefully there's no more than just sinks in the Quidditch team changing rooms. Otherwise boys and girls would shower together. Ick.


They're already changing together, aren't they? (And it can't just be the robes. They'll probably be sweaty and want new clothes after the games.) If the stalls have doors on them, and they can cast some kind of spell to keep their clean clothes dry, I don't see any problem with it.

If it's anything like muggle schools then they'll be two changing rooms one for boys - with showers and one for girls - with showers.

You may walk into the same building but doesn't mean to say you'll stay in the same room - I can't think i've come across any changing facilities that were unisex.

[mystically_mad]

Qeomash and bixie, you are both right.

[Nys]

Coming from someone who's actually been to a boarding school (be it an Austrlalian one though) you usually just have the one bathroom for each dormitary. They have different sexed dormatories so everything is okay. They'd also have other toilets spread throughout the school as all school's have that.
Also its probably not mentioned as its not really a part of the story line. I mean, do people on TV EVER go to the toilet, they never seem to.

[Taichi]

Oliver Wood once tried to drown himself in the Shower, it is my guess that there are showers in the Quidditch Locker Rooms.....

[Girl]

Originally posted by houseelf (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/a/showthread.php?postid=144807#post144807))
I don't think they have showers and such at the Quiddich stadium, because in the second book Harry gets in trouble from Filch because his robes are all muddy. If there were showers and things in the Quiddich change rooms he would of showered there. Right?


There should be showers in the Quiddich stadium cause (I'm not sure which page) in PoA after they lost Harry asked where Wood was and one Weasley said that he was still in the showers trying to drown himself.
As for the muddy robs he could have showered but then on the way back to the dorm got his robs dirty while walking in the mud.


I'm guessing that each house has a shower and bathroom in their room. It could be a common shower for each sex one for the girls and one for the boys.
They are also bathrooms all over but I guess showers are just in the rooms.
Also the prefects have their own bathroom.

[sugarquill]

Dont you think that people in the books dont shower anywhere tho. I mean Harry wakes up changes and gets going. Wheather its at the Dursleys, weasleys or Hogwart its always the same, get up, change, go. Its never "and then Harry jumped into the shower ". There is a phew factor going on here.

[Barbara Kennedy]

Not in my mind.
Boring stuff like that just goes on "behind the scenes" so we don't have to hear about every "potty break", THANK GOODNESS!

[Nys]

Yeah I'm with Barbara Kennedy, those sorts of things don't add to the story so we really don't need to know it. I remember reading somewhere that JK only put in the stuff about food cause she liked food or something like that, she thought that people didn't think or read enough about it (that's avery broad paraphrasing:)). Also there are things going on at the dinners that make them important. Otherwise showering doesn't need to be mentioned (unless of course you're trying to kill your self)

[sugarquill]

Oh come on guys there is a distinct lack of showering there should be one or two thrown in there, we do see everything else . And its not like there is an unaccounted for period after they wake up where they could shower . Instead its more like he woke up with sleepy eyes and got dressed. I for one want a shower thrown in its too distracting thinking about why he didnt jump in to one.

[mystically_mad]

Uh ok, you get distracted by the most odd things.
I just think it isnt talked about. You never hear of them going to the toilet or showering and you rarely read about them eating except for feasts.

[lily87]

Perhaps JK assumes that when she says that Harry got dressed a shower's included in that. If I tell someone that I'm going to get dressed I usually don't just mean put on different clothes. Maybe she means that Harry takes a shower and brushes his teeth as well as changing his clothes. Just a thought.

[KrazzyKid]

Originally Posted by dobbygirl
That said, they probably have a couple of bathrooms somewhere in the dormitory you don't have to leave it should nature call at 2 am. I mean really, would you want to walk halfway across the castle just to go to the bathroom?

What about Dumbledore?! In the 4th book, at the Yule Ball, wasn't he out at night, in search of a bathroom?!?! Wouldn't he have one near ensuite to where he sleeps?!?

[lily87]

Maybe DD only has a shower or bathtub in his. He's allowed, afterall, to walk around the halls at night, unlike the students. Or maybe his bathroom moved for some reason. Things are always changing at Hogwarts.

[Ecthelion]

Very interesting.....I am sure that JK decided that showers, as practical and cleansing as they are, aren't important enough to the plot. (as showers sometimes can be :) ) Maybe Wizards have a special Cleansing Charm.....where they just point their wand to their own body and say "purgify!".....and they're clean. I donno, it's probably just one of those practicallities that are taken for granted, by most, but not all, apparently!

[FredRocksMySocks]

i dunno..the only bathroom reference was that of the prefects room in book 4, right? i suppose they do shower, though. otherwise they'd be a bit smelly lol!

[KrazzyKid]

There is another reference to bathrooms... In the first book (I think) as they were packing up to go home, JKR wrote something about Trevor being in the boys bathroom. Since Trevor is [almost] always with Neville, could he have been in a bathroom connected to their dorms?!?

[PhoenixUK]

Originally posted by sugarquill (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=296073#post296073))
Oh come on guys there is a distinct lack of showering there should be one or two thrown in there, we do see everything else .


There's actually 61 references to 'bathroom' in the first 4 books.

[mystically_mad]

You went through and counted them all?

[Loony Lunatic]

It seems logical to me that the bathrooms are set up community style, with each house having at least 2 large common "bathing and toiletry facilities" per sex. Then, there's the Prefect's Bath (does Hogwarts have a swimming pool other than said bath :P ?) What doesn't make much sense is why teachers don't have their own bathrooms, per evidence of Dumbledore finding the ornate chamberpot room. Wow, I sound stuffy in this post.

[mystically_mad]

Hows this for an explanation of why DD had to find a bathroom. Maybe he was out on patrol and needed to go very urgently and couldnt reach his quarters in time so he had to use a public bathroom and came across the chamberpots room.

[Qeomash]

mystically_mad, that's probably what he was doing on the seventh floor...good point!

[Juliet Malfoy]

hehe, i can't resist but saying that maybe only the prefects alone are allowed to take baths. lucky percy

[Fleur]

Originally posted by Qeomash (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=463109#post463109))
mystically_mad, that's probably what he was doing on the seventh floor...good point!


I agree. Patrolling has to be one of the many Headmaster duties.

Back to the topic, I think that there are showers/baths/toilets for each sex in each dromatory, and then just normal bathrooms with just toilets and sinks scattered throughout the school for use between classes and during the day. They must have bathrooms in the houses because it would be too easy for Filch to catch you during nighttime strolls and for you to just have the excuse that you are going to the bathroom to avoid detention.

[mystically_mad]

Thanks qeomash.
Well we already know that there are bathrooms scattered around the floors because of book one, when the troll was trapped with hermione in the girls bathroom.

[mystically_mad]

Ok I think this has been long enough to post again.
I found this in the Sydney Morning Herald and thought it was amusing.http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/03/1059849275312.html

[IanB97]

the books are already long, so she probably didn't want to waste time describing their hygiene

[yeti1002000]

:love: i wont mind being in a shower with hermione :blush: :drool:

[mystically_mad]

I think its just something that happens but isnt spoken of like buying presents. Harry always sends Hermione and Ron a christmas present but we never see him buying them. Couldnt he shower and go to the toilet without us seeing it as well?

[Alcina]

I think we need to bear in mind that there may be some confusion in this thread caused by the British and American meanings of the word 'bathroom' being different. (Possibly there are different words used in the American version of the books too?) In Britain (as 99 per cent of you probably know, sorry) 'bathroom' means a room with a bath shower in it; if it's only got a WC and sinks, then it's a 'toilet'. I suspect some people on this thread are thinking the American meaning, and others the British.

The queues for the (student) showers in the boarding schools I've worked for are hell at bedtime/before breakfast, and I've known a lot of students who try to get showers in at break or lunchtime to avoid the queue. Maybe Harry does this?

Also bear in mind that until comparatively recently, most British people tended to bath _before_ going to bed, rather than in the morning, and we don't often read about Harry going to bed, only getting up.

[UselessCharmMaster]

Maybe DD only has a shower or bathtub in his. He's allowed, afterall, to walk around the halls at night, unlike the students. Or maybe his bathroom moved for some reason. Things are always changing at Hogwarts.

*Has a sudden vision of a moving shower, running through Hogwarts halls after some particularly dirty students and yelling "HYGIENE, HYGIENE!!"* :lol:

[Niffler_8882]

If you wanna talk about the times when they shower and not seeming like they do..go to the Great Hall and the thread called "Things that aren't seen"...I have started a thread there about things that we don't see happen and HAVE TO HAPPEN :)

[Niffler_8882]

Isn't someone going to continue this thread???

[Zachary1993]

They probably have little bathrooms in the place where they have the four poster beds. Maybe they can use magic to clean their teeth but this is a good question. When I went to scout camp we had those in the cabins where only one person can use it like at home and also we had public washrooms for when we were out because the camp was probably as big as Hogwarts and if you had to go all the way to the cabin you would probably pee in your pants. Also another reason I think this is because there are washrooms in the dormatories is because what if someone had to use the washroom in they would have an accident if they had to go all the way to the public washrooms up and down all those stairs especially if the stairs moved.

So to answer your question I think that the washrooms for brushing your teeth and taking a shower are in the dorms which five students share. only J K Rowling did not mention all that because that is not important and if she did mention little details like that the story would be boring and Harry Potter would not be as popular as it is and they would each have over 1000 pages with little details like that In other words. I think the same thing you do that they are in the dorms..[/QUOTE]

[UselessCharmMaster]

Isn't someone going to continue this thread???

Of course. Hygiene above all!

Harry Potter and the Incredible Dirt

[OmarGama]

I think that they use magic.

[Kirsten]

ok this might be a bit immature sounding and a bit off topic, but when do they shower? i mean, JK has said stuff like after dinner harry pulledon his PJs and went straight to bed and then he wakes up and goes to class and goes straight to be again. it's like, do they go for days without bathing sometimes? i dunno i'm a bit slow on things but still.
I think it's just not mentioned because it's not interesting. Think about every book you've ever read. How many authors bother to put "he got out of bed, went into the bathroom, sat on the toilet for 15 minutes, wiped, got up, got in the shower, washed himself and conditioned his hair, got out, got dried, got dressed, made his breakfast and ate it..." The books would be a billion pages long and full of pointless information.

[shortie]

yeah you've got a point.

[Romy]

It´s interesting, really. In no other book I would worry about such minor details but in the Potterverse they sudden seem very important. This, and the fact that they seem to keep all their stuff in their trunks rather than cupboards. Seems weird once you think about the fact that they need to have a lot of clothes and the like for the whole year.

[Mental2k]

Yeah it'd be much easier to use magic don't you feel. Wish I could wash via magic, wonder if you could use scourgify on humans. You'd be instantly clean. That would be so handy, but I've never actually heard of them cleaning, the only time it even mentions them getting clean is Harry in GoF. I you think about it they always say "Harry got dressed, and was in the great hall 10 seconds later" or whatever, they must be pretty smelly now!

[harripottrfreek]

I always guessed that the bathrooms would be connected to the dorms...I mean it just seems right. That every dormitory have it's own bathroom. There isn't one in the Common Room so yeah.

[Shauna]

It has always bothered me as well that Harry doesn't bathe, simply because JKR details everything else.

Shauna

[Spikey]

The Prefects bathrooms are mentioned in GOF casue thats where Harry learns about the 2nd task :)

[TheLoveOf Fred]

in PoA, Stan says on the Knight Bus that Harry could buy a toothbrush, so they must use toothbrushes... they might use some potion instead of toothpaste, though

[fire_fly052]

I am sure that it is like other schools, bathrooms placed here and there along each floor and so on. They do exist, and I am also sure that there are ones inside each house dormitory, which may include showers and what not. (Along with staff, and prefect bathrooms). I highly doubt that JK would include parts in the books where it talks about Harry, Ron or even Hermionie had to go in and take a shower every night or morning..

[latiem]

Hopefully there's no more than just sinks in the Quidditch team changing rooms. Otherwise boys and girls would shower together. Ick.


We already know there are showers in the changing rooms because in the second or third book I don't remeber the Twins say that Oliver was in the showers and that they thought he was trying to drown himself. So there is probably a few for the boys and a few seperate from the boys for the girls.

As for the toilets and showers in the dormitories I imagine it would be similiar to a college and university where theres one big bathroom with showers and toilets for each one girls one one boys. It would probably have a few stalls for showers and a few toilets.

I don't think the students have to leave the house to take a shower and go use the facilities.

As for toothpaste and toothbrushes I imagine muggle-borns use them but wizarding families probably use magic. I think the spell would be plaqueus removus not teetho cleanus.

[T_Z]

The only thing I've noticed about bathrooms that actually amused me is the fact that the books have more references to Harry beign in the Girls bathroom than in the boys ones. Freaky, isnt it?

[DougJohnston]

I think that there is a shower and restroom in the dormitorys, one for the girls and one for the boys. That way they can take them as late as they want and not be "out wandering around the corriders" late at night and recieve detention and unreasonable punishment from filch! :elaugh: Then for the prefects, it makes sense for them to have their bathroom/showers because they can be out in the corriders as late as they want, right? Or was it just 9:00. Anyways and then I assume there are seperate boys and girls showers down at the quidditch changing rooms.

[morgan le fay]

a thousand apologies if this link has already been posted, but this is an article from last summer in which a writer criticizes harry's poor poor hygiene:

Oh, to find Harry in some real hot water (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/03/1059849275312.html?oneclick=true)

here are some quotes from the article:


By now, even the other wizard kids have began to notice. Some have begun wearing badges declaring, "POTTER STINKS".

Finally, on page 398 of volume four, Dirty Harry confronts the b-word: "Harry had no idea how long a bath he would need ..." But then we discover it's not really a bath he is thinking about, it's another of those trials he has to pass - and this one requires him to solve it in a large bath. False alarm.


hehe when youre a billionaire and millions of people of all ages LOVE your writing, i think youre entitled to skip over hygiene. i think its safe to assume that unless noted, any character introduced is clean and well-groomed. ;)

[Kimmetje]

I do think that there is a bathroom at every dorm and they all shower, the boys every two days and the girls on every day. Seems like the most logical thing or maybe I've read to many fan-fics. I also thought that I saw a door across the beds in the movie, but not in the game. JKR did help out on the movie set, so I think that door is probably a bathroom with toilet, shower and washing table, seems hygenic as well...

[Romy]

*Has a sudden vision of a moving shower, running through Hogwarts halls after some particularly dirty students and yelling "HYGIENE, HYGIENE!!"* :lol:
The other way around would be even better. A shower or the door to a bathroom moving around Hogwarts with students in towels running after it trying to get in. :D
If they had magical cleaning spells why hasn´t Snape tried a powerful one for his hair, yet?

[Ginevra Molly]

Really it might just be one of those details that she has left out (but you do wonder were he gets the time to shower because it seems his whole life is busy). We know they exsist because of the 2nd task and "Pinefresh" but has there been any other mention? It doesn't seem to me that the bathrooms throughout Hogwarts have showers in them.

[OmarGama]

Where do the stuidents at hogwarts get thier showers, do there teeth and so on??:??: Perhaps they have an ensuite for each dormitory 5-6 boys/girls, or perhaps they just have a huge one for all the boys and a huge one for all the girls? or.....
....perhaps they use magic.


poke: are u still alive or have i bored u to death poke: poke:


I think that they just use magic, becasue it is not mentioned on the books, so I am 100% sure that they use magic to take showers and to wash their teeth. Don't you think so? :huh:

[T_Z]

I think that they just use magic, becasue it is not mentioned on the books, so I am 100% sure that they use magic to take showers and to wash their teeth. Don't you think so? :huh:

Nopr, since Wood actually GETS into the showers after that quidditch game in book 3.

[Ana-Magus]

Nopr, since Wood actually GETS into the showers after that quidditch game in book 3.


You're right - I was going to point that out! When Harry is in the hospital wing after the game where his broom gets destroyed - Harry asks the group where Wood is - they say that he is still in the showers probably trying to drown himself (or something similar)

[ramones]

Nopr, since Wood actually GETS into the showers after that quidditch game in book 3.
Good one, I forgot about it. They do have showers, but JK just didn't see the point of mentioning them more often. I think there are many bathroom aroung Hogwarts, but the ones with the showers are in the houses.
Maybe they have a couple in each house. I think it would be a bit crowded if all the Gryffindor girls used just one bathroom, especially if you consider how much time girls spend in bathrooms :p

I don't think they use spells to clean themselves up. I like taking showers/baths. I would however like to use a spell to brush my teeth. :)

[DanRadCrazy]

that's a good question. we kno that there are just bathroom ones and just shower ones. do they brush their teeth in the "normal" washrooms. and if they dont have washrooms in their common rooms then do they all have to go to a washroom somewhere else in the school to get ready in the morning? seems like too much of a hassle to me. i question why we wonder so much on these petty details. but it is interesting!

[ComicBookWorm]

Who cares? Most fiction doesn't show people using toilets: the idea is unattractive and just takes up valuable book space. Showers are the same. And do we really need a scene with teeth brushing or flossing? I suspect that there is magic that could work. After all scourgify works to clean things. But why worry about it? And why am I bothering to say so? Over and out. :p

[Shauna]

But then why do we see Harry at nearly every meal? I mean how many times can one have spotted dick? :) I don't see anybody saying that the meals make for boring reading.

Just a quick mention, Jo, please..."Harry rinsed off and went downstairs..."

Shauna

[ComicBookWorm]

But then why do we see Harry at nearly every meal? I mean how many times can one have spotted dick? :) I don't see anybody saying that the meals make for boring reading.

Just a quick mention, Jo, please..."Harry rinsed off and went downstairs..."

Shauna
Meals are social occasions. There is usual a lot of interaction with the other students. People don't have a lot of conversations while showering.

[grapevine241]

word up there must be showers in the dormitories. she just doesnt write that stuff cause its not necessary. know what i mean?

[atherella]

Who cares? Most fiction doesn't show people using toilets: the idea is unattractive and just takes up valuable book space. Showers are the same. And do we really need a scene with teeth brushing or flossing? I suspect that there is magic that could work. After all scourgify works to clean things. But why worry about it? And why am I bothering to say so? Over and out. :p

:lol: Right!!! In books that are over 800 pages, do we really need to add in useless showers and usage of the bathrooms. I imagine that we readers are supposedly to be able to REASONABLY infer that these people DO in fact shower. Just like Jo figured we were smart enough to figure out how Harry got the map back at the end of GoF. She doesn't have to spell every little thing out for us. I mean, these people may be magical, but they are humans, and as such, it is reasonable for us the reader, to assume that the students don't all walk around in a constant state of filth and stench. Besides, when it ties into the story line, bathrooms and showers have been mentioned, but for the most part, they are just irrelevant things that need not be added as "filler" since the books are quite long as is. (Although, to me, the longer the better, b/c I'll be so sad when they end), but you get the idea.

[Scarlet Tears]

I agree with those who have said that there are probably bathrooms in each common room, one for girls and one for boys, as well as those scattered throughout the castle and in the quidditch locker rooms. As for any canon evidence of students using them, I doubt J.K. Rowling has added or will add any, but I can find numerous places in the story where we can reasonably infer that the students do use the bathroom and take showers. In CoS when Harry came into the castle after Quidditch practice, he was dripping mud everywhere. After Filch was finished yelling at him (and after Harry had read his Kwikspell letter), Harry went up to the Gryffindor tower to talk to Ron and Hermione. It says on page 130, "'A deathday party?' said Hermione keenly when Harry had changed at last and joined her and Ron in the common room." Even though J.K. Rowling doesn't mention specifically that he showered, I have a feeling that he probably didn't just change his clothes and come back still dripping with mud. As has already been mentioned, there is a bathroom for the Prefects, Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and the bathroom where Hermione was attacked by the troll in the first book. Trevor, Neville's toad, was found hiding in a bathroom. Harry was told that Oliver Wood was probably trying to drown himself in the showers after they lost the quidditch match. We also know that there are separate bathrooms for males and females because Ron was reluctant to go into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom because it was a girl's bathroom.

Overall, like ComicBookWorm, Atherella, and others have stated, I think that is enough references to bathrooms in the books for us to assume that Hogwarts students take showers and so on without Rowling having to spell it out for us. References to their hygienic habits are not really relevant to the storyline, and since the books are already so long, it would be a waste of time to add in the fact that Harry gets up and takes a shower every morning.

Interesting idea for a thread, though :)

[rock_ally]

I was wondering when they bathed themselves. It took me a couple readings to catch them washing themselves. First in book 3 when oliver wood tries to "drown himself in the showers"

then i don't know how i was so stupid to miss it, but harry in the prefects bathroom

then ron takes a bath in book 5.

but i did wonder why we never really hear about them cleaning themselves. i guess its just not nessecary.

[Shauna]

Meals are social occasions. There is usual a lot of interaction with the other students. People don't have a lot of conversations while showering.

Well, they are at boarding school, perhaps they have communal showers? Interesting stuff does go on there...:)

It just seems odd to me that Jo is so meticulous about every other detail besides hygiene.

Shauna

[ComicBookWorm]

Well, they are at boarding school, perhaps they have communal showers? Interesting stuff does go on there...:)

It just seems odd to me that Jo is so meticulous about every other detail besides hygiene.

Shauna
Bleech, a locker room shower scene. I really didn't need that image of my sweet innocent Harry or Crabbe and Goyle for instance. :evil:

[DarkThunder]

Maybe all wizards have an anti-grime forcefield? :D So there's no need to shower!

[T_Z]

Maybe all wizards have an anti-grime forcefield? :D So there's no need to shower!

They can have ANY kind of forcefield, but still they sweat, you know?

[caj]

for the toothpaste-toothbrush thats a muggle thing wizards have there own way of cleaning there teeth(what that is well i'll leave that up to jkr),and as for the showers i'll leave that up to the imagination.

[sirius_gerl]

I dont think jkr said anything about harry taking showers (except about the egg in the 4th book), because there really isn't any point in writing about harry taking showers...about toothpaste...i think they use the muggle device...

[guitarzan8]

odd point but other than the one scene in GOF jkr never mentions when it is in the students schedule they are given time to shower and get ready an all that.

Correct me if i'm wrong.

After re-reading Order of the phoenix i thought it weird that subject has never really come up.

Where would the showers and baths be anyway? the dormitiories don't have bathrooms attached to them do they?

weird.

Tyler/Drummer/Full-Tilt
http://www.fulltiltrock.com
check us out if you like incubus, 311, or tool

[Morgan le fey]

At least we know that the prefects bathe! ( i have a friend who says not all europeans bathe every day...i think that is sick, but maybe they only do it like once every few days...)

[jellyjames]

Err, well, is it really necessary to indicate when and where they bathe? I mean, it is a daily ritual that everyone go through so it's really not important to point it out right? We know Hogwarts has lavatories and all so we do know they observe personal hygiene. I think :p

[RELASHIO Rachel]

well, do we really want to hear, "Harry was scrubbing the dirt off of him from Quidditch practice earlier that day when he noticed something rather abnormal on his........" well, maybe so >:D

Anyway, it's not really relevent to the story o__O

[woop]

it's not really necessary. what else do thirteen year old boys do that jkr doesn't write about?? hmmmm??

there was a hint about it in the poa movie which i thought was hysterically funny. do you know what i'm talking about?

[DougJohnston]

Hogwarts showers and so on... (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=2249&highlight=shower%2A)

Here ya go, remember to search :tu:

[Crzy4HP032]

I think the reason it is never mentioned in the books that the students bathe is cuz JKR has way too many other things to write about than tiny details like that and she probably just wants us to assume that they do bathe. Although I think she should have mentioned it at least once somewhere in one of the 5 that they took a bath other than when Harry takes the egg in the prefects bathroom. example[Harry woke up early one morning, and after showering went down to the great hall with Ron and Hermione for breakfast.]

[jellyjames]

there was a hint about it in the poa movie which i thought was hysterically funny. do you know what i'm talking about?

which one was that dearie?

[woop]

jellyjames, so as to not corrupt innocent minds, i sent you an owl. let me know if you *got it*

:p

[Kimmers]

I agree that it's not really necessary, but JKR does frequently say that Harry either changed into his pajamas quickly or fell asleep with his clothes on or that he got up and hurriedly dressed. That kinda excludes either night or morning baths.
There is one time in the fifth book that it says that Ron and Ginny had to shower after quidditch so Harry goes off to the common room by himself. I was thinking "No Harry, go with them PLEASE!" LOL :rotfl: Heehee.

[theloveablestra]

hahaha
yeah woop, i didnt catch the joke in the POA movie either...care to explain?

[FluffyEarmuffs]

I think the HP characters do take a shower once in a while :lol:
Its just not very interesting for the books to keep saying, they went to the toilet, then they had a shower, and then they brushed their teeth etc.
It never says that they go to the toilet either, but I think its safe to assume they do!

[DougJohnston]

Hogwarts showers and so on... (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=2249&highlight=shower%2A)

Here ya go, remember to search :tu:

Wow, I just quoted myself...I must be a loser... :lol:

You might want to post in that thread...when/if this thread is closed you are going to lose post count in it...:(

[FluffyEarmuffs]

Not a loser-just lazy :lol:

I didnt realise you could lose posts :scared:

[woop]

but wait, we're not really talking about the showers only. we're talking about all the other stuff that kids do that jk doesn't mention in the book!!

don't close the thread!!

[FluffyEarmuffs]

Isnt that post relating to WHERE do they have showers, not DO they have showers?

I havent read the whole thread though.

[DougJohnston]

The thread talks about, bathrooms, showers, bathes, teeth cleaning, all kinds off stuff...

EDIT: Im just trying to help :tu: I dont mean to be bossy or anything...just trying to make things eaiser for our awesome staff who do so much for us :D

[woop]

oh allright, fine. but don't close it. pleeeeeeeeese.

[FluffyEarmuffs]

I know you're just trying to help Doug!
If that was directed at me, sorry for giving off that impression! :blush:

[caspeer89]

maybe they can wave there wand and there teeth, and bodies are all clean, lol, just a thought

[atherella]

Well, we know in the locker rooms they have showers, and most likely they all shower after Quidditch games. Remember in PoA after Harry saw the dementors and fell off his broom, he winded up in the hospital wing where the entire quidditch team was there, minus Wood. When Harry asked where Wood was, Fred or George said that he was still in the showers trying to drown himself. I think that it just doesn't add anything to the stories to talk about showering, etc. I think it is more a given and something we are supposed to just know happens. She doesn't mention anyone using the restrooms either, but given the way anatomy works, we know they DO! :D

I must have missed the 'hint' or joke in the PoA movie. Does anyone care to enlighten me via owl? I cant' wait for the dvd release so I can watch it again.

[gred&forge4ever]

At least we know that the prefects bathe! ( i have a friend who says not all europeans bathe every day...i think that is sick, but maybe they only do it like once every few days...)
My in laws are visiting and they don't bathe or change their clothes unless you tell them to. My mother in law sniffed her hair and said, "na i'm alright" . When my husband told them that it was time to shower. So as a result we have been going throgh a LOT of Febrezze. :evil:

[Tane]

Maybe there is a quick student cleaning spell that can be used so that they do not need to have a bath.

[gred&forge4ever]

Maybe there is a quick student cleaning spell that can be used so that they do not need to have a bath.

****, If you come across it let me know, I can use it on my in-laws, or perhaps I could try Scourgify, or Reparo BO. Maybe Locomotor Body Odor. :eyebrows:

[Spirit]

I don't want to hear about about anyone taking a shower. The books are long enough as it is. They've killed enough trees already. It isn't relavant to the story. And really, how many books have you read that details the character's showers? I haven't read many...

[Buckblack76]

Maybe there is a quick student cleaning spell that can be used so that they do not need to have a bath.
That would seem logical, they have alot of spells that are useless. And it would save time. :tu:

[rotsiepots]

Hogwarts showers and so on... (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=2249&highlight=shower%2A)

Here ya go, remember to search :tu:

Thanks, Doug. :)

I'll close this.

[Trisha]

In Goblet of Fire, Hermione spent several hours on fixing herself up for the Yule Ball. Of course, she was probably doing the girl thing: washing her hair, drying it, styling it, getting frustrated and starting over.
Can you imagine the lines into the girls' lavatories at a time like that? We need more Rooms of Requirement, folks!

[guitarzan8]

It's not just Where they shower but also WHEN.

According to the books it's like harry doesn't have time.

Is there a set point in the day where they students are allowed to go and have a shower or can they go and get one pretty much anytime they want to?

Tyler/Drummer/Full-Tilt
http://www.fulltiltrock.com
check us out if you like incubus, 311, or tool

oh and check out this link for a free ipod.
http://tinyurl.com/44jja

[GredandFeorge]

Wow so I'm not crazy! I have been wondering for so long WHEN they shower - it describes their days often with Harry hurriedly dressing in the morning, retiring to the common room after dinner and then going when they're tired, going to bed...so when do they shower? Cuz they must...musn't they?

[Sarah_Hedwig]

Yeah, I mean I hope the students have proper hygeine and all...

I don't know where they shower either. The prefects have their own bathroom with bath (as we learned in book four and Harry learned that Moaning Myrtle knows too ;), poor Harry). That can't possibly mean that you can only bathe if your a prefect, because that school would stink really badly :D.

[Rola]

****, If you come across it let me know, I can use it on my in-laws, or perhaps I could try Scourgify, or Reparo BO. Maybe Locomotor Body Odor. :eyebrows:

Yay! Another hulfflepuff!

[Cerebus]

I agree with those who have said that there are probably bathrooms in each common room, one for girls and one for boys, as well as those scattered throughout the castle and in the quidditch locker rooms. As for any canon evidence of students using them, I doubt J.K. Rowling has added or will add any, but I can find numerous places in the story where we can reasonably infer that the students do use the bathroom and take showers. In CoS when Harry came into the castle after Quidditch practice, he was dripping mud everywhere. After Filch was finished yelling at him (and after Harry had read his Kwikspell letter), Harry went up to the Gryffindor tower to talk to Ron and Hermione. It says on page 130, "'A deathday party?' said Hermione keenly when Harry had changed at last and joined her and Ron in the common room." Even though J.K. Rowling doesn't mention specifically that he showered, I have a feeling that he probably didn't just change his clothes and come back still dripping with mud. As has already been mentioned, there is a bathroom for the Prefects, Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and the bathroom where Hermione was attacked by the troll in the first book. Trevor, Neville's toad, was found hiding in a bathroom. Harry was told that Oliver Wood was probably trying to drown himself in the showers after they lost the quidditch match. We also know that there are separate bathrooms for males and females because Ron was reluctant to go into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom because it was a girl's bathroom.

Along with these, the reference that came to mind for me was Hermione grousing to Harry and Ron in CoS about how difficult it was to "have a pee" when Moaning Myrtle's having her fits. (is that a typical British phrase? Being an uneducated Yank I found that rather funny)

Overall, like ComicBookWorm, Atherella, and others have stated, I think that is enough references to bathrooms in the books for us to assume that Hogwarts students take showers and so on without Rowling having to spell it out for us. References to their hygienic habits are not really relevant to the storyline, and since the books are already so long, it would be a waste of time to add in the fact that Harry gets up and takes a shower every morning.

Exactly.

[Fool]

Some things are just taken for granted. I don't need to read about Harry using the facilities. :)

[Nox182]

What about teachers? Do they have private bathrooms?
I've also been wondering where the live, it's probably already been answered but...
And what about Hagrid: Does he EVER shower?

[Cerebus]

^^^

I would assume that the teachers have private rooms somewhere on the Hogwarts grounds and that they have private bathrooms. Hagrid probably bathes in the lake so he can have an excuse to feed the giant squid ;)

[DragonBlk17]

What about teachers? Do they have private bathrooms?
I've also been wondering where the live, it's probably already been answered but...
And what about Hagrid: Does he EVER shower?

Probably, they might even have their bathrooms in their bedrooms. They might live in towers too. I think Hagrid showers, maybe there's a river somewhere by his hut? :huh:

[armjachewa]

I doubt it the use toothbrushes.

Hermione would! her parents being dentists and all

[Kazza]

I've always wondered where do the staff/students go to get their hair cut?!

[DragonBlk17]

Maybe they have a hairdresser in Hogwarts we don't know about. :p

[filius]

Like Harry, i'm guessing they can just shorten their hair in their sleep. Otherwise, I would think they can use their wands.

[Kazza]

Maybe they have a hairdresser in Hogwarts we don't know about. :p

I can picture Dumbledore going to a barbers in Hogsmeade:
"Just a little off the back and sides thanks,"

[Cerebus]

I would think that there's at least one house elf that's got barber skills...far easier to have a house elf do that duty than go to someone outside Hogwarts...

[Trisha]

Showers, doing the laundry (maybe we can blame young Severus's dingy underwear on poor servant skills), getting haircuts... okay, are any of the boys in Harry's dorm room shaving yet? Trying to shave? Ron's a redhead, so it's not likely that he will have a pressing need, but what about Dean and Seamus? What about Neville?
I don't recall anything in the books or the movies about upperclassmen with facial hair, although staff is allowed. Any idea which of the boys is going to show up for breakfast with patches of tissue on chin and cheeks?

[Gryphonlord]

I think they must have showers or bathing rooms of some kind; probably in the House towers/buildings. Take the Gryffindor common room, for instance. The common room is huge. Above that are the dorms. Well, if they're round, and the common room is round, *and* they're not as big as the common room, say only about half as wide, that leaves ample space for putting in enough toilets, showers, or bathing pools (like the one in the Prefects' bathroom) for the use of those in each dormitory.
As for toothcare, well, that wasn't prominent until the Victorian age, so up until then, I'm sure they might have used magic to look slightly more presentable than the average Joe-no-teeth :). Afterwards, as the muggle world developed, wizards developed with them (not by choice, it would seem) and maybe found toothbrishes of their own. After all, they have sneakers in the school, and plumbing, why not dental hygeine like the rest of civilization? (Austin Powers not included here.lol)

[hpfan_08]

I think that the bathrooms are most likely located in the dormitories, with separate ones for boys and girls. In addition, I agree with Gryphonlord about the advanced with the muggles. Its probably one of those things that once invented was adopted world wide, because it gives better breath and a more attractive smile. I guarantee Lockhart brushed his teeth to win the Most Charming Smile award.:D

[BloodyBlackRose]

Yes, I was discussing this with my mother a few days back. Ah, I remember talking about this. My mom simply said that J.K. Rowling doesn't need to explain. It's a simple everyday thing like eating or simply going to the bathroom. I mean we don't need to really write about it but still where do they keep the showers which really nags at me. Are they in the dormitories because I think that's the best and easiest way to shower or bathe.

[basilth]

i always assumed that the bathrooms were like those in a college dormitory. but what i want to know is about laundry. it seems they only have one pair of robes and since htey only bring one trunk they probably don't have a lot of room for spares. if they have to wear the same uniform every day, when do they do laundry? how do they do laundry?

also, how do the bed rooms work? it seems that they go to the same room every year, but if the dorms dont change then where do the first years go? in the room previously occupied by the 7th years? that would get confusing.

and another thing: there are only 5 boys in harry's year in gryffindor. does each year only have 5 of each sex per house? that would be a pretty small school. and that would also bee very weird that they could garuntee the same number of students every year.

[asrivathsan]

The prefects bathroom is cool, isn't it?

[Barbara Kennedy]

i always assumed that the bathrooms were like those in a college dormitory. but what i want to know is about laundry. it seems they only have one pair of robes and since htey only bring one trunk they probably don't have a lot of room for spares. if they have to wear the same uniform every day, when do they do laundry? how do they do laundry?

also, how do the bed rooms work? it seems that they go to the same room every year, but if the dorms dont change then where do the first years go? in the room previously occupied by the 7th years? that would get confusing.

and another thing: there are only 5 boys in harry's year in gryffindor. does each year only have 5 of each sex per house? that would be a pretty small school. and that would also bee very weird that they could garuntee the same number of students every year.
Laundry? Who does it? (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=16864)

Does that help?

[PunkRokPrincess]

I always sort of wondered about that. It's kind of weird how JKR doesn't mention going to the bathroom or showering very often. I mean obviously she doesn't tell us every little thing that goes on, but it's hardly ever brought up. I guess she just feels that it's really not important so there's no use in talking about it. But I think it's safe to say that Hogwarts students do try and bathe every so often. I would sure hope so.. :shrug:

[asrivathsan]

She will have to make all the books 1000 pages or more to tell these details:)

[Wab]

Does it matter? It was never an issue in Get Smart and we don't see Martin Sheen getting caught short in West Wing. How much more tedious would LotR be if Frodo and Sam had a shower (complete with endless description of ablutions in the second age)?

It's a given. (And frankly I'm relieved that we're not burdened with details of Hermione's cycle).

[HBP_lumos]

I agree. I think JK realizes she left out all of the "hygiene" details from the books because it just isn't important and doesnt affect the plots. I mean, it must be obvious that these kids clean themselves... its not like hogwarts won the award for "Smelliest Students" or anything. She doesn't mention anyone else in the books showering either, whether it be the weasley's, the dursley's, or anyone else. She probably just figures "Who cares? I don't need to mention that Hermione took a shower that morning before breakfast in the Great Hall..." eh?

[snuggle the muggle]

i always assumed that the bathrooms were like those in a college dormitory. but what i want to know is about laundry. it seems they only have one pair of robes and since htey only bring one trunk they probably don't have a lot of room for spares. if they have to wear the same uniform every day, when do they do laundry? how do they do laundry?

also, how do the bed rooms work? it seems that they go to the same room every year, but if the dorms dont change then where do the first years go? in the room previously occupied by the 7th years? that would get confusing.

and another thing: there are only 5 boys in harry's year in gryffindor. does each year only have 5 of each sex per house? that would be a pretty small school. and that would also bee very weird that they could garuntee the same number of students every year.

They actually bring several pairs of robes, at least three. It is mentioned in several of the books that Molly is folding their robes into piles. JK never mentions how the laundry gets done, but I would sure be curious. It must be some sort of magical way, and my personal belief is that the house-elves do it at night, spell the clothes clean or something. I personally am sincerely hoping that someday I myself can acquire such a handy little creature!!! Laundry is the bane of my existence. We know Molly does the laundry in a separate room in the house since she brings it up to the room from somewhere else when it is clean. She probably has a laundry room where the kids put their dirty clothes and then she "washes" it, then folds it, and then puts it away. So being a witch does not solve every problem in the world, obviously.

As for the other questions, yes, you are right about the dorm rooms. I don't see why that would be confusing, though. The first years come in, they are assigned a dorm, they stay there all 7 years, then they leave. I actually think that is a pretty smart way to do it. It sounds like Harry and company have one of the top rooms, which I would like (although the stairs in that place would kill me).

As for the size of the school, there are other threads debating that but I'll just give you my opinion. I personally hold out for the 280 students belief. I know JKR has said 1000, but there is no indication when it comes to actual student names that there are anything close to that many students there. However, there are others who believe differently. If you really want to know their reasoning, I suggest you do a search and find that thread. It is actually pretty interesting.

[Unicorn21]

Wizards don't seem as obbsessed with hygiene as muggles are. For example when Tonks goes into the Dursley's house she comments on how clean it is. But I'm sure that doesn't mean they don't wash just maybe slightly less obsessed about it!

I definaltey think the house elves do the laundry I'm sure it disappears at night and re-appears the next morning.

[fairy_lightz]

im gussing the house elfs do there laundry

[sirius_gerl]

[QUOTE=Unicorn21]Wizards don't seem as obbsessed with hygiene as muggles are. For example when Tonks goes into the Dursley's house she comments on how clean it is. But I'm sure that doesn't mean they don't wash just maybe slightly less obsessed about it![QUOTE]

I don't know. I'm not sure that's a fair statement. House elves are just like muggle maids, only they aren't human. We have only been to a few wizards houses, all of which have a reason to be dirty. Tonks just probably meant that a mess didn't bother her that much, the Weasley's house is messy because they are poor ( so to say), Sirius' house is messy, because no one has lived in it for a long time. We don't know how Draco's house is (though im assuming that they are neat), Barty Crouch's, Dean Thomas, etc. It's just like muggles. Not all muggle houses are neat. For example, my friends house. It looks pretty discombobulated:Plol...thats just my opinion.

[basilth]

It's a given. (And frankly I'm relieved that we're not burdened with details of Hermione's cycle).

come to think of it, what do witches do about... that? i'm sure they wouldn't be so muggle as to use tampons and maxipads. i remember reading that the ancient egyptians used to use pieces of fruit to, erm... plug it up, so to speak. but i'm sure there's something in the wizzarding world that is far superior.

[delemtri]

A friend of mine with some weird theories about the undercurrents in Harry Potter is convinced that JKR actually maps out Hermione's cycle and that you can tell what part of it she's on. I'm not that familiar with it, so I don't really know how one would go about doing this. Any thoughts?

[snuggle the muggle]

A friend of mine with some weird theories about the undercurrents in Harry Potter is convinced that JKR actually maps out Hermione's cycle and that you can tell what part of it she's on. I'm not that familiar with it, so I don't really know how one would go about doing this. Any thoughts?


Hm. That's interesting. And, truthfully, a bit peculiar. If you know of a reference, go ahead and post it or owl it to me. I would be curious to see that logic.

I have thought often, however, that it wouldn't be just hers. Since we all know that girls who live together always cycle together, it must be all of Gryffindor house, and possibly all of Hogwarts. Wouldn't that be crazy? Talk about an overdose of hormones on certain weeks!! There must be girls out there who went to a girls' boarding school! Has anyone got any insights on that? And I have also thought that we just have to make sure Voldemort attacks at the right time and Harry won't even have to worry about facing him. The angry girls could all do it for him -- and win, too.

[delemtri]

Hm. That's interesting. And, truthfully, a bit peculiar. If you know of a reference, go ahead and post it or owl it to me. I would be curious to see that logic.

I have thought often, however, that it wouldn't be just hers. Since we all know that girls who live together always cycle together, it must be all of Gryffindor house, and possibly all of Hogwarts. Wouldn't that be crazy? Talk about an overdose of hormones on certain weeks!! There must be girls out there who went to a girls' boarding school! Has anyone got any insights on that? And I have also thought that we just have to make sure Voldemort attacks at the right time and Harry won't even have to worry about facing him. The angry girls could all do it for him -- and win, too.

I'll talk to her. I know so little and I hate talking about it because I don't want to be like, you know, there's obvious signs when this is happening because I really don't know. But JKR puts so much care into her characters that it's really the kind of thing she *would* do. I'll try and see where she's coming from. (She has a lot of awesome opinions on the more normal things in the Potterverse - she thinks Draco is no longer a virgin and that Remus/Sirius is canon.)

[atherella]

(She has a lot of awesome opinions on the more normal things in the Potterverse - she thinks Draco is no longer a virgin and that Remus/Sirius is canon.)

But since we are a family forum, we won't discuss that here. Thanks!

[Canary Cream]

lol, I've wondered the same thing. No one in the books ever seems to take a shower or bath. Like someone else said, there are prefects' bathrooms. I think it's just taken for granted (JK uses the word "dressed" for that function, it seems). But still, it's funny to wonder about.

I've also wondered why all the students at Hogwart's aren't enormously fat. ;) lol

[Lupin27]

"Teetho Cleanus" - how easy it would be......

I didn't peruse the whole thread so if somebody said this already I apologize but...

Wouldn't it be "Cleanso Dentum" or some such?

[sirius_gerl]

lol, I've wondered the same thing. No one in the books ever seems to take a shower or bath. Like someone else said, there are prefects' bathrooms. I think it's just taken for granted (JK uses the word "dressed" for that function, it seems). But still, it's funny to wonder about.

I've also wondered why all the students at Hogwart's aren't enormously fat. ;) lol

lol....well, JKR probably didn't mention anything, because it isn't important. We dont need to know every time that Harry, Ron, Hermione take showers, or go to the bathroom. It's information that is highly irelivent, andit just takes up unnecessary space in the book.

[cornish_pixies]

lol....well, JKR probably didn't mention anything, because it isn't important. We dont need to know every time that Harry, Ron, Hermione take showers, or go to the bathroom. It's information that is highly irelivent, andit just takes up unnecessary space in the book.

Yeah, but it's still fun to wonder about!

[kamilos]

Whaaa! What a topic to discuss! LOL! :rotfl: Have you ever seen a film or read a book that characters use often toilets or bathrooms? :huh:

[snuggle the muggle]

I've also wondered why all the students at Hogwart's aren't enormously fat. ;) lol

You've got to be kidding!! Think of all those stairs they go up and down several times every day! And they'll sometimes run up to their dorm between classes!

[delemtri]

I didn't peruse the whole thread so if somebody said this already I apologize but...

Wouldn't it be "Cleanso Dentum" or some such?

I'd expect "Evanesco Plaque" myself! ;)

[UselessCharmMaster]

lol, I've wondered the same thing. No one in the books ever seems to take a shower or bath. Like someone else said, there are prefects' bathrooms. I think it's just taken for granted (JK uses the word "dressed" for that function, it seems). But still, it's funny to wonder about.

I've also wondered why all the students at Hogwart's aren't enormously fat. ;) lol

Yeah, it's funny. And they don't seem to care much about it. Sirius lives in a cave, eating rats :rolleyes: and asks Harry to bring him food, but not soap ot toothpaste, and JKR calls his hair "filthy". Snape has greasy hair and yellow teeth... anyway, Sirius probably lost his hygiene habists in Azkaban - are any showers THERE? :huh:

[Morgan]

This thread made me think of a discussion I've read on Lotr boards. Tolkien never mentions washing, peeing or any sort of personal hygine in the entire triology. Probably didn't fit the times but it's still a bit odd.

Just realised, although this might've been mentioned before. Showers are mentioned here and there in the HP books. Oliver Wood is said to be very long in the shower after a failed quidditch game and JKR mentions Harry going off too or coming from showers after long wet quidditch practices.

[asrivathsan]

I don't think wizards care about appearence that much, especially the males( sorry). But thats what jo seems to have shown. In a way that is good, that is part of harry after all.

[Norbertha]

Yeah, it's funny. And they don't seem to care much about it. Sirius lives in a cave, eating rats :rolleyes: and asks Harry to bring him food, but not soap ot toothpaste, and JKR calls his hair "filthy". Snape has greasy hair and yellow teeth... anyway, Sirius probably lost his hygiene habists in Azkaban - are any showers THERE? :huh:
Maybe wizards that have to live cut off from showers for some reason can "scourgify" themselves now and then. It'll likeliy not be as good as a shower, otherwise there would be no need for showers at Hogwarts, but it might take the worst off.

[Solo Light]

In preschool we all shared one big bathroom...it was mortifying but then again..I was like 4..

[JofpGallagher]

Oh please, some latest posts I read here! Let's not discuss Hermione's "cycle". That is not an adecquate topic. Thanks you.

And indeed the hygiene in the Harry Potter's book is something I always thought since the first time I read the books. Not because it's unimportant to mention such details, but if JKRowling bothered to narrate morning daily events in the books like "Harry woke up, got dressed and heaed to the Great Hall" (She does this quite often), I always thought, how difficult would be to add a few words like "....brushed his teeth, and headed to the Great Hall"? That certainly wouldn't make the book 1,000 pages (Not that I would complain with a 1,000 pages Harry Potter book :p)....I mean, if she takes the time to describe when "Harry wakes up, and goes somewhere, then, nothing bad could do a short line like "did his teeth".

I have read several articles on newspapers and magazine that touch this topic of lack of cleanliness. Still, for the look of how characters on the books are described (Snape, Worntail, Hagrid, Mundungus, and some others that may escape from my mind), it seems that hygiene does not play an important role in the Magical World....Well, Gilderoy was always impecable, as well as Minerva...

[atherella]

And indeed the hygiene in the Harry Potter's book is something I always thought since the first time I read the books. Not because it's unimportant to mention such details, but if JKRowling bothered to narrate morning daily events in the books like "Harry woke up, got dressed and heaed to the Great Hall" (She does this quite often), I always thought, how difficult would be to add a few words like "....brushed his teeth, and headed to the Great Hall"? That certainly wouldn't make the book 1,000 pages (Not that I would complain with a 1,000 pages Harry Potter book :p)....I mean, if she takes the time to describe when "Harry wakes up, and goes somewhere, then, nothing bad could do a short line like "did his teeth".

I have read several articles on newspapers and magazine that touch this topic of lack of cleanliness. Still, for the look of how characters on the books are described (Snape, Worntail, Hagrid, Mundungus, and some others that may escape from my mind), it seems that hygiene does not play an important role in the Magical World....Well, Gilderoy was always impecable, as well as Minerva...

Maybe when Jo says that Harry got dressed prior to heading to the Great Hall, she considers cleaning up and teeth brushing to be part of getting dressed? I know at my house in the mornings, my son will tell me "I'm all dressed and ready now", which includes all of his morning routine. He won't tell me he is dressed (like I couldn't see that :lol:) unless he is totally ready, and that includes a thorough teeth brushing.

I've read a few articles also on the matter, and have wondered about it, but in all honesty, I guess she just has bigger fish to fry and assumes we'll know that these kids don't go all those months without cleaning. Can you imagine how the castle would SMELL? :wow:

[severa78]

Maybe when Jo says that Harry got dressed prior to heading to the Great Hall, she considers cleaning up and teeth brushing to be part of getting dressed?
I've read a few articles also on the matter, and have wondered about it, but in all honesty, I guess she just has bigger fish to fry and assumes we'll know that these kids don't go all those months without cleaning. Can you imagine how the castle would SMELL? :wow:

I agree. Imagine having to write about everytime they need to wash their hands and such (or going to the toilet :blush: )! Wouldn't it be boreing after the second day at school? Jo skips entire weeks, we can assume they all get nice and clean in those days.

Harry compares the Prefect bathroom to the regular ones, meaning he goes in the bathroom enough ( and not just in Myrtle's toilet or the troll one)
Anyway, maybe they just scourgify themselves :huh:

The thing that really bothers me is when they get their hair cut. My hair grows a lot from September to June, but the characters don't seem to change their appearence during term. Maybe a wizard can control his hair growth (thinking of harry growing his hair back after Petunia cut it). But maybe I'm off-topic here, so I'll leave it at this.

[Vittoria]

Okay, yes JKR doesn't have to tell us WHEN or WHERE harry bathes, but I'd still like to know.

Personally, I believe that either:
each common room has an attatched washroom, probably showers in cubicles (with maybe 10 baths, that you have to book), because it would take ages if EVERYONE wanted a bath, everyday, and they had to empty and refill them...not to mention the space it'd take up.
each dormitory has a kind of 'wet room' atttatched, just a toilet, a sink (maybe a double) and a shower. These wouldn't be the best, but adequate for a quick 5min shower.

The fact that everyone else has showers would make the prefects bathroom that much more luxurious.

As to when they shower/bathe, I'd say any time they can. Someone mentioned that if you are sharing a bathroom, it's best to take your shower when you know it'll be least busy, like the middle of the day (or about midnight in my case :p ). Just because Harry doesn't shower every morning doesn't mean he's dirty. He could shower at odd times, maybe wait until after quidditch so he doesn't have to shower twice.

For the teeth cleaning question...I'd say they use a teeth cleaning potion, and a toothbrush. But of course they'd use a charm so they didn't have to move the brush themselves :eyebrows:. Also - remember the teeth-flossing stringmints from honeydukes.

[Just had an image of Stan offering Harry a toothbrush, but nowhere to use it. Maybe they just think it looks good, and since every muggle owns at least one, it must be important, they don't know it's for cleaning teeth until a muggleborn tells them so.]

[_Lynz_]

:lol: I've always wondered that but didn't want to say anything!

Personally, I think that there must be some kind of shower/bath facilities in the dormitories, like an ensuite

[asrivathsan]

I agree. But really if we start thinking about the various rooms, there are a number of them whose locations have not been mentioned:)

[severa78]

As to when they shower/bathe, I'd say any time they can. Someone mentioned that if you are sharing a bathroom, it's best to take your shower when you know it'll be least busy, like the middle of the day (or about midnight in my case :p ). Just because Harry doesn't shower every morning doesn't mean he's dirty. He could shower at odd times, maybe wait until after quidditch so he doesn't have to shower twice.

[Just had an image of Stan offering Harry a toothbrush, but nowhere to use it. Maybe they just think it looks good, and since every muggle owns at least one, it must be important, they don't know it's for cleaning teeth until a muggleborn tells them so.]

Harry does shower after Quidditch, I think it says so somewhere

As for the toothbrush on the Knight Bus, there probably is a small toilet in the back (most Muggle buses do), Harry just has other stuff to worry about than his teeth. Buy the way, does he clean his clothes after having hot chocolate spilled all over him?

[ema12487]

I've wondered about this too... I think they have showers in their dormitories. But I think that they probably just brush their teeth normally. They do other things in the muggle way, they don't use charms for everything.

Also, what's going on with plumbing?? Do they have normal plumbing? I think they do because of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom, and she talks about getting flushed down the toilet. But Mr. Weasley doesn't know what plumbers are, he calls them Pumbers, or something like that... THey probably just use magic when there's a problem, I guess:)

[Iceager]

Does anyone else have a problem with the idea of the toilets flushing into the lake? I feel bad for the merpeople. Unless they have a really great magical sewage disposition system...

The plumbing seems to be centuries old, if the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is connected with it. Unless the plumbing was installed without the entrance to the Chamber being discovered. Not sure what's going on.

As for the showers, I would guess there are showers/bathrooms in the dormitories. And not everyone showers in the morning. When I've had to share a single shower with a number of people, I had to pick weird times--like late at night or in midday--to ensure a shower time when I had the shower to myself. I find it amusing to see so many people assume Harry must take a shower in the morning--I grew up taking showers/baths in the evening, and only started taking more morning showers since college.

By the way, I don't think house elves can do laundry. They generally avoid picking up clothes.

[severa78]

Does anyone else have a problem with the idea of the toilets flushing into the lake? I feel bad for the merpeople. Unless they have a really great magical sewage disposition system...

Eeurgh! you're right. They live right at the bottom of the lake, though, so maybe the filth has time to flow away somewhere else.

By the way, I don't think house elves can do laundry. They generally avoid picking up clothes.

Brilliant! I hadn't thought of that! :tu:
But then... who or what does?
hang on! I just got through reading GoF again, and there's a line Impostor Moody says about having Dobby come up to get some stuff for laundry so that he could stage the conversation about Gillyweed. So that's it, really. House-elves DO laundry.. I supposed if the clothes are not meant for them, they're not free. Then again, Dobby is already free, so it might not count as evidence..

Back on topic: showers and plumbing. I agree that not everybody showers in the morning, nor everyday. I was sharing a school with 100 kids for a month and we all showered together on Sundays (it was a scheduled activity :shrug: ). Maybe it's the same at Hogwarts, except for Quidditch training and holidays.

Plumbing seems to work fairly well, even if it's old. Like the rest of the school, by the way. :p What they do when a problem occours... maybe they have some wizard plumbers that are just called in a different name. That would explain why Mr. Weasley doesn't know the word. But then again, why wouldn't they called them for the regurgitating toilet? Mmmm

[Mugglelvr]

The only time I remember reading anyone talking about taking a bath besides of Harry's trip into the prefects bathroom in GoF is when Ron and Ginny finished Quidditch practice in OoTP. It had been raining and they were covered with mud. They ate dinner and then left the Great Hall to take a bath. That's the only reference to hygiene I've ever heard.

[tarachristwen]

Does anyone else have a problem with the idea of the toilets flushing into the lake? I feel bad for the merpeople. Unless they have a really great magical sewage disposition system...

The plumbing seems to be centuries old, if the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is connected with it. Unless the plumbing was installed without the entrance to the Chamber being discovered. Not sure what's going on.

As for the showers, I would guess there are showers/bathrooms in the dormitories. And not everyone showers in the morning. When I've had to share a single shower with a number of people, I had to pick weird times--like late at night or in midday--to ensure a shower time when I had the shower to myself. I find it amusing to see so many people assume Harry must take a shower in the morning--I grew up taking showers/baths in the evening, and only started taking more morning showers since college.

By the way, I don't think house elves can do laundry. They generally avoid picking up clothes.

good post!

then who does the laundry?the students?

[Mugglelvr]

good post!

then who does the laundry?the students?

I think the house elves can pick up clothes - their master just can't hand them clothes. That is what would set them free.

As for the sewer running into the lake - I thought about that when reading GoF, since Myrtle said she sometimes gets flushed down there when she's not paying attention and someone flushes her toilet. Maybe they have a magical way of keeping the lake clean?

[tarachristwen]

I think the house elves can pick up clothes - their master just can't hand them clothes. That is what would set them free.

As for the sewer running into the lake - I thought about that when reading GoF, since Myrtle said she sometimes gets flushed down there when she's not paying attention and someone flushes her toilet. Maybe they have a magical way of keeping the lake clean?

ya..it's very unsanitary of flushing down the human wastes to the lake...

[Eponizzle]

I'm so glad there are other people who've thought about this - it's something that always bothered me, and that's just pathetic :p

I guess I've just jumped to the same conclusion as everyone else - about there being two baths per year, per house. But then, one has to wonder, why are the prefect's bathrooms so far out of the way? It seems like Harry has to make quite a trek to get there in GoF - do Ron and Hermionie have to take a hike every time they want to bathe?

[TaraBrady]

I'm sure they're allowed to use the facilities in their house dorms, but I'm sure they use it at least some of the time. It is quite a nice bathroom!

It seems odd to me that the prefects have a separate bathroom. I would expect a lounge of some sort, where they can discuss prefecting business with each other without other students overhearing, but not a bathroom. Does anyone know if this is a common thing in schools with a prefect system, or is it really just a plot device to give Harry somewhere private to work out the second task?

Edit: I like to think that the CoS prefect's private forum is called the prefect's bathroom. :lol:

[victoriakrum]

maybe it is by magic, but maybe its just too much detail that, (unfortunately) we're all dying to know. it would amount to over 1,000 page books, not that we would be complaning. but there are more important things to ponder over.
***just think of how long a diray ALL about every single tiny aspect of your life would be if kept over a period of 7 years. (hopefully more)

[skittles2]

Percy says he would advise Harry to take the prefect bathroom. So there must be other bathrooms too. I think there must be some in every house - girl ones in the girls tower and boy ones in the boys tower. Before the Yule Ball, all the girls come out of the girls tower - ready to go. I suppose many of them had make-up on and had to do their hair. So there must be bathrooms.