Germphobia is a class thing, isn't it?

[tenbob]

Full disclosure: I'm slightly fascinated by the posters here who won't wash their hands on a towel at someone else's house, buy cakes at a school fair or use a public toilet for fear of germs, and admit to being the sort of person who eats stuff past the sell-by date if it passes the sniff test

But I've just spent a couple of days working at a food fair type thing and noticed a definite class divide in germ tolerance

There was no end of stereotypical posh families who would share their ice cream with the Labrador, eat food that had fallen on the floor etc

And the mums (it was always the mums) who were obsessively wet wiping everything were non-posh

Can you prove or debunk my theory?
And if I'm right, why are the upper classes so relaxed about dirt?

We wash them, just not after every wear. Ah, you know, cooking and animals and fun stuff get in the way.

Ah, you know, cooking and animals and fun stuff get in the way

I struggle to enjoy the fun stuff if I know there's a load of chores need doing!

@formerbabe I'd like to be like you but I'm just not made that way. I try but just give up. Hence the impending employment of a cleaner. It's lovely to come home to a clean house.

A fairly posh relative of Dh regularly had her horse in the kitchen. It would wander in and help itself to apples from the fruit bowl.

Our dog often did a pre wash of sundry things before they went in the dishwasher. Her favourites were a saucepan used to make cheese sauce, a fish pie dish, and best of all, the roasting tin, preferably with a bit of leftover gravy added. She'd hold it down with one paw and keep at it until not a molecule was left.

The very occasional person did express horror at this, even though the things went in the dishwasher afterwards, but they were very rare since I wouldn't normally be friendly enough with fussy types to invite them round.

Oh my home is far from immaculate, trust me! I do a lot of housework but as fast as I do it, it's being messed up again

I find it interesting to see how everyone has such different standards...not in a judgmental way, I just find it fascinating. I have friends who think my home is clean and tidy and friends who'd find it unbearably messy.

I'm quite a homebird really and am pretty happy pottering round at home doing housework...sad but true!

Not RTFT my bad but really germophobia is just too new for old money/upper classes to engage with. Not really old money or upperclass in the slightest but I am definitely erring to their side... germophobia appears to be all rather neurotic and high maintenance/hard work for my liking... give me a bit of dust and mud and dog hair any day... better for the prevention of allergies anyway😊. Yes I may have been partaking of a glass or three but hey it’s Friday and I am feeling bloody minded so sorry/not sorry if I have offended!

Ps the thing about allergies is true... worldwide leading allergy expert says the best thing you can do to prevent allergies in your child is to let them play in the mud and have pets in the house🐶🐱🐰🐹

sad but true!

Not sad at all, imo. It's actually quite practical.

I like being at home as well. but I usually can't bring myself to do the cleaning... I do however like to cook and bake. And DH luckily does the kitchen and loads up the dishwasher (now that we have one... )

I'd love to be in the kitchen and have an otter just meander in.

I expect my life would bore most to tears but I very much enjoy my routine of daily baths for DC, fresh towels, clean kitchens and bathrooms. In fact, I have noticed a direct link between my mental health and the state of my house. Nothing makes me happier than completely top to bottoming my house. It’s bliss. Yes, I know, very dull

I have noticed a direct link between my mental health and the state of my house. Nothing makes me happier than completely top to bottoming my house. It’s bliss

I completely understand.

I did quite a lot today...changed the beds, hoovered everywhere, cleaned both bathrooms, tidied playroom, food shop, all ironing done too! My evening has been so pleasant knowing all is done and I can start the weekend fresh.

I agree.

I’m a MC scruff with and old banger, a rickety house and low maintenance in personal appearance.

My colleagues are solidly WC. They spend so much money on cleaning! Car valeting, every type of cleaning fluid, regular house redecorating, nails, hair, tans, waxing and the time they spend ironing, washing clothes towels and sheets after barely touching skin!

I just can’t bring myself to care about these things.

Whereas I’ve done very little today and feel like crap

I’m actually going to do the kitchen now because we’ve had intruders in our gardens the past few nights and if I have to phone the police because I’ve been broken into I don’t want them talking about the state of my kitchen!

@Gettinglikemymother Do you mean Hoorah for the Filth-Packets?

Another posh-but-penniless one here. Dogs lick the plates before they go in the dishwasher, you wouldn't want to take your shoes off in the house because of what might stick to your socks, etc, etc. I grew up this way, and have barely ever had a day's illness (and neither have my siblings or my DC, though I suspect they will rebel and live in new-builds and make guests take their shoes off at the front door).

I clean the bathroom if I know someone is planning to visit who might notice that I haven't. Which is not often.

Not fair. I want horses and otters in my house

I would like one of those little tiny dog sized horses. I could have one of those in my kitchen. I already have a horse sized dog so it wouldn’t be much different.

Zibbidoo, my mum used to drive around with one of them in the car.

@LadyFilthPacquet I think I love you... a gal after my own true heart. What is this obsession about taking your shoes off... even my buggering own DCs do it and I have never ever asked them to. Though I now suspect it is their inner hippie crying out to be barefoot... caught DS walking over gravel in his stockingedfeet only this evening🙄

I once had tea with about the poshest people in Britain below the monarchy ( they lived in a castle which had been in their family for 700 years). Everything was grubby and battered but very high quality originally. It reeked of old money and comfortable privilege.

One of the little horses?? brilliant! I love your mum.

This sort of thread really gets my goat.

I sm posh. DH m' parents were working class by birth and became middle class (deputy head / engineer). DH's lot are what I'd call a bit jumped up. Have forgotten their humble origins but haven't. yet shed the chip.

My family were pristine ; dh's pretty filthy.
Our houses are pristine - was brought up in oristine circs.

my mum used to drive around with one of them in the car.
A horse-sized dog or a dog-sized horse?

Pickwick, I was thinking of the dog-sized horse. But there was an Irish Wolfhound as well. So I should have said both...

Haven't RTFT so don't know if it's already been said.

Maybe the working class germophobes are so inclined because they cannot afford to get sick and be off work.

When you get paid by the hour, only get paid for hours you've actually worked, don't get sick pay beyond the destinctly peanutsy level of SSP, are living wage packet to wage packet with only just enough to pay the bills and eat if you watch every penny, being off work can very quickly lead to your life turning to complete shit.

Oh yeah, medicine for minor ailments costs a lot of money that eats into your grocery budget and doctors won't prescribe that sort of thing and if they do, prescription costs mount up very fast. I unfortunately know this first hand.

This is my/our life, we are under a constant pressure to not get sick. It's very stressful and we can't take risks.

I once ignored a bad cold, pretending it wasn't that bad, got infected all in my head and ended up completely deaf for 5 weeks.

I ignored all the warning signs of high blood pressure because I didn't have time or money for illness, nearly wound up dead and am now on high doses of medication and having to wear compression stocking (one prescription fee per leg...nice) for life.

I wish I was dead some days.

salty.