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AIBU?

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Original poster

to be revolted by this?

162 replies

Goldmandra · 15/10/2012 13:02

99% of people interviewed at motorway service stations toilets claimed they had washed their hands after going to the toilet. Electronic recording devices revealed only 32% of men and 64% of women actually did.

Why is it so difficult to use a bit of soap and water for the sake of keeping poo
out of our food?

Ugh!

OP posts:
complexnumber · 15/10/2012 19:05

*complexnumber I suppose I am assuming fellow employees are not poking bits of poo up the tap. Who knows?! I do know another colleague (different workplace) was caught pissing in the sink.

I'm also presuming the water was boiled. Right enough that was colleagues reply too - but they were tap touching to fill the kettle, then rifling around in a bag/caddy to get the tea bags for their tea.

Hopefully the office cleaner wasn't using the same cloth to wipe the toilet and sink either. Who knows?* Waslostnowamfound

My own, possibly rather 'rustic', view maybe comes from living in a W.African village for two years without any running water (i.e. no flushing toilets) or electricity. You shat in a hole, then washed your arse by dabbing your hands in water and using your fingers to wipe the shit off. Some people would use sticks or leaves. And no, children were not dieing all over the place.

but they were tap touching to fill the kettle that's quite funny.

There is no point in us arguing about this as we obviously come from completely polarised views.

eBook · 15/10/2012 19:09

all you non washers who bleat "I never get ill though" may be the lucky ones with good immunity

And the non-washers are mostly just encountering their own germs, whereas the people they spread them to won't already be immune to them.

supergreenuk · 15/10/2012 19:11

I don't wash my hands at places like these. I safely leave the area touching as little as poss then break out the hand gel.

eBook · 15/10/2012 19:14

Hand gel users, doesn't it bother you that you're just rubbing alcohol onto the poo that is still on your hands because you didn't wash?

Niceupthedance · 15/10/2012 19:26

God don't get me started on shopping trolley handles! I read a post on here the other day about a woman who was going to risk going to the supermarket even though she was in the middle of a d&v episode bleurrgh!

I also use paper towel to open the door. I also never put my handbag on the floor in the cubicle, don't want to cart round millions of shit piss and puke germs on my arm, thanks very much.

MrsKeithRichards · 15/10/2012 19:34

I always mind my mum telling me to wash my hands in the morning as you don't know what you've been touching over night!

supergreenuk · 15/10/2012 19:51

Well if I had poo on my hands that would be different but I can't remember recently gettin into that sort of state????:/

eBook · 15/10/2012 19:55

:o supergreen it only has to be microscopic amounts (yours or particles from a previous user, from touching the seat, loo roll holder etc), to bring you zillions of bacteria

AmazingBouncingFerret · 15/10/2012 20:02

Those posters who say they dont always wash their hands after having a wee because they don't wee all over their hands...

That little lock thingy on the inside of the cubicle door. I wonder if the countless other people who have used that lock didnt piss all over their hands or scrape shite from their scabby arse with their bare fingernails.

Keep that one in mind next time you're just having a neat little wee, no need to wash. Grin

DawnOfTheDee · 15/10/2012 20:08

Can everyone who was on the 'have you touched your cervix thread' and answered 'yes' please wash your hands.

CelticPromise · 15/10/2012 20:10

Ah but I skip handwashing at home, not usually out andabout. And I don't even shut the door when weeing at home.

I live on the edge, me.

Hesterton · 15/10/2012 20:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

monkeysbignuts · 15/10/2012 20:27

dawn how on earth can you reach your own cervix? Acrobats springs to mind!
I agree with ebook if you don't wash first you are just putting gel ontop of germs, yuck!

CelticPromise · 15/10/2012 20:31

monkeys check out the cervix thread, it might be a revelation to you!

halcyondays · 15/10/2012 20:40

Going to the supermarket in the middle of d&vShock even if you weren't worried about infecting others, wouldn't you be feeling too ill to go out and be afraid of having an embarrassing accident or boaking in the middle of the fruit and veg aisle?Shock

Ime motorway service stations are usually pretty clean, so the excuses about not washing your hands because the sinks might be dirty doesn't really wash with me. (pardon the pun)

Fakebook · 15/10/2012 20:40

I can't believe there are people on this thread openly admitting to not washing their hands after a wee or poo. You know people who wipe and DO get wee/poo on hands use the same flush handle/button. You're catching germs that way too.

I've taught dd to use wet wipes to wipe herself after a poo. There is no fucking way I'd flush the toilet after she's been in there and not wash my hands!

monkeysbignuts · 15/10/2012 20:44

Celtic I am going to look out of morbid curiosity, 40 weeks today and no way am I going digging lol.

FML · 15/10/2012 21:01

Maybe I am pathetic, but I even clean the taps with soapy warm water if they don't have the sensor ones. I also use anything I can other than my hands to open doors. I am a tad bit OCD mind...

supergreenuk · 16/10/2012 11:17

So hand gel will sort it. Surely I have cleaner hands than you lot after you have scrubbed and then turned the manky tap off and opened the manky door. Enjoy your sandwich x

MrsKeithRichards · 16/10/2012 11:25

So all you non washers, when do you wash your hands? No one has answered that!

Original poster
Goldmandra · 16/10/2012 12:09

Good question.

If you go for a wee without washing your hands and you are offered a sweet/crisp/biscuit from a packet, do you then dip your hand in the packet and leave some delightful little souvenirs behind in return?

Or would you say "Thanks but I need to go and wash my hands first"?

OP posts:
GhostShip · 16/10/2012 12:59

It depends on what they're like. If they're scummy I'm not going to wash my hands there. Whats the point in washing your hands if you then have to touch a scummy tap, scummy door..

which is why I carry hand gel around. Not as good as washing your hands, but a quick squirt after exiting the room entirely and it's clean.

SHRIIIEEEKPoolingBearBlood · 16/10/2012 13:07

Ghostship, as someone else has said germs do not survive on cold metal like taps and doors (no idea if this is right, just repeating).

I started a thread once as our local docs as guidance about handwashing which says gel is preferable to soap and water. I struggle to believe that Tbh.

Original poster
Goldmandra · 16/10/2012 13:08

Why don't you do both Ghostship?

OP posts:
GhostShip · 16/10/2012 13:16

I do know about infection control, completed many a course! Germs can and will survive on metal, how long depends on how cold or warm said metal is. I think it can be like up to six hours?

Because Goldmandra, as I've just explained what is the point in washing my hands if I'm then touching a scummy tap and door, so I'll have washed the before germs away but then gained countless other peoples that have been festering on surfaces and things. May as well just wack some hand gel on afterwards, fresh and clear and 99% bacteria free :)

It'd be a bit different if I was weeing or pooing on my hands, which I don't think anyone does...