Page 2 | To expect my son to wash his hands when he gets in?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 29/01/2025 12:04

Wouldn’t be something I’d be bothered about, nor do I insist on it, but it’s your house and not a massive imposition, so I think he should do as you ask.

QuickDraining · 29/01/2025 11:56

Note-to-self: the public are a bunch of mingers.

Original poster

Whyareyousoannoying · 29/01/2025 11:50

It seems that healthcare workers advocate for hand washing.

Ds was hospitalised with a sickness bug in 2010. He caught it from nursery. He was only a toddler.

I can remember the hospital staff back then talking saying that they'd had so many people in and that it's basic things like skipping handwashing that cause it to spread rapidly.

Like I say dh is very lucky and has never had a sickness bug. Touch wood I haven't since I was a child but I do have crohn's so get unwell anyway.

You might have an I'm alright Jack attitude but skipping basic hygiene could make someone else very sick.

OP posts:

AngelaMerkin1 · 29/01/2025 11:39

I read a statistic once that some percentage (not an insignificant one either) of public doorhandles have traces of semen on them 🤢 Bet that’d get your son washing OP!

Racksonracks · 29/01/2025 11:39

nahthatsnotforme · 29/01/2025 11:15

This thread just convinces me I need to keep washing my hands!

Right?! People are nasty! It’s basic hygiene.

nahthatsnotforme · 29/01/2025 11:15

This thread just convinces me I need to keep washing my hands!

Crazytimesbackthen · 29/01/2025 11:07

My daughter is a nurse. The large city hospital where she works has been full to capacity for weeks with very high numbers of patients with influenza and norovirus.

It makes perfect sense to me to wash my hands regularly especially after being on public transport. Nothing to do with being germ phobic. It’s a measure to reduce the spread of infection.

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 11:05

CurlewKate · 29/01/2025 10:59

We don't do this in our family-but if one person was made unhappy then we would. Of course. Because we care for each other and it's no big deal. He should do it.

Absolutely!

CurlewKate · 29/01/2025 10:59

We don't do this in our family-but if one person was made unhappy then we would. Of course. Because we care for each other and it's no big deal. He should do it.

ChristmasFluff · 29/01/2025 10:54

CarlaH · 29/01/2025 10:15

Are people still not aware that hand sanitiser is no use against norovirus.

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And hand sanitiser is massively less effective than washing your hands. It is best used on clean (i.e. washed) hands if you need to use it, such as when someone in the house has an infection. Hand sanitiser is better than nothing, but if you wash your hands regularly (such as when you get in) you don't need to sanitise them.

Mama2many73 · 29/01/2025 10:48

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 10:44

@Mama2many73

but if you and everyone took their shoes off you wouldn’t have to hoover and mop daily! Make life easier for yourself!

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Yeah I would because I have a large dog which moults copious amounts!! Our house isn't large . Takes a max of 30 mins to hoover and mop through downstairs .

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 10:44

Mama2many73 · 29/01/2025 10:16

Oh no! 😲 we also have a dog and we don't wash him daily?!
My house is clean, as a foster carer i often have SS here without issue. I hoover and mop daily, so nope it's not dirty and if there was dirt so what!
You can have uour choices and beliefs , live by them, but also accept that some people live differently, not worse, without negative effects on their lives!
I literally know nobody who insists you remove shoes and none of them have dropped down dead due to dirt!

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@Mama2many73

but if you and everyone took their shoes off you wouldn’t have to hoover and mop daily! Make life easier for yourself!

DappledThings · 29/01/2025 10:36

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 09:55

@DappledThings

there is a need for it though. Especially if you’ve been using public transport. Or at the supermarket holding a trolley. Etc etc. your hands WILL have germs on. just wash your hands, ffs - it’s hardly like it takes a long time is it?!

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Your hands have germs on all the time. I'm not going to suddenly start putting up signs in my home telling me to wash my hands every time I cross the threshold and I'm pretty sure nothing else is going to make me think of it.

Mama2many73 · 29/01/2025 10:16

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 09:56

@Mama2many73

your floor must be filthy

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Oh no! 😲 we also have a dog and we don't wash him daily?!
My house is clean, as a foster carer i often have SS here without issue. I hoover and mop daily, so nope it's not dirty and if there was dirt so what!
You can have uour choices and beliefs , live by them, but also accept that some people live differently, not worse, without negative effects on their lives!
I literally know nobody who insists you remove shoes and none of them have dropped down dead due to dirt!

CarlaH · 29/01/2025 10:15

Miyagi99 · 29/01/2025 09:15

I take hand sanitiser for when I get off public transport but I wouldn’t wash my hands when I get home unless I’m about to eat.

Are people still not aware that hand sanitiser is no use against norovirus.

Windowsand · 29/01/2025 10:14

First thing we all do especially the children on public transport is wash their hznds.
Basic hygiene, especially during the winter flu season.

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 10:12

Zanatdy · 29/01/2025 08:09

No I never do or ask my kids to. Even my germ phobic mum didn’t ask us to do this. Only ever did this during Covid.

@Zanatdy

well your mum is not a very good germaphobe cos washing your hands when you home is basic

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 09:56

Mama2many73 · 29/01/2025 08:26

I'm not sure why you've posted on AIBU.

You obviously don't believe you are being unreasonable. You obviously think you are right and as its your home you can request he follows theae rules but you are giving short thrift/rudely replying to the comments from people who dont agree as in 'you are all in the wrong', 'dirty', 'ignorant as to how germs spread' etc.

We don't wash as we come in unless obviously dirty, we don't take our shoes off at the door and we've all remained pretty damned healthy.

Yes that could be down to chance - who knows?? In the same way we won't ever know if your good health is down to hand cleaning or chance??

@Mama2many73

your floor must be filthy

LuckySantangelo35 · 29/01/2025 09:55

DappledThings · 29/01/2025 07:31

Yes, because that's when it is ingrained to do so and why sinks are right next to toilets. Like many other posters here it is not at all instinctive to wash hands just because I've been outside. No need for it.

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@DappledThings

there is a need for it though. Especially if you’ve been using public transport. Or at the supermarket holding a trolley. Etc etc. your hands WILL have germs on. just wash your hands, ffs - it’s hardly like it takes a long time is it?!

VoodooRajin · 29/01/2025 09:46

Whyareyousoannoying · 29/01/2025 09:06

Oh right ok. Do you just eat without bothering to wash your hands then?

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Sometimes

POTC · 29/01/2025 09:38

Whyareyousoannoying · 28/01/2025 20:25

@biscuitsandbooks you're confusing touching surfaces with things just being outside.

I've already explained. My shoes coat and bag go in the cupboard.

My clothes aren't covered in germs just because they've been outside.

By your logic why even bother washing your hands Ayer using the toilet? Your clothes have been in the toilet with you after all.

Your hands are the things you touch everything with.

During the pandemic we were advised to wash our hands. We weren't advised to wash our clothes, bags and coats.

There are as many airborne germs as surface based so yes, your clothes have germs on.
Not sure where you were during the pandemic but in England we were absolutely being told to change clothing on returning home. Those of us working in even medium risk professions were stripping on the doorstep, putting the clothes into a pillowcase and straight in the washing machine then immediately showering and washing hair.

Characterbuilding · 29/01/2025 09:30

Whyareyousoannoying · 28/01/2025 17:45

Ds 16yo has been at work or college, come home on public transport.

Aibu to expect him to wash his hands upon arriving home before he starts touching everything especially the fridge, food, cups etc. he will walk straight in and start going in the fridge making a drink not washing his hands.

When I ask him he shouts at me and calls me a germ phobe.

Everyone else in the house manages to wash their hands when they get in.

Constantly reminding my 17 year old son, he's also heads straight for the fridge! I don't know anyone who doesn't wash their hands when they get, standard practice. They have been out all day and public transport is grimy. I also advise them to change their outside clothes before getting into bed to relax but don't insist.

serendipity70 · 29/01/2025 09:27

Sinkintotheswamp · 28/01/2025 20:00

Have none of the non hand washers heard of Florence Nightingale or seen the glitter hand print test at school?

Fantastic examples

Racksonracks · 29/01/2025 09:24

I always wash my hands when I come in.

I feel like there is a cultural element to this too - Afro Caribbean families tend to be more fastidious about hygiene in my experience.

BellissimoGecko · 29/01/2025 09:21

brunettemic · 29/01/2025 08:57

Well from your original post you sound like a germ phobe so………….

Not at all. It's just sensible to wash your hands after you come in from being on public transport or in busy places where hundreds of people may have touched the same touch-points as you have, eg handrails, lift buttons, bus seats.