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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask about your hand washing habits

196 replies

Cheesycrumpets · 21/09/2017 16:17

I know this is going to make some people furious, but does everyone, honestly always wash their hands after going to the loo? I definitely don't after a wee, and (to my shame) even loiter a couple of seconds extra in other people's bathrooms so they'll think I have. The exception is I ALWAYS wash my hands in public toilets - because of the public shame!

Tell me I'm not alone

OP posts:
RoboticSealpup · 21/09/2017 16:53

Oh, and after I touch snot. It's full of bacteria. It can harbor meningitis, in healthy people.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 21/09/2017 16:54

@dame people who don't wash their hands are manky. Don't try to suggest otherwise

I don't think you've understood my post. I'm not suggesting it's anything but revolting. I'm asking why someone would wash when they're out but not at home.

RoboticSealpup · 21/09/2017 16:55

Urine is not sterile

And neither is your vulva.

Tazerface · 21/09/2017 16:56

Are the people on here so disgusted the same people that use half a roll of toilet paper to stop their precious bottoms coming into contact with the toilet seat, as well as creating a minimal 'splash zone'? Because if you are, I find it hard to believe that in wiping around your fanny after a wee you get anything on your hands because surely you're using a shed load of toilet roll?!

Anyway, I've on occasion not washed (only after a wee, not a poo) as I've had the sort of chronic eczema where my skin splits and cracks and dries and then splits and cracks again if it gets washed too often. In fact, that's partly how it got so bad in the first place.

Penguins333 · 21/09/2017 16:58

@dame ok fair point. This gives me the rage to be honest. I had to sit next to a man on tube this morning picking his nose with dirty hands reading his paper. He left paper on seat when he got up. We all know someone picked that up after him. Dirty bastard eeeeeeeew. People need to manage their hygiene to be respectful of others!!!!!!!! ⚔️I really resent it actually. If one of my friends pissed or anything else in my bathroom without washing their hands i would be disgusted. So disrespectful and rude. Germy creeps.

Ameliablue · 21/09/2017 16:58

Not washing at home but washing when out because people are manky, defies logic as you are one of the manky ones that doesn't wash.

Penguins333 · 21/09/2017 16:59

@tazerface use e45 cream wash. Maybe your eczema is fungal.

Whatthesausage · 21/09/2017 17:00

A lady had a rant at her daughter last week about me apparently not washing my hands, what she didnt realise was I had in fact washed my hands and it was one of those huge toilets with two sets of sinks. Her daughter had seen me washing my hands and was looking at her mum like she was nuts. I ignored her cause the scene she was making was enormous and had a little chuckle at her ignorance as I left. (Really hope she is on here to see this Grin

RatherBeRiding · 21/09/2017 17:01

Rarely on my home turf. Germs hold no fear for me. Grew up as a farmer's daughter and was literally paddling in cow shit from a very young age. Even now I am usually covered in horse muck, horse snot, mud etc. I do wash my hands after coming back from the stables before handling food but, honestly, no-one at the stables washes their hands. We all share mugs and biscuits. We are all a very healthy bunch. Can't remember the last time I got a stomach bug.

Yes its probably disgusting.
No I really don't care.

Penguins333 · 21/09/2017 17:02

@whatthesausage it was me. Omg.

.....

Joking.

chemenger · 21/09/2017 17:03

DH says loads of men don't. I find that grim. I work in the engineering department of a university with the male:female ratio that suggests. The cleaner once told me that he had to fill the soap dispenser in the ladies toilet at least three times as often as he filled the gents.

LuckyAmy1986 · 21/09/2017 17:03

Not always, if I get up in the middle of the night for example. Also some public places where I can't bring myself to touch the taps! You know the kind of places where you think it's probably better not to.

TabascoToastie · 21/09/2017 17:04

I do but I have OCD and wash my hands far too often. I'm also a compulsive foot washer which admittedly is a bit more weird.

I don't touch anything in a public bathroom with my bare hands after I've washed them. Use tissues/sleeves/edge of jumper to shut off taps and open doors.

Haffiana · 21/09/2017 17:04

See, the thing is - when you have a shit you wipe your arse. Then you flush the toilet. Then you wash hands.

So when you have a wee, you wipe and then you flush the toilet and stroll out of the bathroom. But it isn't the wiping that puts germs on your hands, it is the toilet flush handle or button that you already used when you had a shit (buttons are SO unhygienic BTW. Avoid if you are buying a loo!). So you end up with the same germ load as if you had had a shit.

That is what you are not washing off.

DJBaggySmalls · 21/09/2017 17:08

RatherBeRiding yes but farm dirt is clean dirt. Its different Smile

Betsy86 · 21/09/2017 17:10

Agree with haffiana! Wash your hands ffs.

AdoraBell · 21/09/2017 17:12

I always wash my hands. I cannot understand why anyone wouldn't.

Lethaldrizzle · 21/09/2017 17:13

Mumsnetters are the most germ obsessed people I know!

RatherBeRiding · 21/09/2017 17:19

DJBaggy - this is very true. I work in a place that is packed with farmers. Filthy to a man (and woman come to that). Boots leaving trails of mud and muck. Fingernails packed with grime.

You never hear a single one of them moaning about having a cold or a tummy bug. Grin

UnicornRainbowColours · 21/09/2017 17:21

yuck!!! This is why I don't eat bar snacks lol you never know what dirty Girty who doesn't wash her hands has been before

Crunchymum · 21/09/2017 17:22

I get periodic dermatitis on my fingers, at it's worst it's open cracks / sores.

Using handwashes or even gentle soap is excruciating, so sometimes I have to do hot water only.

Always suffer any pain to use handwash after number 2's / nappy changes / before and after handling food and when at work but at home if it's just a wee and I'm having a flare up then it's hot water only.

I am still on the hunt for something that I can use on my hands when my dermatitis is at it's worst.

BeatriceBeaudelaire · 21/09/2017 17:25

I don't, the water irritates my eczema. As does every soap on earth.

Ollivander84 · 21/09/2017 17:28

What Rather said ^^
I don't always at the yard but then I'm usually going for a wee in a stable

clarkyclarkson · 21/09/2017 17:31

I do the exact same! I even turn the dryer on so it makes it sound like I have, only ever after a short wee, what's the harm lol you're not alone

KityGlitr · 21/09/2017 17:34

I can't stand high and mighty people who openly judge others in public toilets if they don't use the sinks to wash their hands either. If it's one of the toilets where you don't need to touch anything to leave (big and open with a doorframe rather than a door with a handle) I'll always just use antibacterial gel from my hand bag rather than use the sinks to do a wet hand wash, as it's quicker and easier, and less touching of stuff others have touched. I might be still rummaging in my bag for the gel on the way out. I would never judge someone for leaving a toilet and walking straight out as you don't know what their reasons are. Many must use gel like me, and it's none of anyone else's business.