Am I justified to ask my cleaner to do these things ?

[DeleteIt]

Cleaner has a long journey on public transport plus we are the last call of the day twice a week.
I have asked her to take shoes off in the house, please wash hands on arrival and to not hoover the doormat first as then she is hoovering round the rest of the house with the hoover head having been all over outside bacteria ? I’ve been rolling up the mat after she arrives as she kept doing it despite me asking !

I offered to provide some indoor shoes if she wanted but she declined. Am I being over the top?

Ironically, if you do not allow you baby's immune system to build up then he will get sick a lot more .
I was over the top on germs with my eldest . She was always sick ! By the time I got to the 5th he was sucking the dog's chew toys !!! And he was never ill really .

I know right?! It’s so weird!

what is it - laziness? Something else?

just stop being grubby and wash your hands , it’s really not that hard!

Honestly OP I don’t think you’re crazy but I do think this issue with the doormat and hoover sequencing has revealed that you might have a bit of anxiety stemming from your baby’s time in hospital. Are you still seeing a paediatrician at the hospital? Or do you have a GP or a health visitor? Could you ask someone who knows your DC and their medical history what measures are sensible/ reasonable in your case?

@DeleteIt I’m sorry some of the responses are so harsh. Some people forget there’s a real person at the other end. And you’ve obviously been through a very stressful time. I think you sound like a lovely mum doing her best for her child. Hopefully you can ease off a little. Sending you my best wishes. 💗

Nope, didn’t say I thought it would make me ill but I wouldn’t find it particularly pleasant to have the dishwasher unloaded by dirty hands or detergent covered hands for that matter. She’s got plenty else to keep her busy. Unfortunately, on the times when she’s hand washed up something that I’ve left by the sink she puts it on the drainer still grubby so that level of detail is clearly not for her. Funnily enough, she doesn’t use detergent on her hands to dust the house or clean the toilet so not sure what you mean by that @wiredandtired

taking shoes off and washing hands after coming in from public transport are normal to me but I don't understand the hoover logic.

Do you clean the hoover after hoovering the doormat?

It's never in my life occurred to me to do this. I wash hands after the toilet, and before cooking etc bit other than that do not

Thank goodness I'm not the only one....

You are far from alone, that's normal. Obviously if we are touching something dirty, or doing a dirty job, we'll wash them again.

However we don't have obsessive people monitoring our every move.

It's the washing hands before emptying the dishwasher that bewilders me. Do the same people wash their hands before they set the table? Or get a mug out of the cupboard to make a guest a cup of tea?

Yes all of those!

after getting home on public transport - yes

Wow. A high amount of posters I would consider to be chronically uptight and causing harm to immune systems of themselves and their families. I should write that more diplomatically. But I have questions.

1. what about restaurants? You cannot control anyone in those settings.
2. how do you reconcile giving a blowjob to a man. And if you don’t do blowjobs, what about penis with pee germs touching you at all let alone inside you.
3. how do you touch anything outside ever, do you put lip balm on with your finger or rub your eye if itchy?

Just to add my position on all this topic. This is my world that my body is built to be in and adapt to. I think it’s important to be relaxed and part of it. I think dirt like mud and rain is a privilege to run in. I’ve done ‘ hell and back’ runs and never thought a moment about germs. I have pets and I hate how dirty they are but it’s impossible to police fully. I only use bleech and anti-bac for vomits and pee/poos incidents (kids/pets). Me and my kids are never sick. Like never. My house is very tidy and I’ve a cleaner in twice a week who I ask to not overuse commercial cleaning products. Never wash hands coming in from outside, shoes off at door but frequently wear through the house when in a rush.

Oh and 4. What about camping, would you ever camp in a tent?

I cannot imagine OP in a tent!

Yes, you’re being ridiculous

I’d never camp but still think OP is over the top

I do these things as a matter of routine when I arrive home. I change into my indoor shoes/slippers in the hall way. I then wash my hands with soap and water. If I have shopping or something to put away, I do it after these things.

I think these are quite reasonable things to do. In some countries, they don’t wear their outdoor shoes in the house.

Now, I do have cats, but they don’t track mud in usually. Maybe some paw prints if it is wet outside. Sometimes they have foliage stuck to their fur. So, I have to groom them to remove the sticky bits.

I can’t explain it to them (and the little fiends probably wouldn’t care) so I forgive them that.

Not so pleased if other family members forget to change out of muddy shoes!

Well, that’s enough internet for me. I’ve heard it all now