Do you wash your hands after using the loo?

[weedetective]

I can’t believe I’m asking this, but: do you wash your hands after using the loo? Every time? Does it differ for a wee or a poo?

We moved into an old home with a WC (toilet, no sink) in the hallway. We have an open plan living-dining-kitchen, which obviously has a sink and is visible to everyone who visits.

Since moving, I have noticed that so many people don’t wash their hands after using the loo. People I would expect to wash, like my incredibly tidy MIL, cousins, friends who work in medicine, etc. Women and men (who presumably touch their willies whilst having a wee?) alike. I might say as many as 40% don’t wash their hands (or only do sporadically, which makes me think they’re only doing it after a poo?)

I myself wash every time and am admittedly a bit germophobic (I use a towel to open the bathroom door if I’m in public, that sort of thing) but I am honestly flabbergasted at how many people don’t wash after using the loo. I sometimes mention, “there’s no sink there but you’re welcome to wash your hands here” (in the kitchen) but it doesn’t seem to make a difference.

Do I just have an unusually minging social circle or am I alone in thinking most people wash their hands every time after using the loo?

Yes, every time. Especially at night, going back into bed and putting my hands under my cheek. 😩

I am always surprised when we're in France when I see women waltz out of the cubicles back down to their meals in restaurants without washing their hands. I've seen this more than a few times in Paris alone.

Blimey.

Always, although that's only since I've had DC.

What I couldn't bring myself to do though, is to wash my toilet-hands in anyone's kitchen sink -just urgh! Is that weird? I'm like the least hung-up on things like that kind of person, but that one thing feels like a bridge too far.

Sometimes after a wee and always after a poo.
Never in public loos .Have hand sanitiser.
Never at night time.

I don't!

(By-the-by it's an anonymous discussion on the internet, I'm always baffled as to why anonymous people are so worried about what other anonymous people think of them on Mumsnet, it's a very interesting piece of psychology. But I agree, you're not really going to get a very honest or accurate view from this thread.)

Yes because it’s gross not to. I suspect mr teenage sons do not always do this when I’m not around to pose the question. I am really grossed out by people that don’t!

How can people not wash their hands after using the toilet?!!🤮

100 percent of the time I wash my hands after going to the loo, whether I pee or poo. I breastfeed and handle a small child and cannot risk getting them sick. I also routinely clean the flushing lever.

Grim!

Usually, but sometimes, at home, don't bother.

I don’t if I’ve just had a wee in the middle of the night, or if I’m about to get straight into the shower. But otherwise I do and always after a poo.

But washing my hands in a kitchen sink… you need to sort that. 🤢

I promise - I am pretty casual about stuff. I might reuse a knife if it's spread something similar to what's on my toast, or use one cup for coffees I have throughout my day.

I always wash my hands after visiting a toilet. Actually for honesty, I do sometimes leave it if I'm half asleep, but that's it and even then it's not very often. I have to be half asleep and feel that my hands have been barely tainted.

Only when I have a shight at home and I use loo roll to flush but every time when I’m outside my house as I don’t know their cleanliness. (Other folk)

The number of people that don’t wash in a public loo give me the boak 🤢🤢

What has always concerned me is this….. you sit down, have a poo…..wipe and clean etc and then stand up, pull your pants/knickers up. Then your trousers and redo your belt/skirt etc. Then go to wash your hands after having wiped your ‘dirty hands’ over so much clothing etc before even running the tap…. 💁

Ewwww

I ALWAYS do - it’s such a habit. I’ve been in situations where I’m in a bathroom and the soap runs out, and I might sneak into the men’s to grab some. My hands feel so icky if I don’t.

I have seen people go straight from cubicle to door in the office or public loos and it makes me feel horrible.

Yes I do - I think the huge shortage of soap during the 1st lockdown suggests that lots of people didn’t . It’s a bit grim to be honest

Apart from the small problem that urine is sterile until the moment it leaves the body at which point it rapidly becomes very unsterile. Otherwise underpasses and old phone boxes wouldn't have that nostalgic whiff...

Always. At home, happy to flush and wash hands. Out of house may get a bit twitchy and utilise (obviously unused) loo roll to touch flush mechanism before washing hands - I also close lid if that's an option - only for next person in line to think that I've hidden something disgusting! I try not to overthink touching taps etc because that way madness and OCD beckons. Japan has it right; with prewarmed seats (always a surprise on return to hotel bathroom) plus front and back temperature controlled water spouts! Even in the cheapest studio apartments that can't fit a sink in the loo room, they'll have one on top of the cistern; and any waste water after washing hands will be fed back into the cistern. Most Latino European countries have bidets and probably think we're disgusting - alone washing HANDS!

Yes always.

Of course I do every time - like you should after, you know, going to the bathroom 🤨 The thought of anyone not is just grim 🤢

Yes. With soap. My hands are dry and flaky I wash them so much as I have a bladder disorder so visit the loo a lot.

Yes, always even at night. I know people in work who don’t though! 🤢

If you can’t put a sink in I’d either not use it, or get a small bin and anti bac wet wipes.

Every single time, and my family do.

At home, yes.

At public toilets like Liverpool Street station, it sometimes feels more hygienic not to use the sinks because they're so gross. I carry hand sanitiser for those occasions