To expect guests to wash their hands on arrival?

"germs" and "disease" are 2 different things though. People who don't mix with other can still have lots of exposure to "germs", but they may not have much exposure to disease. Look at tribespeople in very isolated places who don't mix with outsiders. They're terrified of them bringing disease with them. They don't have access to running water, they live often in dwellings which consist of mud or elephant dung, on floors directly on the earth. THey're surrounded by plenty of germs. The difference is they don't experience the cross contamination that comes with living in a city with thousands of people sneezing and coughing into their hands and then touching the same hand rail or escalataor or exit button that you then have to touch.

Disordered views on hygiene run rampant on MN.

No, not normally.

If they had needed to change a tyre or something totally out of the ordinary which meant they had obviously dirty hands then I would, but normal looking hands - no.

It reminds me of when I worked in a supermarket during COVID. I overheard one customer getting very stressed about the person on the till handling her items. I have no idea how she thought they got onto the shelves in the first place unhandled.

Surely this isn't real? I'd think you were a complete lunatic if you asked this.

The only time I'd say this is acceptable is when there is a newborn baby, otherwise it's weird. I say this as someone who is who is strict on hygiene.

I wash my hands as soon as I get in. I’ve been asked to wash my hands when entering the house of someone with a child who was immunocompromised. I was absolutely fine with that and actually a bit embarrassed I didn’t offer.

If I was asked for a cultural reason, fine. If it was to indulge someone’s anxiety I suppose I would be taken aback

I do think that old phrase (not used very much anymore) "to go and freshen up" doesn't just mean to go to the toilet, when it comes to guests when they arrive. It usually means to have an actual wash of their hands and/or face.

Sounds a bit rude tbh. You’ll be spraying them down with disinfectant next 😂

It was a revelation to me when I first started making my kids (and DH) washing their hands when coming home after being out at school and work all day, or visiting family. Suddenly there were far fewer viruses and stomach bugs happening. Now they're young adults they usually do it out of habit, particularly if travelling on public transport which is frankly absolutely minging. Or having been to some kind of event especially involving a buffet.

I had a trial of not washing my hands after coming home after mixing with others at buffets etc thinking I was just being paranoid and a bit weird and thinking I'd been OTT. Unsurprisingly, I caught colds and stomach bugs more so I went back to doing it. I work with small children and on the odd occasion I forget/dont' have time to wash my hands before I eat my lunch, I've had a vomiting bug or covid or something a few days later.

However I would never ask guests to do this. I would inwardly cringe if they'd been on multiple trains, buses and planes especially if just before Christmas or some other special occasion because it could well mean someone gets ill with a cold or something. But I just couldn't bring myself to ask guests this. It's not very welcoming.

Before food or maybe if they came in from playing outside.

In nearly 5 decades, I've never known such a thing.

My family always wash their hands when they've been out. Stemming from my grandparents (and probably they got it from their parents etc) so definitely not a covid thing. I'm surprised it's not more common but then it's very normal to me; in the same way I always take my shoes off, I always wash my hands. I'd never insist a guest did it, or even suggest it. I think that's overstepping.

We turned our porch into a decontamination room, problem solved.

no! Nuts...

Do you live in an operating theatre OP?

How welcoming 😂

No, I would not expect any guests to wash their hands at any point. That’s completely weird.

Never

I would if I was visiting a newborn, or if there was someone immuno compromised etc. If someone asked me to do it, internally I'd think it was a bit odd, but wouldn't question it

No. But the first thing I usually need when I arrive anywhere is a wee so I'd be your perfect guest op. Straight to the loo and thereafter a hand-wash. Hope you provide nice soap.

YABU UNLESS there is someone vulnerable/extremely vulnerable in the house - then its shoes off, hands clean coat at the door

That's not how that works.

No I would not ask a guest to my home to wash their hands before any socialising could commence 🤔

If I was coming to see a new born/young baby or knew someone in the house was immucompromised I would but if not, no.

No. People should wash their hands before eating. but it's not to be expected on arrival.

Are you perhaps still affected by your anxiety levels at the height of the pandemic?

I've never been asked to do this anywhere in the world visiting people from all different cultures. Nor would I ever ask anyone else visiting my home to do this

You're in the extreme minority with this one OP, this is not normal.