Would you say something to someone if you knew they didn’t wash their hands after using the toilet?

[asblindasabat]

On Christmas Day, my MIL Used the downstairs loo but didn’t wash her hands. I know this as our lounge is right beside the toilet and you can always hear the water running when the tap is on, which I didn’t hear. She went in, quickly went about her business, toilet flushed and out she came so it was very obvious.

I was going to ask her if she had forgot to wash her hands but I just couldn’t build the courage to do it! I had an audience and it would probably have looked liked I was starting an argument but I did feel somewhat uncomfortable with someone using the toilet, not washing their hands and then touching objects in my house.

if a guest in your house did this, would you just ignore it or would you just say it as it is?

you don’t have to get wee on you to get the bacteria from your genitals and bum crack all over your hands. Loo roll isn’t a barrier to this bacteria, it still transfers from your fanny and bum crack to your hands. It is absolutely necessary from a hygiene point of view to wash your hands.

Strangely though the children that live by open sewers or are regularly exposed to human waste tend to die before their 5th birthday. Could it be because outdoors is actually safer than a toilet?

Hehe. You are right that this is a class issue though.

I really don't get the argument for no handwashing after using the loo. You might aswell just fess up meh I'm lazy. I mean it only takes a moment to wash your hands.

How? By being near your genitals? Does it jump?

Follow this link
www.gov.uk/government/news/the-invisible-bugs-that-lurk-on-your-hands

Washing hands makes a huge difference!

Bacteria are microscopic, they are small enough to travel through the loo roll and onto your hands. Loo roll is very porous, it’s not a barrier to bacteria.

I actively avoid washing my hands in other people disgusting bathrooms because of the state of their towels and soap dispensers tbh. I don't touch my wee or my undercarriage and I often, depending on my level of disgust use a tissue to flush. Plus I would rather take my chances with my own germs that with whatever is festering in someone elses damp towels. Does this ring any bells op? Could she have been trying not to touch your bathroom stuff?

I'm in my 40s and have never washed my hands after a wee. I wasn't taught to as a child so never started. I've never had norovirus either!

I agree it's disgusting, however it's not as uncommon as you might think. I work for the NHS in a building that is 85% nurses (working in the community). My office is right outside the toilets and the vast amount of them don't wash their hands after using the toilet, quick flush and straight out. It's repulsive, especially as they're going out visiting patients in their homes. It's not just me that has picked up on this either.

If it was a guest putting their yucky hands around my home on door handles my children use, I’d say something. I certainly have with teenagers but how awkward with an adult. I’d probably say something like “Oh excuse me I didn’t hear the tap after you flushed and I know it can be so tricky to turn, sorrh about that but don’t worry just wash your hands in the kitchen the soap is here.”

If was a public place I wouldn’t say anything.

Your parents didn’t teach you basic hygiene, so you decided to never teach yourself?

What an odd excuse for being so yucky. 🤮

I'm amazed how many women don't wash their hands after using a public toilet.

I always think about calling them out on it but have not summoned up the courage yet!!

I always wash my hands (except at night I realise this is an odd thing)

I think it's really grim how many people say in this thread they don't.

It's not about touching urine or genitals i about being in a toilet which is germy and it just encourages frequent hand washing.

I think I'd have to say something like could you not find the soap?

I find going to people who have one bathroom awkward as I never know what towel to use and some people have really untidy bathrooms!

If it's a public toilet use a paper towel to open the door handle and lock.

I love the hand washing stations in Nando's. I'm not a fan of just sanitising my hands. Always before kitchen duties and eating. Which no one else does except my husband and one friend. Exception is if it's car to restaurant.

Let’s take a moment to remember Dr Semmelweis.

He tried to work out why so many women were dying soon after giving birth. After trying various theories, he noticed that the dying women had doctors who worked on dead bodies in the morning, then assisted with childbirth in the afternoon. He suggested that handwashing after dissecting the dead bodies would be a great idea. He introduced this and far fewer new mothers died. But, most doctors got offended at the idea that they should wash their hands, so Dr Semmelweis got fired and a load more women died. This was two hundred years ago but I still that some Mumsnetters still haven’t caught up to Dr Semmelweis. Sigh.

www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/01/12/375663920/the-doctor-who-championed-hand-washing-and-saved-women-s-lives

Also people who don't have soap in their kitchens. Bizarre. I wash my hands more in the kitchen than anywhere. Husband to.

I would NEVER say anything to anyone apart from my own children when they were younger.

I work with teens who have a range of difficulties - germs is a common one. They wouldn't use a sink and towel in someone else's house - they'd consider gel a better alternative. I'm not saying this is OP's MIL's reason, but you never know. I worked with someone for years before she told me she was bulimic - nobody knew, not even her husband.

I honestly don't think it's a big health issue. As pp said, polite, and I'm not defending it, but the human body is made to deal with germs. I would un-notice it and move on. We're responsible for our own habits, not other people's ... I get that you found it grim, but I don't think you can shame adults for it. That said, you will be looking for it ...

It's foul. Do you have young DC - I shamelessly use them to highlight without directly naming grim habits e.g. son xxx please don't talk with your mouthful or let's all wash our hands before dinner (actually there's no reason why it's only kids anyway is there).

I mean it’s not really disgusting unless you’re touching your own piss instead of using toilet paper. I always wash my hands after a poo but a quick wee and a wipe I often don’t. Urine is sterile and clean and k don’t wipe it on my hands anyway.

Actually, he noticed women in the male doctors wards were dying at 5x the rate of the women in a midwife run ward. The midwives in the other ward were washing their hands and he stole this idea from them and took credit for it.

@purplepencilcase I always think about calling them out on it but have not summoned up the courage yet!!

who the hell made you the police over other people. It’s not drumming up courage, it’s not being a prick

Good point. OP, had your guests worked on dead bodies before mil visited the toilet and came back to deliver a few babies in the front room?

actually vile that there are so many people who don’t bother to wash their hands after the toilet whether it be a pee or poo.

I mean you don’t know what germs are on your hands!

Urine is not sterile.

I am shocked at the number of people on here defending not hand washing.