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

I'm diagnosed OCD. Some appallingly ignorant and prejudiced comments on here regarding this illness.

I wash my hands after every loo visit (more than once - THAT is OCD NOT washing them once which is basic personal hygiene).

I'm also an ex nurse who worked in elderly care many of whom had chronic illnesses like diabetes, emphysema, heart conditions etc and many of whom ended up in hospital NOT because of their own poor management of their condition but from getting bugs from selfish arses like the op!

My mother and 2 aunts have fought cancer (on more than one occasion for mum and one aunt) and when they were on immunosuppressive drugs it was a nightmare AGAIN mainly due to selfish people who WON'T not CAN'T practice basic personal hygiene.

I'm including in that those bleating on about dry skin. I also have eczema (all my life) my aunt (who has survived cancer 3 times) has very painful extensive psoriasis.

Neither of us would DREAM of not washing our hands after using the loo. Aunt is prescribed a soap alternative she uses at home. But when out and about she will still wash her hands and then like me apply a hand lotion after.

If your hands ARE dry and cracked

1 you should be washing your hands for your OWN sake as the open wounds make you more vulnerable to infection.

2 your open wounds make you MORE likely to pass on infection to others too, especially if they are bleeding/weeping.

Some utterly disgusting, selfish thoughtless people on this thread.

I also don't shake hands because frankly there's too many of these people about!

The worst I saw was not one but TWO McDonalds staff visit the loo - one had clearly done more than wee and both never even made a pretence of approaching the sink!

I complained got a refund and never go there now.

Just trying to dilute the general hysteria about hand washing. And thanks for the capitals dame!

I felt capitals were in order

Mmm I think capitals are a bit shouty 🤔

I always wash my hands mostly because toilet flushes / door handles have been touched by other people's unwashed hands, but I have to say, I use so much loo roll that there's no way any fluid or skin ever even remotely comes into contact with my hands! Still feel better for washing them though. (I am pretty keen on cleanliness, as you can probably tell.)

How skanky. I presume if you don't even wash your own hands at home then you clearly don't wash them before preparing food, both for yourself and the rest of the family

Bit of a "presumptuous" stretch there... I ALWAYS wash my hands before preparing ANY food or drink. I may or may not wash them after going for a wee - in my own home where I lower the lid before flushing (and am grown up enough to not get wee on my hands).

We need a device - the loo only flushes when you lower the lid using a foot pedal or something...

Again I think people aren't understanding the difference between washing with a strong antibacterial at random intervals or when touching normal things which is not needed and washing with normal soap after going to the toilet which is basic hygiene to stop the spread of harmful bacteria.
No don't constantly wash them with anti bac soap but do always wash them after going to the toilet.

Yes of course.

After the loo, always.
Before food prep
After nappies
When we come inside from being outside at the park/bin/in town/from work/daycare.

Please wash your hands! The fact you don't get tummy bugs is neither here nor there - think of all the surfaces you touch that potentially vulnerable people come into contact with.

There's no need to use antibacterial soap in a household setting. Soap and the meachanical action of rubbing under water is what gets clean.
Antibacterial / disinfectant type preparations are for healthcare settings only.

I work in a nursery so am constantly washing my hands anyway and it's habit to me. After using the toilet, before cooking or eating, after feeding the cats, after cleaning even though I wear gloves. I'd just feel dirty if I didn't and I often see people in public toilets not washing their hands and I judge, it's nasty 😷

Naz
OCD comes in the many forms. Graphista never said she performs cleaning rituals.

I wash mine every time.
You're a minger. Unfortunately, you are not alone. I always have the urge to shout at women who don't wash their hands in public toilets.

Naz what a nasty disablist person you are. I am NOT a 'freak' because I suffer from a well recognised fairly common mental illness.

When I nursed the elderly I was not suffering the way I do now and was no more concerned than any other good nurse would be. Are you a nurse? If so I hope you quit.

Stomach bugs alone are dangerous for diabetics, certain heart conditions, lung conditions etc from the direct effects AND from weakening and putting strain on the whole body. How selfish and ignorant do you have to be to not know that?

Even now I don't spend more than 5 minutes washing hands. Anyone who won't even bother for 30 secs IS a selfish arse.

And I was a good nurse and I was told so by several people. Last boss was extremely sorry to see me go, the reason being ex then dh was army and we were posted overseas.

You clearly know nothing about OCD.

I wash my hands a lot
Every time after the loo or taking kids to the loo, before and after preparing food, after petting or feeding the dog, after putting bins out or cleaning, after blowing my nose or wiping kids noses. Oh before eating too.
I work in a school and wash my hands a lot there too, especially before I have a cuppa or anything to eat!
Many hands are quite dry!!

My hands

There's a big messy dirty world out there, go live in it and enjoy your lives without worrying so much about germs!

There's dirt and dirt. Ds is outdoors most of the day, we aren't scrubbing the place with bleach, we aren't germaphobes.

But I am a scientist and I'm well aware of the concept of fomite transmission. If you sneeze in your hands and then work normally in an office, that virus is on every door handle and keyboard in the place in am hour or two. Or if you don't wash your hands after the loo.

Handwashing is a simple, quick and easy way of maintaining basic hygiene. It's not excessive, or obsessive, or to be mocked. It's basic hygiene. We live in crowded cities, at a density that allows pathogens to spread like wildlife. People need to wash their hands.

Here here Anatidae, agree there is "dirt" and "dirt", animals that only eat veg like cows,sheep,horses, have completely different gut bacreria to meat eaters, much less harmfull. I worked many year with norovirus, etc. were shown videos of the aerasol effect, you really didnt want to be breathing in!! and we know there are more germs on a keyborad than a loo seat.

I’m another always washer. Seriously. It takes less than a minute and is good at getting rid of any other bacteria or germs that might be lurking on there. Why would you not?