Surprisingly, many homes and apartments only have a stall shower, no bathtub in sight. But chances are, you have lived in a dwelling that included a bathtub. The most common complaint surrounding American bathtubs is their size – if you’re over 5 feet tall, you’re probably not able to lie flat with your legs stretched out and fully submerged. You can work around this, however, but for now, let’s take a look at bathtubs.

Bathtubs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. One size does not fit all, especially in regards to culture and bathing preferences. Some bathtubs are free-standing, some are combined with showers to save space, and some are “sunken”, or built into the floor. They are usually made of acrylic or fiberglass, but can be made using steel, cast iron, or even wood. They are traditionally oval or square but more shapes are gaining popularity. Bathtubs come in different colors, although they are most often seen as white or off-white.

First, we have the clawfoot tub. If you’re lucky, you’ve had the pleasure of bathing in a clawfoot tub, which is free-standing and typically has high sides for maximum comfort and water immersion. Anyone who has bathed in a clawfoot tub will tell you they are simply luxurious.

Popular in Europe, clawfoot tubs are usually cast iron or acrylic. For centuries they were only enjoyed by the elite and many of the old models are now considered collectible. Today, clawfoot tubs are becoming increasingly popular all over again, especially with those remodeling and designing new homes.

There are different types of clawfoot tubs. Classic flat or role-top bathtubs are most commonly seen, the edges either being flat (nice for artfully displaying bottles of bath salts and candles) or curved. The aptly-named slipper tub is shaped like a shoe, with one end higher than the other. There is a gentle slope in the shape of the tub that allows the bather to lie back in a lounge position. Double slipper tubs are sloped at both ends, enabling the bather to lie back further. Pedestal tubs rest upon a single pedestal or platform rather than the claw foot design we see in all other types of tubs.

Hot tubs and whirlpools are technically bathtubs, also known as spas and jacuzzis (named after a plumbing product manufacturer who invented the jacuzzi back in 1958). These heated tubs became popular in the US beginning in 1950 and through the 1970’s thanks to references in pop culture, including film and song.

Bathtubs were the center of a controversy in 1917, when an article published in the New York Evening Mail described an alternate, incorrect history of the bathtub. The article’s author, H.L. Mencken, claimed that bathtubs haven’t been around for very long at all – which, for those of us who know the true history of bathing, is obviously untrue. The article described bathtubs as having been introduced to England in 1828, and to the United States a few years later in 1842. It also stated that President Fillmore was the reason bathtubs became accepted in the United States, as he had one built in the White House in 1850. The article’s misinformation made it into encyclopedias, textbooks, and publications before being proven as untrue.

Now, you’ll never look at a bathtub the same way again!