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

[BarbaraofSeville]

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.

sanitiser kills germs (if used properly, yes). But it doesn't actually remove/wash away dirt...

Not washing the hands after using the toilet but using anti bac gel in its place, is kind of like using deodorant over already whiffy pits. Quite weird, actually.

Anyway. Littlefrogs, you are coming across as veeery cranky. It's not that bad, surely?

Of course hand sanitizer kills germs littlefrogs - nobody is disputing that .

The problem is that you're not washing off the dirt.

So unless your precious hand sanitiser has killed off every last bacteria, virus and fungus that is present on your hands then you run the risk of leaving some behind.

If you wash your hand you are soaping and rinsing which at least sluices the majority of microbes off - if done thoroughly.

Anyway, back to washing feet in sinks.

If you are just running the tap and washing your hands under the running water then you aren't touching the sides of the sink etc. So surely you are unlikely to be affected by the foot washing?

Unless you fill the sink up with the plug in and wash your hands that way...

I once saw someone walk into a nice gastropub and tip a bottle of piss into a sink! (You know those weird hospital type bottles they sell in the better ware magazine). Don't think she was even a customer just a rambler passing by!
My friend met a prostitute in the loos in vegas who was washing her fanny then drying it under the hand dryer ready for the next one.
Feet ain't so bad!

I would admire the flexibility of someone able to get their feet into a sink in a public toilet!

I am 62 and I can do that - at home in my own washbasin anyway - when I cut my toenails.

I have never washed my feet in the basin in a public loo although it wouldn't bother me. They get used for worse things.

People are funny aren't they - we should write an MN book.

"Things I Have Seen in Public Toilets"

Or - "Things I Have Seen in Swimming Pool Changing Rooms"

I remember the MNers tale of the swimming pool changing room Mum playing Pan Pipes

Hand sanitizers are useless unless they're used in conjunction with rigorous hand washing techniques.

Well I have never washed my feet in the basin but I have dried them off under the hand drier when my shoes were letting in water.

YABVU

You must have a lot of spare time in your life op

If I didn't have access to running water and soap, I wouldn't eat. There is no way I'd slap antibac gel on dirty hands and eat a sandwich, unless I was starving.

To me, that is disgusting.

I've only ever used antibac gel in hospitals. I'm not sure how effective it is versus washing your hands thoroughly, which I do but I'll show willing.

Over-the-counter anti-bacs in countries where there is access to clean running water and soap are a needless waste of money bought by worriers.

Really can't see why this is disgusting, surely you don't touch the sink when you wash your hands so who cares what's been washed in there beforehand? And as has been said, you're probably going to get far worse things on hands in a toilet than on someone's feet.

Hand washing is MUCH better than alcohol gel. Alcohol gel doesn't kill everything (in particular C. Diff.) and I think most people probably don't use it correctly anyway.

I hate when people don't wash their hands after using a public loo 😑 even if they're intending to alcohol gel then once they're outside, it means they've touched the door handle with their dirty hands and therefore those of us who have washed our hands now have germy hands again by the time we've left the loo.

Hand are dirtier than feet anyway. You didn't touch the handles and the toilet and your arse with your feet, did you? Your hands are filthy!