To expect guests to wash their hands on arrival?

The first cases of SARS were traced back to lift buttons.

I always wash my hands when I have been out shopping or on public transport, before cooking, after emptying bins etc. I just think it is a good habit to get into. I wouldn't ask guests , but I assume they wouldn't be handling my food or anything.
Children who have been at school all day I would offer them a drink/snack and just jolly them along to wash their hands first.
Hand washing is a really good way to avoid spreading germs.

It’s funny how people get so offended by basic hygiene. No wonder infections when down during covid when people were encouraged to wash their hands more.

Yes, I always ask children. I always wash my hands when I come in and ask to do it at other people’s houses, No I wouldn't ask an adult to do it, but I do notice who does and who doesn’t (internally).

it’s not so much about germs, the outside world (especially public transport) is grimy. I like to keep my home clean.

Yes, if you're going to be doing certain specific things, including touching a vulnerable person (baby, ill person etc), eating, cooking, working with delicate fabric etc.

YYY

I'd like to swab surfaces on the trains I take on a daily basis, the handrails on escalators, lift buttons, etc, and see what they're all coated with.

Would I ask an adult - a guest in my house - to wash their hands? No because I'm not insane or controlling.

Not a bad idea.

Dirty

Um, we are though aren't we? Covid hasn't gone away, only the boosters have.

I think this is a You problem OP.

You can't dictate to adults when to wash their hands ffs.

I get my primary school age kids to wash their hands when they get in from outside / school because it’s germ seqson and we had a newborn. Now I’m thinking it’s just actually been sensible for everyone as touch wood we’ve not had any coughs or colds! Usually would have by now.

So yes if another child was here I would say the same.

I don’t think I would for adults though.

You have no idea what your hands have come in contact with if you've handled money, used public transport, used a public loo, pushed a trolley or carried a shopping basket.

Just because you can't see bacteria doesn't mean you haven't picked it up from surfaces you've touched.

Most immune systems are able to deal with it all, though hand sanitiser helps too. Washing with ordinary soap and water when you return home or go to someone else's house is easy, and something my mum always made us do as children. She was brought up on a farm and was strict about leaving the farmyard at the door, iykwim. (Even though we lived in the suburbs).

I wash my hands when I come back into my own house but not so much going into other people's houses. I can't eat without washing my hands though so if I was offered a cuppa and biccy I'd have to use their loo and wash my hands.

I'd find it more awkward if a guest came into my home and immediately requested to use the sink or basin to wash their hands. Unless they'd been gardening or something. If you wash them after the bathroom then surely your hands are clean? If you eat with cutlery you don't touch other people's food?

I would automatically wash my hands if I felt they needed it (for example, I’d come from petrol station, shops, public transport), or if I were visiting a house with a newborn baby. Otherwise, no, a bit OTT.

Unless you have a newborn or someone with a very compromised immune system or unless someone has come from doing something that’s dirtied their hands (farming, fixing a car engine etc) then yes, it’s an unreasonable and neurotic request.

Yes to this.

Though the average immune system can deal with most viruses.

No of course you can’t ask guests to do this, but yes I would ask visiting children to was hands before eating, and offer adults coming for dinner etc a clean towel, show them the downstairs bathroom in case they want to wash their hands. But that’s basic hygiene / manners.

I would wash my hands when visiting someone else if I’d just come off the tube which I frequently use if I’m visiting friends in another part of London.
I would wash my hands before cuddling a newborn baby.
I expect my cleaner to wash her hands when she comes in because she starts by unloading my dishwasher so is handling clean plates. Again I think that’s basic hygiene

Kids, yes, a lot of the time.

Adults, no.

I've always washed my hands after coming in from outdoors, and I've always taught my DCs to do it. If we had friends over straight from school then all the DCs and their friend/s would wash their hands. If parents dropped them off I would assume their hands would be clean on arrival and wouldn't ask them to.

If we were having a meal, then everyone partaking would need to wash hands before eating, regardless of who had brought them to my home. A lot of children who visited told me they had never been asked to wash hands before eating but cheerfully complied. They would usually have played outside, been licked by Dcat, maybe spent time painting or digging, etc. They would certainly have used the loo.

I think I'd turn around and go back home if you asked me to do this 😂

V weird I assume this is a joke

Yes I'd find this weird and probably a bit offensive. I wouldn't be rushing back.

We live in overpopulated and overcrowded cities crossing paths with hundreds of people every day. Yes, we have sanitation, but if we don't actually USE it at the appropriate times then yeah, you're gonna catch the upper respiratory tract infection from the gob that someone has just left on the handrail you just touched on the tube.

Unless I was visiting and planning to cuddle a newborn baby . No

I have OCD and ask children to wash their hands on arrival. Adults I don’t. But long term guests I’d prefer they did as they’re using more of the house.