I believe I am in a minority on this so genuinely want to know if IABU, also warnings that it is trivial, no this isn't the most important thing I have to worry about

[StealthPolarBear]

In general, would you get something out of the kitchen bin and put it next to something you're about to eat. Is that actually OK and it's my "bins are full of germs" hysteria that is making me feel a bit queasy?

Door handles generally have a lot more germs on them than bin lids.

ooh tooth brush holders, good idea,

we don't have a lid on our bin, it broke almost as soon as I bought it.

No, I can cope with cat and dog food dishes I think.
Not keen on toothbrush mugs in with the bin lids, so when I come round I won't bring my toothbrush :o
And yes - if you dishwash your swingy bin lid, then I could probably cope with touching it to put rubbish in.

No, I have no qualms about washing machines. I'm sure I have many slatternly washing machine habits. But I do wash my hands after putting dirty clothes in the wash.

maryz you are an inspiration.
I just wish I could get the whole bin in there!

YANBU I'd have wiped with anti-bac wipe for sure. I wash my hands any time I use the bin and clean the top with anti-bac wipe most weeks.
I'd not thought I had an issue with bins til this thread but I am squeamish with public bins and use my elbow to lift lid if needed (or a tissue) and use the rubbish to push open a swing lid. Is that not normal?

I dont think What you describe is out of the ordinary stealth.
How often do you really need to use a public litter bin? I only occasionally buy food on the hoof, and it would be a chocolate or cereal bar which id eat with the wrapper round so my hand didn't touch it, and then pocket the wrapper. I wouldn't buy something like a sandwich which I'd need to take out of the packaging to eat, precisely because of the issue of money being quite germy- if you've bought it you've handled money! After shopping in town i wash my hands on return. Not obsessively, and I wouldn't be worrying about it all the way home- its just a normal thing to do ... Hang coat up, wash hands

Now what I do find odd is people putting bin lids through the dishwasher. Surely life is too short? A quick wipe round with kitchen spray for me!

Yes I use dishwasher for rubber bathmat (but its ducks seem to have vanished :o) toothbrush mug, bath toys, garden toys in the spring (I did them about a month ago, more fool me)

in the summer I have picnics with the kids quite a lot. Most rubbish can go back into the carrier and into my bag but sometimes I want to use a bin.
Just realised I'm the same after I've been to collect a take away - not sure if that's the money, or the car? But I do know it's getting cold while I faff around washing my hands.

Didn't we do this before - my mate puts her loo seat through the dishwasher

OK for anyone who is worried DS;s cake is binned. DD's has been cut in half and the two pieces rewrapped. It is chocolate cake

Not at all weird--I would have reacted the same way.

I went on a course about hygiene, and how we should use these hands free taps and soap dispensers after using the loo, but then of course you HAVE to touch the door handle,
so what is the point

In the example given of pen in bin and then put back into party bag next to a wrapped up piece of cake, then I would have no qualms about letting DC eat the cake.

Put I am also very lax about these things and feed my childrenfood that has been dropped on the floor briefly...

On a different but similar note. I saw a lady the other day in some public toilets. She washed her hands after using the toilet and then used her elbow to use the lever that dispensed the paper towels for drying her hands. . She was a teacher and then made all of the girls in her group do the same! I must say I was a bit open mouthed in disbelief at it.

Surely you can only use hantods free taps and soap dispensers if thwyre provided! And I hate those soap dispensers. I put my hand under and it dribbles a minute amount of soap onto my hands. I put them under again, nothing. After a minute I take them out and then it dispenses more soap on to the side of the sink

I wash dishcloths and teatowels in with clothes. They're changed every day, so can't be any more dirty than clothes, can they?

I replaced my kitchen bin with one of specific dimensions in order that it could be dishwasher-ed.

I love people with dishwasher phobia, they wash at the temperature of the sun!

this thread has made me want to bleach the bin

my ds dropped his apple on the car floor the other day and wanted to pick it up and carry on eating it.
I was 'Ewwww,' and he was all, '5 second rule!'

I told him that the 5 second rule was a lie made up by slatternly mothers.
He was a bit upset at having his illusions shattered I think.

Randall mine has settings relating to the temperature. At the moment it's washing at 50 degrees, so hot but not sterilising, surely?

Put your hand in it and see what you think!

She did wash/wipe the pen, didn't she??

no idea, I wasn't in the room amd couldn't ask without it sounding a bit like "you did WHAT? ewwwww"