Why You Should Avoid Showering, Washing Dishes, and Doing Laundry During a Thunderstorm

A thunderstorm can look like a harmless weather event when you are safely inside your home. You may continue with your normal routine—taking a shower, washing dishes, doing laundry, or cleaning around the house.

But when lightning is nearby, some ordinary activities involving plumbing and water can increase your risk of injury.

The reason is not that lightning somehow travels through every drop of water in your house. The real concern is that lightning can travel through electrical wiring, plumbing systems, and conductive materials connected to the outside environment.

That is why weather-safety experts recommend avoiding contact with plumbing and running water during an active thunderstorm.

How Can Lightning Reach You Inside a House?

Lightning is an enormous electrical discharge. Although most people think of lightning as something that only affects people outdoors, it can also enter buildings.

Lightning can travel through several pathways, including:

• Electrical wiring
• Plumbing
• Metal pipes
• Cable and telephone systems
• External structures connected to the building

Even when lightning does not strike your home directly, a nearby strike can cause electrical currents to travel through conductive pathways.

This is why being indoors does not mean you can ignore lightning safety.

A properly constructed building provides substantial protection, but only if you avoid contact with systems that can conduct electrical energy.

Why Is Taking a Shower During a Thunderstorm Risky?

Taking a shower means you are directly connected to running water and plumbing.

If lightning enters or travels through a plumbing system, the electrical current can potentially travel through pipes and reach faucets, shower fixtures, or other conductive components.

Water itself is not necessarily the primary issue.

The bigger concern is the combination of running water, plumbing, and electrical energy.

You are also standing in a wet environment, which can make electrical injuries particularly dangerous.

For this reason, if you hear thunder, it is safest to postpone your shower until the storm has passed.

This is especially important during strong thunderstorms with frequent lightning.

What About Washing Your Hands?

This is where some common advice can become confusing.

The recommendation to avoid plumbing during a thunderstorm does not mean you need to panic if you briefly washed your hands before realizing lightning was nearby.

The goal is to avoid unnecessary contact with plumbing and running water while lightning is occurring.

If you are already aware that a thunderstorm is approaching, finish what you are doing and avoid activities involving sinks, showers, bathtubs, and other plumbing until the storm passes.

There is no need to become frightened over every brief interaction with a faucet.

Why Should You Avoid Washing Dishes?

Washing dishes may seem much safer than taking a shower because you are not standing directly underneath running water.

However, you are still using a sink connected to the home's plumbing system.

During an active thunderstorm, it is therefore better to avoid unnecessary contact with:

Sinks, faucets, dishwashers, bathtubs, and other plumbing fixtures.

If the dishes can wait 20 or 30 minutes, there is really no reason to take the risk.

A pile of dirty dishes is annoying.

A lightning-related electrical injury is much more serious.

What About Doing Laundry?

Laundry creates two potential concerns.

First, a washing machine is connected to the home's electrical system.

Second, it is connected to the water supply and drainage system.

Because lightning can travel through electrical wiring and plumbing, operating or touching appliances connected to these systems during a thunderstorm is not recommended.

If a storm is approaching and you have not started the washing machine yet, wait until the storm passes.

If the machine is already running, avoid touching it unnecessarily during the storm.

What Other Activities Should You Avoid?

Plumbing is only part of lightning safety.

During an active thunderstorm, it is also wise to avoid unnecessary contact with electrical equipment connected to outlets.

That includes things such as:

• Desktop computers
• Wired electronic equipment
• Plugged-in televisions
• Corded phones
• Major appliances
• Electrical tools
• Equipment connected to exterior wiring

You do not need to unplug everything while lightning is already striking nearby. In fact, running around the house during an active storm to disconnect appliances can create its own risks.

If severe weather is approaching, unplug sensitive equipment before the storm arrives when it is safe to do so.

What Is Safe to Do During a Thunderstorm?

The safest place during a thunderstorm is generally inside a substantial, enclosed building.

Once indoors, stay away from windows and doors.

Avoid balconies, porches, garages that are open to the outside, and other exposed areas.

You can continue many normal activities that do not involve plumbing or direct contact with electrical systems.

For example, you can:

Read a book, talk to family members, watch an unplugged device, rest, or simply wait for the storm to pass.

The key is reducing unnecessary contact with conductive pathways.

How Long Should You Wait After the Storm?

One of the most important rules of lightning safety is the 30-minute rule.

After you hear the last sound of thunder, wait at least 30 minutes before resuming outdoor activities.

Remember that if you can hear thunder, lightning may be close enough to pose a danger.

A storm does not have to be directly overhead for lightning to strike.

This is why it is better to wait until the storm has clearly moved away rather than assuming you are safe because the rain has become lighter.

Can Lightning Really Travel Through Water?

This is one of the biggest misconceptions.

People sometimes say, "Lightning travels through water," as if every body of water automatically becomes electrified whenever lightning strikes.

The reality is more complicated.

Lightning is an electrical discharge that seeks conductive pathways. Water containing dissolved minerals and salts can conduct electricity, while plumbing systems can provide another pathway for electrical current.

Household plumbing may also contain metal components or be connected to other conductive systems.

Therefore, the practical safety recommendation is straightforward:

Avoid contact with plumbing and running water during thunderstorms.

You do not need to understand every detail of electrical physics to follow this precaution.

What If Lightning Strikes the House?

A lightning strike can cause electrical surges, fires, structural damage, and damage to electronic equipment.

If lightning strikes your home, avoid touching damaged electrical equipment or exposed wiring.

If you smell smoke, see flames, notice sparks, or suspect structural damage, leave the building if it is safe to do so and contact emergency services.

Never touch a fallen power line.

A downed line can remain energized even when it does not appear to be sparking.

Why This Safety Rule Is Worth Remembering

Thunderstorms do not happen every day, and most people will never experience a lightning-related injury inside their homes.

That can make precautions seem excessive.

But the beauty of this particular safety rule is that the cost of following it is extremely low.

You can take your shower later.

You can wash the dishes later.

The laundry can wait.

There is no health benefit to completing these chores during a thunderstorm, so postponing them removes an unnecessary potential exposure.

The Bottom Line

When lightning is active nearby, avoid showers, baths, washing dishes, doing laundry, and unnecessary contact with sinks or other plumbing fixtures.

The concern is that lightning-related electrical current can potentially travel through plumbing and other conductive systems.

You should also avoid unnecessary contact with plugged-in electrical equipment and stay away from windows, doors, balconies, and other exposed areas.

Instead, stay inside a substantial building and wait for the storm to pass.

If you can hear thunder, take the storm seriously.

And remember the simple rule: after the last thunder, wait at least 30 minutes before returning to outdoor activities.

A shower can wait.

The dishes can wait.

The laundry can definitely wait.

When lightning is nearby, safety comes first.

This article is for general educational purposes. During thunderstorms, follow local weather alerts and official emergency-management guidance. If someone is struck by lightning, seek emergency medical assistance immediately; it is safe to touch and help a lightning-strike victim because the person does not retain an electrical charge.