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Original poster

AIBU to think washing hands before emptying the dishwasher is unnecessary

219 replies

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 15:21

Well now I've heard it all... I was emptying the dishwasher at work, cuz I'm nice like that . and my colleague was there, making a cup of tea. And she remarked and wondered why I didn't wash my hands before emptying and said dishwasher.

Who washes their hands to empty the dishwasher?

OP posts:
ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 15:54

Yeah, I don’t do it for the germs. I don’t want plates smeared with jam or gravy. I’d rather have a visibly clean plate. My husband does leave jam and gravy on clean plates. It’s v v v annoying

Longleaf · 15/09/2026 15:55

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 15:54

Yeah, I don’t do it for the germs. I don’t want plates smeared with jam or gravy. I’d rather have a visibly clean plate. My husband does leave jam and gravy on clean plates. It’s v v v annoying

I mean, if your hands are covered in jam or gravy surey you wash them before touching anything, otherwise your house must be sticky all over ?

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 15:57

It is. I live with 3 boys. I dream of my own lovely apartment sometimes. 🤣

ArtxeTibA · 15/09/2026 16:02

It would be one thing doing it at home where at least it's only your own family being affected and you can pretty much be sure you're all sharing hand germs anyway, but at work it's different.

I seriously wonder sometimes if the basic concept of germs as vectors of disease has been completely forgotten. It's as if people think it can't happen, when it's literally how it happens.

I really really don't want my colleague who's always wiping her nose with her fingers to empty the dishwasher and leave her hand germs all over the things I might use. It's beyond disgusting.

BunnyLake · 15/09/2026 16:03

I tend to wash my hands whenever I’m in the kitchen anyway so I would probably do it without even thinking.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 15/09/2026 16:04

Of course you have clean hands to handle clean crockery. Otherwise it would need washing again.

concertinacornflake · 15/09/2026 16:05

I wash hands before doing kitchen jobs, so probably would do it automatically.

Original poster
OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 16:05

ArtxeTibA · 15/09/2026 16:02

It would be one thing doing it at home where at least it's only your own family being affected and you can pretty much be sure you're all sharing hand germs anyway, but at work it's different.

I seriously wonder sometimes if the basic concept of germs as vectors of disease has been completely forgotten. It's as if people think it can't happen, when it's literally how it happens.

I really really don't want my colleague who's always wiping her nose with her fingers to empty the dishwasher and leave her hand germs all over the things I might use. It's beyond disgusting.

Yes, but how would you know whether she's washed her hands or not?

OP posts:
Original poster
OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 16:05

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 15:54

Yeah, I don’t do it for the germs. I don’t want plates smeared with jam or gravy. I’d rather have a visibly clean plate. My husband does leave jam and gravy on clean plates. It’s v v v annoying

Who's walking round with jammy hands??

OP posts:
Original poster
OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 16:06

Longleaf · 15/09/2026 15:54

Some people's hands must be very sore from all this washing. I'd love to see a study as to the relative levels of illness experienced by the handwashers and otherwise.

I don't think some people must spend an awful lot of time washing their hands all day.

To then touch a door or a towel or their clothes to immediately dirty them...

OP posts:
TheBlueKoala · 15/09/2026 16:07

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 15:52

But all the hand washers.... You've unknowingly eaten and drunk from all these contaminated pieces of cutlery and crockery for ever. Like when you go to any restaurant, do you genuinely think all the staff wash their hands before touching any of the cutlery crumbling between serving Etc. or when you go to like a canteen or something. People have touched those knives and forks and the little cutlery holders.

I don't think it does us any harm really.
The human body is pretty good at fighting minor infections etc.

I'm sure I've eaten something prepared by someone who hasn't washed their hands after going to the loo- doesn't mean I'm going to stop washing my hands!

persephoneee · 15/09/2026 16:10

Hang on a sec, I'll just text my housekeeper and the maid to see what they do.

Muffsies · 15/09/2026 16:10

Does she wash the cupboards before she puts the cups away too?

Under normal circs i wouldn't wash my hands b4 emptying the dishwasher. Depends what i've been doing tho, if my hands need washing, i'll wash them regardless of what i'm doing next.

Does her or your job involve handling things like money or dusty files and paperwork? Some people can be very squeamlish about computer keyboards (some are very rank).

SharkyBait · 15/09/2026 16:11

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 15:54

Yeah, I don’t do it for the germs. I don’t want plates smeared with jam or gravy. I’d rather have a visibly clean plate. My husband does leave jam and gravy on clean plates. It’s v v v annoying

Why are your dh’s hands covered in jam and gravy? 🤣

MarzipanAngel · 15/09/2026 16:14

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 15:52

But all the hand washers.... You've unknowingly eaten and drunk from all these contaminated pieces of cutlery and crockery for ever. Like when you go to any restaurant, do you genuinely think all the staff wash their hands before touching any of the cutlery crumbling between serving Etc. or when you go to like a canteen or something. People have touched those knives and forks and the little cutlery holders.

I don't think it does us any harm really.
The human body is pretty good at fighting minor infections etc.

This sounds like something one of my teenagers would say to get out of washing their hands tbh.

I wash my hands before I do anything in the kitchen unless I’ve just washed them elsewhere. It’s second nature to me.

SharkyBait · 15/09/2026 16:20

As if everyone is obsessively washing their hands before emptying the dishwasher 🙄

If it’s true (which I doubt) then I guess they were also the same people washing their shopping during Covid.

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 16:26

@SharkyBait i have no idea. The swine 🤣

Bonkers1966 · 15/09/2026 16:27

Why do you think it's okay to spread your germs over clean dishes? Do you hate the world? So glad I don't work with you.

ArtxeTibA · 15/09/2026 16:28

OhNoooooooooooooooo · 15/09/2026 16:05

Yes, but how would you know whether she's washed her hands or not?

Show quote history

I wouldn't know, but having seen her, if I thought she might be regularly emptying the dishwasher at work I would be either not be using those things or quietly washing them first! Certainly the cutlery.

Yes I have to take an unknown chance in restaurants and so on, but that doesn't mean I just stop caring everywhere.

I don't think the people who do this sort of nose wiping and touching with their fingers can have any clue how repulsive some people find it, or they wouldn't do it. Or those who lick their fingers after eating something and then right in front of you go straight back to their keyboards.

I don't care if my immune system will eventually deal with any infection (it might involve making me ill first of course), I don't want anything from someone else's nose anywhere near my plate or cutlery, thanks.

Hghardy · 15/09/2026 16:29

Jesus christ I need to get off mumnet.

HorseandHeron · 15/09/2026 16:29

I often do, but that is because I usually empty the dishwasher after feeding the birds or the cat, and am wary of germs from the birdfeeders, or the accidental scent of catfood on my coffee mugs.

ArtxeTibA · 15/09/2026 16:31

SharkyBait · 15/09/2026 16:20

As if everyone is obsessively washing their hands before emptying the dishwasher 🙄

If it’s true (which I doubt) then I guess they were also the same people washing their shopping during Covid.

I can see that's an attractive thought, because it means they must be being unreasonable. I don't think it's true though.

Tvradiorentals · 15/09/2026 16:31

It’s not a topic I’ve ever particularly given much thought to but now you’ve raised it yes I wash my hands before emptying the dishwasher. I look on it as basic kitchen hygiene. 🤷‍♀️

concertinacornflake · 15/09/2026 16:33

SharkyBait · 15/09/2026 16:20

As if everyone is obsessively washing their hands before emptying the dishwasher 🙄

If it’s true (which I doubt) then I guess they were also the same people washing their shopping during Covid.

Not obsessively.

But it's not unusual to wash hands before starting kitchen jobs. If you've worked in a kitchen ever it becomes habit - you wash hands before starting.

Some people are just a touch cleaner than others!

seahorsessky · 15/09/2026 16:34

ShesRunningOutTheDoor · 15/09/2026 15:29

My husband doesn’t wash his and our plates always have greasy finger prints on them. I bloody wish he would

And even if they weren't greasy, they'd still have dirt/bacteria you can't see on them. I wouldn't get out a plate and put food on it without washing my hands, so I'd definitely wash them before emptying a dishwasher and putting stuff away.