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.

I have ocd so I wash my hands way too much - before I eat or prepare any food, when I get home from somewhere, after handling money, after going to the toilet, after emptying the bins etc. It stems from fear of catching a tummy bug! I'm the first to admit I am ott about my handwashing however I think yanbu about your DP's handwashing as I think hand washing before eating or preparing food is just basic good hygiene that everyone should do!

I go for a piss before I do anything (very weak bladder) so by default I have always washed my hands before I start eating or preparing food.

He is BVVVU if he is preparing food for anyone else. You should always wash your hands before preparing food. If just for himself, I wouldn't care.

Only after the loo, gardening or stroking the dog. I don't wash my hands before making myself snacks. I have not had a day off work through sickness for over 10 years, my grandma always used to say "You've got to eat a peck of dirt before you die"

It seems totally OTT to me. Only after the toilet, in the garden, touching animals or if I've got something on me - sticky table or put my hands on something unsavoury. Would not think to wash them after putting clothes in a washing machine!

I wash my hands whenever I come in the house from having been away (or doing gardening). Plus after the loo. Plus before and after preparing or eating food. Plus before knitting or sewing.

But not necessarily after touching the cat!

Yep, I'd say you're obsessive about hygiene if you're watching him to make sure he washes his hands any time he has touched an object! I wash my hands after I use the loo (though often idly wonder why - it's not like I piss on my hands or fondle the toilet seat or anything) or do something dirty. We're never ill, so I don't think it can be that bad. I don't really give any thought to germs, which I'm quite thankful for, as they're bloody everywhere and once you start worrying about that, where does it end?

Very very lax about hand washing around here, and also about cleanliness (by MN standards...we are not disgusting, just not particularly clean).

I can't remember the last time any of the 5 of us had a tummy bug- it has been at least 10 years. My daughter didn't even get sick when her school closed down for 2 days because there was a terrible bug around and 75 kids were sick in school on the same day.

The reason to wash your hands after the loo is that even if you don't touch any wee/poo, you have to flush. So,if someone previously had wee/poo on their hands or god knows what else(snot, vomit, sperm!) you will then contaminate your hands with it by flushing.

Yanbu you should always wash your hands before touching food.
You could have touched something that another person touched without washing their hands after going to the toilet. Possie pathogenic microorganisms will then enter your digestive tract when you eat food you have handled.

Wow, I'm amazed at how often people wash their hands... This has been eye opening for me! I wash my hands loads at work but by these standards I'm fairly lax at home.
After the loo, if I'm preparing food and have touched raw meet or anything wet / sticky etc. After dirty jobs like bin or cat litter. Otherwise hardly at all.
I def don't wash them just because I've been in the car, though I would before eating if I've been on public transport...
MN never fails to amaze me :)

After the loo (like a PP I go to the loo a lot)
After nappy changes
If visibly dirty - which usually includes after being on the tube
After messy food prep (but not generally before, unless it's baking for some reason)

I never get tummy bugs and nor do my family.

I subscribe to the "peck of dirt" theory and don't think antibac'ing everything is particularly healthy or necessary, unless you have a weak immune system

I never thought I was obsessive but I wash my hands after using the loo, or helping the children with the toilet, before preparing food, after putting the rubbish out, feeding the cat, using creams like sun cream etc, in fact probably a lot more than I realised!

I always wash my hands after using the loo, preparing food, feeding a child, changing nappies.......basically a lot. I also carry alcohol gel which is clipped onto my body at all times. I work with SEN kids who are quite well known for being grubby and wiping the noses, saliva etc on to others, so I dread to think where my hands may have touched throughout the working day x

I am also trained to level 2 standard of food safety and hygeine in catering, so guess it's drummed into me x

Those of you mingers who don't wash your hands before food prep or eating have clearly never had the delights of catching threadworm from your children..............

I wash hands after toilet obvs or anything dirty but not necessarily before making toast or eating a biscuit. If I was going to knead bread, make pastry etc I would but not for just normal food. I don't always make the kids wash theirs to eat either. I have a very strong stomach and have had one tummy upset in past 8 years. Kids ae very healthy too. DH is much more paranoid about hand washing and gets upset stomach much more frequently.

I only was wash after the loo or dirty stuff . We are hardly ever I'll in this house . It's clean but not mega disinfected or anything . You need a few germs to make your immune system work well.

People don't wash their hands before preparing food for other people that isn't going to be cooked eg a sandwich? For heavens sake, don't go and work in catering.
It's not just food poisoning bacteria to worry about, it's threadworms and common viruses such as colds and flu.

I don't work in catering.

So far as all the horrible things you mention we realised when my son was filling in his university hall of residence application at age 18 where he had to name his doctor he had not seen a doctor since he got his MMR jabs. I think he had one absence of 4 days from school due to a cold in his entire time at school.

I've seen a doctor 3 or 4 times in the last 27 years- all related to gynaecological matters. I hardly ever get colds and have never had flu.