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AIBU?

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Original poster

Bathroom as guest AIBU

164 replies

serenavanderwoodsenn · 21/08/2024 10:42

Technically I’m not a guest as I work in the home as a nanny but the family I work for only has bar soap in the bathroom for handwashing?? All of their guests (they have people every weekend) plus 2 kids and the parents use this soap. It makes me feel icky. I don’t feel clean at all as it feels like everyone else’s germs are festering on it. I always end up grabbing the Sanex off the side of the bath or trying not to touch anything and washing my hands with fairy liquid when I get downstairs.

AIBU to think bar soap is ok for personal use but as a communal soap it’s a bit grim?

OP posts:
Howmanycatsistoomany · 21/08/2024 12:04

Bar soap all the way in this house, I've never been a fan of liquid soap ("who invented liquid soap and why?"). Although guests staying over get their own new soap, in their own bathroom.

justasking111 · 21/08/2024 12:02

I fold a flannel and put my soap on that at the end of the bath, then throw them in the washing machine. I find that avoids sliminess

sunnshine · 21/08/2024 12:00

Bar soap is horrible and dries out your hands, no idea why anyone uses it. Fairy is worse though! Just buy some Carex and bring it with you

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 21/08/2024 12:00

Do you not have your own en suite ?

There is nothing stopping you from buying liquid soap and putting it by the basin in this communal bathroom - just say to mum you prefer it.
Please don't tell her you think it is unhygienic as she will wonder if she has actually employed a level 3 (or more) in Childcare as a nanny.

NoSnowdrop · 21/08/2024 11:59

How can you be a nanny and not understand the basic principle of actual soap? What’s being taught to people these days?

Those scummy liquid soaps and sanitisers don’t do the job half as well so I’d be more wary of you wandering around with your unwashed hands.

Tiredofallthis101 · 21/08/2024 11:58

I am with you. I think using bar soap for unrelated persons is grotty. Especially with kids. There's often dirt or hairs on bar soap I see in other people's houses. Yuck.

fuzzwuss · 21/08/2024 11:57

Soap is a lot more environmentally friendly and is really effective against germs. I would think that neat fairy liquid is going to give you pretty sore skin after a while.

Cem82 · 21/08/2024 11:56

Just keep a mini bottle of shower gel or soap in your pocket if you have an issue with it! We use liquid soap here as my partner is an oaf who would leave the soap dish full of water reducing soap to mush (honestly he just floods everywhere- the sink is destroyed when he does the dishes) but I think bar soap is usually far better for your skin - a lot of the liquid ones strip all the oils etc away.

Original poster
serenavanderwoodsenn · 21/08/2024 11:54

WingSluts · 21/08/2024 11:47

Big drip feed there! Try not to pass on your unfounded fears to the children.

Could you be any more condescending? Ive studied child development and worked with children for 15 years. I’m more than capable of doing my job without having my personal opinions affect how I help raise kids to be. I’m not scared of the bar soap, it’s not a fear. I just don’t like the idea of slathering something all over my hands that other people have too.

OP posts:
whynotwhatknot · 21/08/2024 11:54

its soap its self cleaning -chandler bing

Bodeganights · 21/08/2024 11:53

ReadWithScepticism · 21/08/2024 10:56

Until a couple of decades ago,everyone always used bar soap. The liquid soaps only came into the shops because manufacturers and retailers like to diversify and update their offer in order to maximise sales. Liquid soaps aren't progress, they aren't more hygienic; they're just a little bit of additional choice.

As an older woman (61) I always find it interesting to see threads on MN by posters who are rediscovering the values of "bar soap" (it always used to be just "soap"). When liquid soaps came in I could never really see the point of them. Less convenient for most purposes.

Also you use them quicker,so need to buy more.

My household has both bar and liquid soaps.
The bar lasts way longer, although I have eczema so only certain expensive bar soaps will do. So barely any cost difference to me. We also buy a 5litre of the liquid soap and refill the dispensers. Those little dispensers last years, I dont know why people just throw them out when empty.

Flossflower · 21/08/2024 11:52

OP, don’t use hand sanitiser in place of washing with soap. The two things are very different. When washing with soap and water you remove any particles of dirt. If you sanitise you just sanitise over the particles. Hand sanitiser should not be used when cooking as probably your hands will have food or greasy germs that will stay on your hands.

InSpainTheRain · 21/08/2024 11:50

Why can't you ask them for pump soap? Are they unreasonable? I'd just say sure and put it on the shopping list if someone asked for it.

heretoeternity · 21/08/2024 11:50

The thing with bars of soap is some scumbags leave...well, scum...and dirt on the bar of soap if they've washed dirty hands and not rinsed it when finished. No dirt or hair left on the soap bar please! Also, some people who don't wash their hands properly (you'd think it would be obvious) and rinse, leave dirt smeared on the hand towel. Urgh!

Anyway, fine to use soap bars but if you're 'icky' about this get some liquid soap or hand sanitiser to keep in the bathroom.

Summertimer · 21/08/2024 11:50

I can’t stand liquid soap, never buy it. I don’t think it’s unhygienic to use bar soap

thefamous5 · 21/08/2024 11:50

We only use bar soap. Both in the shower and at the sinks. No plastic bottles of hand wash here.

Genevieva · 21/08/2024 11:48

It’s more hygienic than a plastic bottle and better for the environment too.

Hankunamatata · 21/08/2024 11:48

There will be more germs on outside of a bottle of soap than bar

WingSluts · 21/08/2024 11:47

Big drip feed there! Try not to pass on your unfounded fears to the children.

Talipesmum · 21/08/2024 11:42

serenavanderwoodsenn · 21/08/2024 11:40

I know germs don’t actually live on it hence my choice in language of saying ‘I feel like’ and not saying it as fact.

but I have a lot of sensory issues and ASD so perhaps it’s just my autism showing here judging off the replies.

Mini hand san may be the way to go as some replies have suggested!

Mini soap hand wash would be better - it’s much cleaner to actually wash your hands than to use sanitiser.
eta - I know you were going downstairs to wash your hands after, it would just be likely more hygienic to wash them straight away and your own little bottle of soap would help that.

Original poster
serenavanderwoodsenn · 21/08/2024 11:40

I know germs don’t actually live on it hence my choice in language of saying ‘I feel like’ and not saying it as fact.

but I have a lot of sensory issues and ASD so perhaps it’s just my autism showing here judging off the replies.

Mini hand san may be the way to go as some replies have suggested!

OP posts:
RhubarbAndFlustered · 21/08/2024 11:40

I work with dementia sufferers and have seen faeces on soap bars. Idgaf how many germs soap bars kill, just because something is on soap, it doesn't make it clean and hygienic. I'm with OP here. But I'd just carry a hand sanitiser size bottle with liquid soap in for personal use each day. Sorted.

poetryandwine · 21/08/2024 11:38

KimberleyClark · 21/08/2024 10:44

Germs can’t live on soaps. It’s perfectly safe for you to use.

This has been well established in studies, OP. I used to feel a bit like you do but knowing this changed my mind

Ebeneser · 21/08/2024 11:36

The only thing I don’t like about bar soap is people that use it in the shower and leave pubes on it. That may be a DH problem though…..

Blackcats7 · 21/08/2024 11:36

I think it is yukky too. Can you fabricate delicate skin and buy your own liquid handwash to keep in the bathroom?

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