The Amish’s use of running water depends on their group and how open they are to modern conveniences.
Some Amish groups, like the New Order Amish, have modern comforts like indoor plumbing and running water. They heat their water using solar, gas, wood, or oil furnaces. This lets them shower or bathe daily or every other day, similar to non-Amish folks.
Others, like the Old Order Amish (including the Swartzentruber Amish), keep things old-school. They don’t have indoor plumbing or electricity. They get water from hand pumps and heat it on stoves for bathing.
This takes more effort, so they usually bathe less often, maybe once a week, especially in winter. They might bathe more in summer because they’re more active and need to stay clean.
How Do the Amish Shower Without Running Water?
Whether or not the Amish take showers depends on whether they have indoor plumbing in their homes. If they do, they can take showers just like anyone else.
But if they don’t have indoor plumbing, they use a different method called sponge baths. This means they wash themselves using a basin filled with water instead of standing under a shower. It’s a simpler way of staying clean when they don’t have running water in their homes.
Fetching Water for the Kitchen
Many Amish use a hand-pump to fetch water for the kitchen. Think of it like a manual faucet. Instead of turning on a tap like you’re used to, the Amish use a pump that they operate by hand to get water.
They use this water for things like cooking in the kitchen and for washing dishes. It’s a bit like going back to basics, where you have to physically pump the water yourself instead of just turning on a faucet.
Wrapping It Up
Whether a home has running water and bathrooms can show how modern or traditional the Amish group is. New Order Amish homes usually have bathrooms. But the more conservative Old Order Amish might keep things simpler, without fancy plumbing.