AIBU - Handwashing

[Lolipoplady]

Not sure who's being unreasonable here so opinions very much appreciated!

DP this morning got out of the car (we'd been out early), came into the house and made himself some toast. He didn't wash his hands first even though we'd been out and he'd just had his hands on a steering wheel, car keys, etc. I said 'hey, you forgot to wash your hands' and he got huffy saying that lots of people don't.

He started to make me a sandwich for lunch and again he didn't wash his hands even though he'd been on phone, using TV remote, etc.

Who is being unreasonable here? Am I being obsessive about hygiene? Or id DP being grubby? I thought that everyone washed their hands before preparing food?! I've never particularly noticed before that DP doesn't... maybe I've just not been paying attention.

Pre-DD I only really washed my hands after using the loo. Now I have a DD I also wash them after every nappy change - so a lot.

I wash hands after going to loo or cleaning/housework or after changing nappies. I used to before touching any food, including eating a bag of crisps but my dh used to get on at me saying that we need some germs. He's right. I'm much more relaxed now.

If he is making things for himself then YABVU. He's not a child who needs telling off.

If he's making something for you then YA sort of NBU. Because if he knows that you're fussy about that he should wash them. BUT the easy answer to that is make your own blimmin' sandwich.

I'd wash my hands before preparing raw food. But toast or sandwiches...nah.

I always wash my hands before preparing any food.

I always wash my hands after using the loo, picking up something dirty and emptying rubbish. I usually wah them before preparing food. I wouldn't wash them just because I'd been out.

I wouldn't wash hands just after being in a car (or touching keys or phone etc), that's excessive IMO. My DH has a thing about coins, he hates touching them because he thinks they are germy, I couldn't care less. I would wash hands before prepping lunch but not before making myself some toast.

Same as Oysterbabe'- pre DS, only after going to the loo or doing something particularly dirty, now after every nappy change as well. I do remember my parents making us wash our hands before eating so good habits were instilled in me at some stage but I'm very much of the school of thought that germs are good for you!

I wash my hands as soon as I come into the house, it's practically the first thing I do.
I wash them several times whilst preparing food if I've touched my face or hair absentmindedly.
I wash my hands a LOT!
I never see anyone at work wash their hands before eating their lunch, yuk!

If he was making the toast/sandwich for himself yabu he is an adult so if he doesn't want to wash his hands after touching the car that is up to him.

I wash my hands after, the loo, after nappy change and if I'm preparing a proper meal. If I've been to the shop and want to eat a biscuit with coffee once home I don't wash my hands.

I don't normally wash my hands apart from after going to the loo or other obviously dirty activities. We're virtually never ill at all in our house - a few germs don't do any harm.

I only wash my hands if I've been to the loo or changed a dirty nappy or if they're visibly mucky. I would say you are being a tad precious.

My husband was like that when we first got together. Now he is better.

Wash hands after coming in the house, after the toilet, after putting dirty washing in the machine and before eating. It doesn't need more than that.

I wouldn't let anyone prepare me food if they had skanky hygiene habits.

Only after loo really or unless dirty. Germs are good for you! I am never ill.

I said this on the last handwashing thread and I'll say it again; there are a lot of mingers on here

Always wash hands before preparing food or eating, without fail. If I have to eat something like a sandwich on the run I wipe my hands with a wipe (carry them in my handbag).

I don't think I'm obsessive about handwashing - I probably wash them 6 - 8 times per day, think that's perfectly normal.

I'm very hygiene conscious so agree with you op...some people would nearly say I'm excessively hygiene concious though

Yeah and we handle money that probably passed through their and people like them hands and use cash points after the scruffy twats.

I can't get my head round waiting until there is visible dirt before washing hands.

If I keep washing my hands they become dry to the point of being uncomfortable. No need for obsessive washing unless you work in a healthcare role. Also following basic food hygiene rules about raw meat etc. All this super cleanliness/anti bac trend has contributed to a rise in allergies, I believe.

Er I meant you should follow basic hygiene rules about raw meat etc

I just do it automatically. After ive been to the loo, gardening, touching animals, etc. I wouldnt consider car steering wheel dirty, because I give it a wipe now and then. Similarly keys, I give them a wash now and then and don't put them anywhere dirty.
I do like to wash hands particularly after visiting the doctor, or going to soft play bexause I consider those places much more germ infested.
I wouldnt then need to wash my hands before prepping a sandwich because I would have previously cleaned them after any dirty activity. IYSWIM.

You want him to wash his hands after driving or using the remote? IMO this is borderline obsessive
Before and after preparing food yes
Using the toilet yes
Emptying rubbishy or cleaning an animal yes

After the loo, after something mucky (gardening, grooming the dog) and always before preparing or eating food.

My DCs have never (well since babyhood) been sick or had diarrhoea. They are now 8 and 10yo. DH and I similarly not had dodgy tummies for as long as I can remember.

For this that don't wash their hands before preparing or eating food what is your tummy bug rate like?

Having said that, I will wash my hands during food prep. After handling meat, to rinse messy avocado off, etc.