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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that sinks in public toilets are for washing hands only

88 replies

BarbaraofSeville · 30/03/2017 15:23

Just seen a woman washing her feet in the sink in a public toilet.

AIBU to think this is a bit grim and people should only use them for hand washing.

She didn't appear to have any socks with her and was wearing some fairly grubby looking ballet flats.

OP posts:
EleanorRigbysNeice · 30/03/2017 16:09

It's unusual, to be sure. But.... maybe, she had nowhere else to wash; had stood on something unsavoury; her toddler had peed down her leg or, like my DS who has massive OCD, when he HAS to wash, he HAS to wash.

Sallystyle · 30/03/2017 16:11

U2- what are people supposed to turn taps off with if not hands? Feet? Teeth?!

Elbows where possible.

People touch the taps with their hands, they wash them, touch the same tap with their hands. It doesn't worry me at all, but if you think about it like that someone washing their feet in the sink puts it into perspective.

The only time I use elbows is at work.

VelvetSpoon · 30/03/2017 16:12

I couldn't get over excited about this.

I've washed my face in the sinks of public loos before, if I was on a long journey or just really hot and sticky.

I wouldn't begrudge anyone a wash. Surely rather that than the alternative. If she was stripped baked washing her minge that's probably a bit much but feet...meh.

I thought this was going to be about drinking from the taps in toilets - whenever I see anyone doing this i have a compulsion to say 'its not drinking water!'

armpitz · 30/03/2017 16:13

Yeah, that's not nice. Although desperation and all ...

VelvetSpoon · 30/03/2017 16:13

Stripped naked that should be.

Not baked.

Sigh.

ClaudiaApfelstrudel · 30/03/2017 16:17

YANBU, this would make me feel sick. Sinks are not designed for feet otherwise they'd be at feet level.

MrsJaniceBattersby · 30/03/2017 16:18

God my feet honk if I wear flats without socks or tights
I don't blame her at all

Goldfishjane · 30/03/2017 16:19

public toilet - most likely homeless?

the Steve Jobs thing is foul!

littlefrog3 · 30/03/2017 16:23

I never wash my hands in the sinks of a public toilet anyway - I carry a mini bottle of handwash with me ... like the one to the left here

To think that sinks in public toilets are for washing hands only
CaseyAtTheBat · 30/03/2017 16:23

What possible difference does it make if its feet instead of hands?

I washed my feet in a public restroom quite recently, as there was shit of my foot. I wasn't going to wear it all day just so you wouldn't be perturbed by the sight of my toes!

littlefrog3 · 30/03/2017 16:24

Oh re the OP, yeah it's a bit gross washing your feet in the sink, but yeas it could be someone who is homeless, so I would try not to judge.

littlefrog3 · 30/03/2017 16:26

What possible difference does it make if its feet instead of hands?

I washed my feet in a public restroom quite recently, as there was shit on my foot. I wasn't going to wear it all day just so you wouldn't be perturbed by the sight of my toes!

Oh jeeezuz fookin chroist! Shock

THIS is why I never wash my hands in the sinks of the public toilets.

FFS That's disgusting!

limitedperiodonly · 30/03/2017 16:27

I don't understand the revulsion. I washed my feet in the sink at work when I'd had to take off my shoes and walk barefoot on the pavement. As you can imagine, they were filthy, so I just cleaned the sink afterwards.

CaseyAtTheBat · 30/03/2017 16:30

Again, what is the difference? What do you think people are washing off their hands that can't also be on their foot? And what awful thing do you think is on their feet that isn't also on their hands?

It's so ridiculously illogical to get bothered by this!

Goldfishjane · 30/03/2017 16:31

littlefrog - purell isn't very good is it?

a lovely poster here put me on to Sterizar.

I don't really use public toilets but when I do - or for the office toilets, bleurgh - I wash hands, then use Sterizar after.

glamorousgrandmother · 30/03/2017 16:34

Hand gel alone isn't really enough as it doesn't remove dirt. It should be used after washing if you feel you need it.

littlefrog3 · 30/03/2017 16:34

Do you think it's OK to wash your sweaty underboobs and your arse and fanny in the public washbasin too? And your pits too? What about a man washing his bollocks or his penis? Or his hairy arse?

FFS. Wink

A sink in a public washroom is for washing your HANDS! Not your feet FFS!

littlefrog3 · 30/03/2017 16:35

golsfishjane, I don't use that sanitiser; it's just an example I found to demonstrate. Smile

littlefrog3 · 30/03/2017 16:36

And don't even get me started on the poster who said they washed SHIT off their feet in a PUBLIC washroom sink.

Words fail me.

Goldfishjane · 30/03/2017 16:36

frog, I see.

but yes - washing hands, then using it, is better. Just don't touch the taps Grin

limitedperiodonly · 30/03/2017 16:38

Yes to the sweaty underboobs and also armpits.

No to the arse and fanny, but only because sink would probably break off the wall under the strain of me sitting in it.

I have no idea what men do in their toilets and want to keep it that way.

MrsJayy · 30/03/2017 16:41

Once i fell in dog shit and used the public toilet sink to wash my hands so kinda minging so somebody washing their feet is not a huge deal.

CaseyAtTheBat · 30/03/2017 16:42

And don't even get me started on the poster who said they washed SHIT off their feet in a PUBLIC washroom sink

A sick childs nappy exploded all over me while changing it. There was human shit on my hands and on my foot. Please explain 1: exactly why washing it off my foot is any different to washing it off my hands and 2: why exactly you think it would be preferable for anyone for me to go around covered in shit before I could get home, a hundred miles away.

I'll wait.

MrsJayy · 30/03/2017 16:43

littlefrogs why are you so angry your posts are always angry calm down

MrsJayy · 30/03/2017 16:44

Feet are not dirtier than hands when you think about it hands touch a lot more than your feet

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