AIBU to ask about your hand washing habits

[Cheesycrumpets]

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

YY to @Haffiana I just don't understand why people think it's ok and not disgustingly unhygienic!

But I don't touch my vulva or get my hands wet thanks to toilet paper....
Some bathrooms out and about are disgusting I certainly wouldn't wash my hands in there...

I wash my hands after every toilet trip (even 'just a wee' wtf) as soon as I come home s s before preparing food.

I think people who don't are absolutely disgusting.

I hope the fact that most people have said that they always wash with soap every time will encourage you to do the same, OP! It's really is for the best.

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To effectively wash the germs off your hands you are supposed to do it for as long as it takes to sing a complete verse of twinkle twinkle little star. I have NEVER seen anybody wash for that long in a public loo.

I don't always wash my hands at home, but I do always flush with the lid down - so there is less crap on the surfaces to begin with.

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.

OK, I won't judge you* for doing the easy thing. But know that you are putting someone else's shit and germs all over the inside of your bag when you rummage your gel out.

*That's a lie.

I always do and I think most women do. DH says loads of men don't. I find that grim.

I think about this every time I shake hands with a man. It's like second hand smoke, but with penises.

I use the antibacterial gel in public loos that are grimy and have those handwash thingys in the wall that look highly ineffective to use anyway... some public loos are so manky that even washing your hands might not make any difference to the amount of bacteria on your hands anyway. Some don't even have soap 🙄😳

In a previous thread about hand washing someone said that people had to be taught to wash their thumbs. Ever since then it's perplexed me that you could wash your hands without including your thumbs.

Can anyone explain?

So YANBU because it's given me the chance to ask a question that's bothered me for months.

Of ourse I wash my hands after every using the touket I'm not a dirty lazy midden.

Was there not another thread about this a couple of weeks ago?

Yes, but if we all didn't judge those who don't wash their hands in public loos then we might as well be advocating spreading germs and being unhygienic- great idea there... why is so bad to judge others?!

I wash my hands after every loo trip and many other times too, as I'm a Healthcare Assistant in a hospital & the importance of hand washing is drummed into us.

I do use hand gel also but for a proper clean feeling I prefer soap & water.

Is everyone here aware that ONLY soap & water kills diarrhoea & vomiting bug germs?!

Yuck, definitely YABU. Of course I always wash my hands. Remaining in there to make people think you've washed them, why not actually wash them???

Was there not another thread about this a couple of weeks ago?

Probably. There is one every few weeks.

Is everyone here aware that ONLY soap & water kills diarrhoea & vomiting bug germs?!

is everyone also aware that a quick rinse and flick with soap and water is totally ineffective, you need to be washing for AT LEAST 20seconds. - which is quite a long time at a sink when you actually watch the clock...

I think I'm just of the view that people have survived pretty well without anti bacterial handwash for several millennia, I don't particularly like getting my hands wet - I actually feel like wet hands attract more muck, and I don't get ill anymore than anyone else I know, probably less if anything.
Any germs that come out of me are already in me so I don't accept any points about how manky some of you think my vulva is.
I take your point about poo droplets from flushing etc but it just doesn't bother me enough to want to do it. I reckon a few germs are good for you

Ah OP I don't think a few germs are going to kill you tbh. People are so afraid of germs now that they don't get exposed to them and as such don't build any immunity.

I normally wash my hands but tbh, I have loitered before without bothering to actually do it. The only reason I have an anti-bac gel is becuase I like the smell hahaha!

Beyond, that is true.

One interesting thing I learned in infection control about hand washing is that the water is just as effective if its cold, as long as soap is used.

It's fucking revolting to not wash your hands after the loo. You touch the flush after you've peed, which has been touched by you/ others before who have taken a poop.

I couldn't get back into bed after a midnight pee and drift back to sleep in a relaxed manner if my unwashed hands were tucked up in bed with me, touching my nice clean bedlinen. Would hate to sleepily rub my eyes in the morning. Literally would not be able to sleep.

I always wash my hands. Just because you're never sick doesn't mean you don't pass your germs onto other people. Shudder to think how much of the fecal matter on your vulva gets onto other people.

I'll add a grim post ........ I have a friend who admitted ( when drunk ) she wiped herself after a wee in public loos and uses THAT piece of loo paper to flush the loo ! When she uses mine ( not often ) I go about the bathroom with the bleach just in case.

@Namethecat - not a problem then to those of us who wash our hands. OP would probably get a face full of bacteria though.

On the subject of the micro droplets of water being splooshed up from the loo when you flush, THAT is why I always close the damn lid.

Public toilets with no lid, that flush automatically, are great from a no touching perspective, but I always have to whirl around like a madwoman quickly shutting my eyes and making sure I'm facing the door so my face is not exposed to the micro droplets and none get in my eyes

Namethecat that is foul!