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Why do none of my in-laws wash their hands

343 replies

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 21:47

Need a rant to be honest. Actually sick of their lack of hygiene.

They’ve only arrived today and it’s making my skin crawl. I’ve gone to bed for an early night and I’ve just heard my fil going to the toilet, not flush or wash his hands. A few minutes later, mil comes up. She flushes at least but also, very definitely, does not wash her hands! The toilet is a small toilet along our upstairs landing (separate from a bathroom) and you can hear the tap being turned on very clearly.

We had chicken wraps for dinner, all putting their fingers in the sodding salad. Fil currently has a cold.

Debating whether to say something to my husband but there’s a huge backstory whereby he feels like I’m constantly criticising them, so probably best to keep my mouth shut. I might just passive aggressively repeatedly remind the kids to wash their hands tomorrow.

OP posts:
youalright · 30/12/2025 23:33

fashionqueen0123 · 30/12/2025 23:30

It’s not about germs from other people.

So whats it about if its not about germs from other people

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:32

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:30

But toilet tissue is pretty thin and without going into too much info here, there can be times when your hand can come into contact with your bits when wiping…..

I don't use cheap loo roll but obviously if some how never happens I got wee on my hands I'd obviously wash them

fashionqueen0123 · 30/12/2025 23:31

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:25

Some people don’t actually wash their hands by putting them under a tap, but use hand wipes. Since Covid I carry around hand gel and use that rather than use sinks where multiple people have had their hands. Maybe they do that? Maybe wait for them to go to bed and then rifle through their bags to see if that’s the case? At least you’ll sleep well tonight if you find gel in their luggage…..

Hand gel isn’t as effective as washing hands

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:30

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:27

Yes my hands touch the toilet paper but nothing else. Why would it. How on earth are you lot weeing

But toilet tissue is pretty thin and without going into too much info here, there can be times when your hand can come into contact with your bits when wiping…..

fashionqueen0123 · 30/12/2025 23:30

youalright · 30/12/2025 22:42

Why? Everyone in my household has been inside me one way or another i don't think they are worried about my germs its family

It’s not about germs from other people.

Safxxx · 30/12/2025 23:30

Hyperbowl · 30/12/2025 23:24

I am mind blown that here are this many people who have admitted that they can’t carry out a basic and obvious task such as washing their hands when they use the toilet. What the fuck am I reading?

Exactly...basic things in life are not practised by many and they think it's normal.

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:28

Copperoliverbear · 30/12/2025 23:22

Put a sign in the toilet please wash your hands, order it from amazon it will be here tomorrow.

I literally looked at a sign during their last visit and never ended up ordering- I will now! Thanks for the reminder.

OP posts:
Tamtim · 30/12/2025 23:28

Because they are lazy and disgusting. My mother doesn’t wash her hands after a wee either. It grinds my gears.

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:27

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:26

But tbh, you presumably wipe yourself after a wee, so your hands have been there when wiping with toilet tissue?

Yes my hands touch the toilet paper but nothing else. Why would it. How on earth are you lot weeing

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:27

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:25

Some people don’t actually wash their hands by putting them under a tap, but use hand wipes. Since Covid I carry around hand gel and use that rather than use sinks where multiple people have had their hands. Maybe they do that? Maybe wait for them to go to bed and then rifle through their bags to see if that’s the case? At least you’ll sleep well tonight if you find gel in their luggage…..

They don’t have hand wash by their kitchen sink at home. They’re not the type to have hand gel on themselves…. Feel like I would have seen it come out before now. But 🙏

OP posts:
Safxxx · 30/12/2025 23:27

Copperoliverbear · 30/12/2025 23:22

Put a sign in the toilet please wash your hands, order it from amazon it will be here tomorrow.

Yes this 👍 some ppl just need reminding

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:26

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:22

Why would my hands be dirty after having a wee i don't wee on my hands.

But tbh, you presumably wipe yourself after a wee, so your hands have been there when wiping with toilet tissue?

Sunshineandgrapefruit · 30/12/2025 23:26

Hand gel?

Livelovebehappy · 30/12/2025 23:25

Some people don’t actually wash their hands by putting them under a tap, but use hand wipes. Since Covid I carry around hand gel and use that rather than use sinks where multiple people have had their hands. Maybe they do that? Maybe wait for them to go to bed and then rifle through their bags to see if that’s the case? At least you’ll sleep well tonight if you find gel in their luggage…..

Hyperbowl · 30/12/2025 23:24

I am mind blown that here are this many people who have admitted that they can’t carry out a basic and obvious task such as washing their hands when they use the toilet. What the fuck am I reading?

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:22

Redbushteaforme · 30/12/2025 23:21

It is really not that clean if you are touching things in it with your mingy hands.

Why would my hands be dirty after having a wee i don't wee on my hands.

Copperoliverbear · 30/12/2025 23:22

Put a sign in the toilet please wash your hands, order it from amazon it will be here tomorrow.

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:22

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:18

Since you seem to have missed what I said:

Obviously I wash them for longer before I do things like meal prep/eat. I wash them for longer if I’m going to the loo during the day- and wash them for a considerable amount of time if I’m using a public toilet! My 10 seconds when I’ve been to the loo in the middle of the night is far better than your nothing.

Yeah i read it but i don't believe you. You made a point about how it takes less then 10 seconds to wash your hands i pointed out that you need to be washing them for a minimum of 20 seconds at a time you then suddenly said oh no thats only sometimes in the middle of the night. Its ok I'm not judging. Welcome to the gross side 🤣

Redbushteaforme · 30/12/2025 23:21

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:05

No my bathroom is clean public bathrooms are not.

It is really not that clean if you are touching things in it with your mingy hands.

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:18

youalright · 30/12/2025 23:17

Yeah but I didn't believe you. Its like mumsnetters who reckon they can have a shower and wash there hair in under a minute its because they are not washing properly. You can wash as much as you want but if you are not doing it correctly you are not killing germs.

Since you seem to have missed what I said:

Obviously I wash them for longer before I do things like meal prep/eat. I wash them for longer if I’m going to the loo during the day- and wash them for a considerable amount of time if I’m using a public toilet! My 10 seconds when I’ve been to the loo in the middle of the night is far better than your nothing.

OP posts:
mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:17

CarefullyCuratedFurniture · 30/12/2025 23:15

If they are a bunch of grimy mingers, stop serving food in communal bowls!! Plate up for everyone.

We would usually. I clearly relaxed when I shouldn’t have! 😅

OP posts:
youalright · 30/12/2025 23:17

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:10

Did you actually read my post in response to this?

Yeah but I didn't believe you. Its like mumsnetters who reckon they can have a shower and wash there hair in under a minute its because they are not washing properly. You can wash as much as you want but if you are not doing it correctly you are not killing germs.

CarefullyCuratedFurniture · 30/12/2025 23:15

If they are a bunch of grimy mingers, stop serving food in communal bowls!! Plate up for everyone.

mintandcoral · 30/12/2025 23:15

Rosamutabilis · 30/12/2025 22:32

They sound absolutely disgusting, as do the other non hand washers on here. I always wondered in covid times why people had to be instructed by the government to wash their hands frequently, but the message was presumably directed at people like your in-laws.
Do they wash their hands before and during food prep?
I wash my hands every time I use the loo, even though I live alone, during food prep, always after handling raw meat, every time I come in from places like shops when I've touched trolleys or surfaces.

Why are their actual hands in the salad, do you not have salad servers?

This thread has really clarified for me why the government had to literally campaign for people to wash their hands 😳

There’s something almost medieval about the ignorance from some people!

OP posts:
unicornflakegirl · 30/12/2025 23:15

I know lots of people/families who don't wash their hands after using the toilet and they don't seem to get ill any more frequently than average. I'm not in the UK.

I do wash my hands after the loo (except at night, a few times a year!) but never washed hands before eating until I had DC as I thought it would be a good habit for them to get into.

My main thing about eating with others that grosses me out is when restaurants give several spoons for one dessert and people take more than one bite and are using the spoon.
Or people double dipping if having dips and crisps/veg sticks.