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Original poster

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

294 replies

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.

OP posts:
saraclara · 28/01/2025 22:52

LuckySantangelo35 · 28/01/2025 22:24

All those aghast at the idea of washing your hands when you come home….why exactly?! Can you really not be arsed standing at the sink for a minute washing your hands? It’s hardly some big imposition to your life is it??

I'm not aghast at it. I just don't see the need. I wash my hands when I'm about to touch food. I wash my hands if I've been to the toilet, if I've touched raw chicken, or if I've had to clear up something unpleasant or germy.

I don't consider having been out of the house to be any more toxic, hand germ-wise, than being in it.

Jumpingthruhoops · 28/01/2025 22:51

Mademetoxic · 28/01/2025 22:32

Reading all these comments makes me realise why I do wash my hands after coming home. People are gross.

This! 👏👏

YourWildAmberSloth · 28/01/2025 22:50

I've always done it, and have taught my son the same. Growing up we always did it, honestly I assumed that most people did.

Jumpingthruhoops · 28/01/2025 22:49

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.

It constantly baffles me how little people know about/pay attention to cross contamination.
A relative once caught noro from someone passing them a sandwich out of the fridge at work! The SOLE reason I didn't catch it is because I'm fastidious about hand washing!
Public/communal areas with high touch points are riddled with germs - and they're not the kind I'd want anywhere near my fridge!
OP, if it really bothers you (which it IS allowed to!) then all I can suggest is that you antibac surfaces, door handles, light switches, TV remote regularly.
And keep your DS out of your kitchen!

2welshmums · 28/01/2025 22:42

YANBU
I wash hands when I get home, so does my 6 yo - why wouldn't you!?

LuckySantangelo35 · 28/01/2025 22:36

LewishamMumNow · 28/01/2025 18:37

I think it's OTT. Never done this. Never occurred to me. Wasn't aware anyone does. If your DS works somewhere dirty then he should clean as he finishes work. I don't think you should be imposing this on a 16 year old - he is no longer 6 and this is not normal at all.

@LewishamMumNow

is it normal though. It’s just common sense and basic hygiene. And OP’s son needs to comply , it is her house after all

IkeaMeatballGravy · 28/01/2025 22:35

I don't understand why anyone wouldn't want to have lovely fresh hands after being out. Especially after being on a bus where God knows how many grubby, unwashed hands have grabbed the poles before. Why would you want to touch all of your things with someone else's shit germs on your hands.

At any rate it's a rule of your home and your DS should respect it.

Daysgo · 28/01/2025 22:34

He started off just not washing his hands every time he entered the house, quite reasonably imo , and now all of a sudden he's the sickest one in the house , oh and also apparently prepping food🤣. Its ok op for people, even your close to adult son, to not agree with you on everything... Regarding shouting at you , I'd be annoyed , unless ofc you are shouting at him too or being completely ott and never stopping going on about washing his bloody hands.

Mademetoxic · 28/01/2025 22:32

Reading all these comments makes me realise why I do wash my hands after coming home. People are gross.

BellissimoGecko · 28/01/2025 22:29

ManchesterLu · 28/01/2025 22:13

If we continue to do so much hand washing, none of us will have any immunity to anything. I feel that this has become apparent this winter, as we've all pretty much forgotten about covid, and low and behold, everyone's had all the different viral illnesses multiple times.

This comment makes no sense.

First you say that washing hands will lower our immunity.

Then you say that we have all forgotten about washing our hands during Covid and that's why the bugs this winter have been so bad.

One of those can be true. Not both.

Okbyethen · 28/01/2025 22:28

After going on public transport I always wash my hands after getting home. Touching the poles/handles with people coughing and spluttering all over them is gross 🤢 always wash hands after

BellissimoGecko · 28/01/2025 22:27

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.

Yanbu at all. We all wash our hands after coming in from outside. The public are foul!

And your son shouldn't be shouting at you and calling you names. If'd come down on that like a ton of bricks.

LuckySantangelo35 · 28/01/2025 22:24

All those aghast at the idea of washing your hands when you come home….why exactly?! Can you really not be arsed standing at the sink for a minute washing your hands? It’s hardly some big imposition to your life is it??

BellissimoGecko · 28/01/2025 22:24

JandamiHash · 28/01/2025 18:03

He’s right, this is OTT.

Ive never washed my hands when getting home and dont before I eat either. Healthy as an ox and never ill, as are my whole family.

I suppose your hands have only been sitting in Dettol all day?

Crappy, unnecessarily rude comment

LuckySantangelo35 · 28/01/2025 22:23

it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks on here OP, at the end of the days it’s your house, your rules.
he needs to get washing his hands , simple as!

Bbq1 · 28/01/2025 22:18

Myself, dh and ds, 19 all automatically wash our hands when we get in. We're not germophobes at but if you have been on public transport, been at work or been shopping it's very easy to pick stuff up on your hands. I am Immunosuppressed but none of us get colds or sick etc very often.

ManchesterLu · 28/01/2025 22:13

If we continue to do so much hand washing, none of us will have any immunity to anything. I feel that this has become apparent this winter, as we've all pretty much forgotten about covid, and low and behold, everyone's had all the different viral illnesses multiple times.

peachystormy · 28/01/2025 22:12

I agree with you OP I tend to do this after I have been out to the shops and keep a small hand sanitizer in my car. Sometimes I ask the kids to clean their hands when they come home but I forget a lot.

Rumpoleoftheballet · 28/01/2025 22:11

I make my DC wash hands when they get in as they've been in school all day. I get called a germophobe, but in a jokey way, but they still wash them.

Original poster
Whyareyousoannoying · 28/01/2025 22:11

sanityisamyth · 28/01/2025 22:10

Has he been mucking out farm animals by hand?

Well funny you should say. You're not far off.

OP posts:
Original poster
Whyareyousoannoying · 28/01/2025 22:10

@chocos being filthy apparently.

OP posts:
sanityisamyth · 28/01/2025 22:10

Has he been mucking out farm animals by hand?

Original poster
Whyareyousoannoying · 28/01/2025 22:08

@VoodooRajin well I can't answer that there are probably multiple reasons but when they talk about being exposed to germs it doesn't mean skipping hand washing.

It's about children playing outside, playing with one another.

We don't live in a sterile environment.

How can you explain that when we all had Covid ds was very unwell but the rest of us had no symptoms.

Dh has never had a sickness bug. He always washes his hands.

Are you saying that all the children who were wiped out recently at school with noro were too clean?

OP posts:
QuickDraining · 28/01/2025 22:06

No real need for hot water even. 10 seconds is enough. Easy. www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-40118539

chocos · 28/01/2025 22:05

ElderLemon · 28/01/2025 17:49

I'm 60, and have had 60 years of excellent health. Take about one sick day every 4 or 5 years. My son at 16 has never ever had a vomiting bug. And I mean never.

How is this possible? What are you both doing?

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