<Ashamed> to avoid using hand towels in other people's bathrooms?

[JesusInTheCabbageVan]

It occurred to me that I always do this - just let them drip dry instead, because I never know how recently the towel was changed. Anyone else have any ridiculous hygiene obsessions? (Oh, I also use my little finger to open doors when out and about, rather than sacrifice my whole hand to The Germs)

It's not that I think I'm going to catch anything by using soggy towels etc - I totally agree that we need exposure to germ to keep resistance up. It's just a subjective "yeuk" reaction to dirty towels, filthy pull cords etc.

I never worry about things like this, wouldn't even cross my mind

I never get stomach bugs, only time I've ever had diarrhoea was just before I was diagnosed with Pernicious Anaemia

Use loo paper for trying if you have a phobia. I don’t have one but it seems to make sense - although phobias are illogical so nothing suggested ever makes sense.

for drying

I use hand towels like an ordinary person and I don’t get tummy upsets either.
How weird.

Filthy pull cords? Huh?

Luckily none of my friends and family and acquaintances is filthy. (Grrr. This sort of preciousness I find so annoying.)

I agree with the PP about not touching your face. I tried this last time I flew (and used antibacterial gel) and was fine. The previous three flights I'd been really sick after; after one I was signed off for 3 weeks with a terrible chest infection.

Chuckling at the people who use loo roll to dry their hands; this is probably the worst thing to do, germ wise. Think about when you’re wiping your bum, or whatever. You touch the loo roll. And even if it’s a pull-y one from a dispenser, think about how close it is to the toilet. You have no idea who’s touched the paper you’re drying your clean hands on!

I think people worry too much about other people’s toilet habits. A woman in Morrisons made some comment at the fact that I hadn’t washed my hands. (I use antibacterial gel as I’m allergic to a lot of soaps).

Chuckle away. I would use the towel personally but then I am not a snowflake.

I so agree with poster above about how bonkers it is to think that drying hands with loo roll is the more hygienic option. How can that be? Imagine a toilet being flushed without the lid down and the spray that lands on everything (toothbrushes anyone?).

Unless a towel is obviously rank I'll use it otherwise shake excess water off hands. I never get norovirus or sickness bugs but I suspect I'm in the 1 in 5 people who have a genetic resistance.

Rose white I'm not a snowflake. You suggesting those with ocd isn't real? It's a mental health issue and doesn't make me a snowflake. People with your attitudes are exactly why it's hard for people to talk about their issues.

Having OCD doesn't make you a snowflake.

I'll make an ocd/cleaners thread in a few and link to it here. I often feel alone with my problems, but then when I see posts like this (snowflakes) makes me understand why mental health issues aren't discussed as openly as they could be.

not even linked to being out and about
i keep a hand towel down low for the DC and one up high for me :)
YANBU OP

I have OCD, had it since I was 6 years old but not over germs.

I was an HCA for a while and helped cleaned up loads of patients with noro and never caught it. I wash my hands and think nothing else of it.

My immune system is great (touch wood) and I am not scared of germs. They are everywhere after all. Basic hand hygiene is all that is needed for most.

I have a lot of empathy for people who have OCD around germs because I know how horrendous OCD is to live with.

There are a lot of people on MN though who don't have OCD but still seem pretty hygiene obsessed. It's not something I have come across before MN. The competitive sheet washing, hand washing, how often you shower etc. It can be rather odd. And again, I exclude anyone who is diagnosed with OCD from that.

Unless the house looks obviously dirty, then I think you're being over the top. You'll have touched things far more germ laden, I'm sure.

If your hosts are anything like me, they'll have put out fresh towels when expecting guests anyway.

One of my friends has had the same dried up sliver of soap in the downstairs loo since at least the summer. No one in the house must ever wash their hands after going .

On the bright side, I suppose this means the towel is probably virginal!

• I've just bought two new hand towels after reading this thread!! We have two lovely ones, both the same that I rotate one in the wash for the downstairs loo but now worried everyone will think it's the same towel so I've bought two different ones haha!

I travel alot and don't usually get ill. Perhaps my immune system has improved. Some countries don't have toilet paper they use water instead. When travelling there is no such thing as opening door with sleeve then washing that evening lol! I am just thankful to locate a toilet....

Skarossinkplunger Yeah I can't stand the people who openly sneer or pass judgment or look mock horrified at others who don't wash their hands after using the toilet in public, it's really none of their business. I prefer using and carry antibacterial hand gel so if it's a toilet with no doors that need touching to exit after the sinks I'll bypass the sinks and use gel on my way out. If there's a door needs touching to exit I'll use the gel before and after. I have a friend who'll comment how 'disgusting' people are for not washing their hands and I just think mind your own business. Some will be like me with gel but some just won't bother as we all have difference levels of comfort with exposure to germs and compared to a lot of places in the world I'm sure our excessive anti bac everything is a bit much. It's not healthy to dodge every germ possible.

At home I always wash my hands after a number two but rarely after a one. I don't see the point. It's urine, it's sterile, it's not gonna harm me or partner. I know my bathroom is clean as I bleach it regularly and barely ever have guests so no concerns about others catching my germs or me theirs. I use toilet roll so don't touch it directly or my genitalia!

I wonder if people with this level of obsession feel comfortable with how messy sexual contact is? I can't imagine anyone this stressed over catching something from a towel or avoiding any trace of bacteria would feel comfortable giving oral sex for example?

It's people like you that make me have to touch all the handles with toilet roll. Not everyone wants your fanny in their hands, thankyou!

Buffy

No one is making you do anything.

Yes, I do think that not washing one’s hands after going to the toilet is slightly disgusting. But I (and most other people) touch worse things than one of these doorknobs pretty much everyday.

It’s better to not worry this much imo.

Buffybee: why would you be using my own personal household toilet? That only me and my partner use? The sole place I don't always wash after a wee?

Nobody is 'having' to 'make' you do anything, especially considering thousands of people use public toilets every day with different levels of hygiene and most of them survive. I would really consider whether you think it's a good use of your emotions to be so angry about someone not always washing their hands after a wee in their own home, where it affects you not one tiny little bit.

Also I don't use my hand to thoroughly rub my 'fanny' unless it's for quite a different reason entirely. How are you wiping yourself if you're managing to achieve that much 'fanny' to hand contact?

Ah I've just seen from another thread you do have clinical anxiety buffy, that explains a lot and I'm sorry not to have been more understanding of your high emotion response. I'm glad you're seeking help for it, anxiety is a massive pain 💛