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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

KityGlitr · 21/09/2017 19:15

I think I'll survive, Haffiana, I've done pretty well for nearly three decades so far 😕 Christ are people really that paranoid about germs!?

donajimena · 21/09/2017 19:16

I always wash my hands after using the loo. However in a not Eastern European country which I won't name I was waiting for my mum and observed around 10 people come out and blatantly walk past the sinks. Is it a cultural thing?

ShapelyBingoWing · 21/09/2017 19:29

If I'm not at home, regardless of where I am, I was every time. I also wash before and after cooking, after touching meats, after cleaning various things, after touching the bin, after taking the bins out, after a number 2, and loads of other times.

But not at home after a wee if I'm sure I didn't touch myself.

The vast majority of people don't put the toilet lid down when flushing. IMO that's far worse. Vile actually as it sprays shit and piss particles everywhere. Including on your toothbrush. And yourself if you're still in the room/cubicle.

I couldn't get over a guy not washing ever though. Because they touch a very sweaty part of themselves even for just a wee.

AbsentmindedWoman · 21/09/2017 19:31

"Christ are people really that paranoid about germs!?"

It's not paranoia.

Germs can make some people with compromised immune systems really sick. I have type 1 diabetes. A bog standard (see what I did there?) tummy bug is risky for me, it can mean a hospital stay for a night or two if things deteriorate rapidly and I start slipping into diabetic ketoacidosis, which kills you fast if not nipped in the bud.

I'm lucky that I actually have a very tough immune system in some ways, so it's not like I get viruses and bacterial infections often - but when I do get sick, it's really tough.

Additionally, it's just really unpleasant to think of traces of faecal matter left on anyone's hands.

It's not about being germ free - we all carry plenty of germs on our skin anyway. I am under no illusion that we can wash ourselves to the point of having sterile skin, and I pat dogs enthusiastically, and take public transport. But lets keep the germ colonies at an appropriate level with good hygiene.

Isthatwhatdemonsdo · 21/09/2017 19:36

You've got something wrong with you if don't wash your hands after using the bog. Totally bloody disgusting.

Nazdarovye · 21/09/2017 19:38

Never after a wee. What's the point?
I have a wee, tear off a piece of loo paper, wipe, drop it in loo, get up, pull up knickers etc. I don't touch my privates with my bare skin during this, the loo paper does which I get rid of. So why wash my hands?
And I laugh at all those who lecture the rest of us about washing hands after every visit to the loo, then I see them just rinsing their hands with some water and no soap. Seriously, how does plain water make any difference?

fortyfourfeasts · 21/09/2017 19:54

Ok. I'll admit it. I don't much either. Partly because I see very little point unless there is soap. Partly because in public toilets sometimes there is nothing to dry your hands on. Partly because most soap dries my hands to a point where it's uncomfortable (sensory issues). Partly because I figure there's germs everywhere and me not washing my hands is going to make little very difference to the general spreading of germs.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 21/09/2017 19:55

Partly because I figure there's germs everywhere and me not washing my hands is going to make little very difference to the general spreading of germs

But it is. All germs are not equal.

Ttbb · 21/09/2017 20:05

The more I read the more sick I feel.

WishingCarrot · 21/09/2017 20:11

I do, always.

I look in horror at the people who come out of public loos and walk straight out

I once went to pick up a couple of male friends from their hotel room. They'd stayed there for a couple of nights by the time i arrived. Asked to use their loo and had to unwrap the soap!! 🤢🤢🤢

PeanutButterIsEverything · 21/09/2017 20:16

I am pretty slovenly in many areas of cleaning and I am a bit at the amount of laundry and cleaning that goes on in MNers homes but even I can make time to wash my hands after every trip to the bathroom.

BillBrysonsBeard · 21/09/2017 20:22

I always wash them in public toilets or houses other than my own.. in my house I have only done it after a poo. I have never touched my bits when weeing so I only wash them in public for appearances sake.
I am teaching my sons to always wash though so I'm a hypocrite.. but they touch their willies

Sooooooooooooooooooooo · 21/09/2017 20:23

Partly because I figure there's germs everywhere and me not washing my hands is going to make little very difference to the general spreading of germs

I hope you never visit a hospital or worse, work in one.

I always wash my hands because I'm a nurse, to not do it is disgusting. I hope you don't cook food for anyone or share a meal at someone's house.

CardsforKittens · 21/09/2017 20:33

On the very few occasions when I've been unable to wash my hands for some reason (water turned off in the whole building etc), I've felt really uncomfortable, as if I'm contaminated. I can't imagine choosing or preferring to leave my hands unwashed!

Mycarsmellsoflavender · 21/09/2017 20:43

But everything has germs on including the rest of your body and the furniture in your home. ThOse saying it is disgusting, do you wash your hands every time you sit on the sofa, have sex or touch any part of your body? The important thing is to stop those germs getting into your body which tends to be via the mouth which is why handwashing before preparing or eating food or touching your face is ultra important. I wash my hands when they're more likely to be contaminated with harmful germs - after a poo, after touching snot, after touching raw meat, fish or eggs, and as soon as I get home after I've been out somewhere. I must wee about 15-20 times a day so I don't wash my hands after every wee when I'm at home. If I'm out, I do.

Niamhisnotarealname · 21/09/2017 20:54

An alarming amount of people don't wash their hands. My work toilets are living proof of this fact. I therefore wash my hands an awful lot whilst I am at work to avoid others germs. as well as at others houses. weirdly not so much at home though.

HornyTortoise · 21/09/2017 21:01

At home, no. Out and about, yes, cause people are manky and door handles are manky.

I always find it odd that people bring up door handles in relation to handwashing in public loos. I mean, you are crrect of course, those things are manky...BUT (and this will maybe make people feel a bit dodgy once they first think about it, as it did me the first time I did) you can wash your hands perfectly, shake dry and so on, but you still need to touch a handle to get back out of the loos. So just exiting the toilets, you will end up filthy again with the germs of those before you who did not wash.

When I first thought about that, I went through a phase of washing hands, drying, leaving loo then sanitizing again as I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Maybe others thought of this already, but I bet some hadn't...

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 21/09/2017 21:13

I don't touch the door handles exiting a public loo.

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuckKeidis · 21/09/2017 21:14

Yes!

Mycarsmellsoflavender · 21/09/2017 21:36

How do you get out if it's a pull door?

HornyTortoise · 21/09/2017 21:38

I don't touch the door handles exiting a public loo.

Not even necessarily handles. Just the door to exit in general

You can of course kick the door open or cover hands with coat to open or something.

I swear this idea consumed me so much fr a hort space of time that I was so iffy about going out at all

ArgyMargy · 21/09/2017 21:45

Mycarsmellsoflavender weeing 15-20 times a day is a sign of overactive bladder. More than 7 or 8 times is abnormal. You should see a doctor.

Urubu · 21/09/2017 21:46

Some people are just disgusting...

Foniks · 21/09/2017 21:53

People who don't wash their hands are selfish as well as dirty imo. They're like Typhoid Mary. Filthy habits, not always sick but walking around getting everybody else sick. So disgusting and selfish. No thought for the people with chronic illness or young ones who it could be dangerous for.. and for what? To save 30 seconds. Not even saving 30 seconds because it seems that a few actually hang around for that time pretending to wash hands. So for what reason really? Just because? Just filthy by nature. Even bloody dogs and cats give themselves a little clean after poo or wee! Albeit with their mouth haha, but still...

Very, very nasty and selfish people. They're also part of the reason so many viruses spread like wildfire. All people having a basic level of hygiene would really help.

WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid · 21/09/2017 22:02

I do always wash my hands but I'm starting to feel sorry for dh.

If me not washing my hands after a quick pee is utterly manky then surely him going down on me is manky do always shower before sex btw

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