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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Poor hygiene makes me cringe - AIBU?

217 replies

Defenbaker · 07/09/2019 16:31

I've noticed that quite a lot of people seem to be clueless about basic hygiene, and I inwardly cringe when I see poeple doing certain things. For instance:

A woman served cake to people at a party. She served one slice then licked her fingers before offering slices to others (who all declined - think I wasn't the only one put off by that).
A cleaner at work picked up something dirty from the floor and threw it in bin, then emptied clean items from dishwasher without washing hands first. (She had disposable gloves on throughout, so perhaps as no dirt touched her actual hands she didn't think twice about it.)
A woman played ball with children in garden, then went into kitchen and began making sandwiches for people, without washing her hands first.
A woman in swimming pool changing room used a towel to dry her body off, then threw it onto the floor and dried her feet, before finally drying her hair with it. (I wondered how many people with athletes foot might have walked barefoot on that floor before she did that).

More generally, I hate it when people in cafes handle cash then serve/touch food without washing their hands first (it's widely known that there are lots of germs on money).

Maybe I'm more careful than some people, as I am emetophobic, which makes me very careful about food hygiene. Also I realise that there are germs everywhere, and children develop their imune systems by coming into contact with germs, so a totally sterile world wouldn't be ideal for humans, but AIBU to cringe at this sort of stuff?

Please share your pet hates here, re people's poor hygiene.

OP posts:
Nannewnannew · 07/09/2019 21:09

redchococolatebutton ok, sorry, I must have missed that thread. Unacceptable standards from an HCP, hopefully that is a small minority.

OhTheRoses · 07/09/2019 21:10

clucky and dappled gosh I stand corrected twice. Not something I've ever witnessed before and wouldn't have contemplated doing or ever have thought of. I thought dummies went in the steriliser or dishwasherm

Johnjoeseph · 07/09/2019 21:10

I drew the line today at buying vegetables from my local supermarket after I saw a small child handling all of them while their mother stood next to them and did nothing about it. No vegetable buying for me today

Huh? Do you know where vegetables come from before landing on supermarket shelves? A child handling them is probably the least of your worries...

Plus, surely you wash them before use regardless? And if your intending on cooking them on high heat then it's all irrelevant?

Vulpine · 07/09/2019 21:11

Mitzik - if you have health reasons for keeping germs at bay thats a different argument altogether. Most of the cases on this thread are nothing of the sort.

Grambler · 07/09/2019 21:11

A relative of mine was very prone to an upset stomach. She was also a nurse. She never washed her hands after using the loo or before preparing food - despite the food hygiene certificate stuck on the fridge door. We stopped eating and drinking at the house after twice in a row I ended up chucking up all night after a visit . After that we met her for a picnic and I watched her go to the loo without washing her hands then hold her hands out for the dog to lick and then rip up the sandwiches by hand because she couldn't find a knife. Fuck that. I wonder how many patients she made ill as well.

Glitteryone · 07/09/2019 21:13

God YANBU - all of those things would tip me over the edge!

Completely disgusting.

DappledThings · 07/09/2019 21:13

I thought dummies went in the steriliser or dishwasher

I stick them under a stream of water from the just boiled kettle once in a while but if you're out and about with only one on you and it's nap time there's not much choice!

Crockof · 07/09/2019 21:15

Apologies if been mentioned as long thread but touching petrol pumps/shopping trolleys et al and then eating without washing your hands Envy (not envy)

Defenbaker · 07/09/2019 21:16

@Outsomnia "We need to relax a bit and expose ourselves to germs. Otherwise we will have little resistance to bacteria will we?"

I'm unsure about this. I know that children's immune systems develop by being exposed to germs, but is it the same for adults? Do our immune systems keep developing and getting stronger, with every exposure to bacteria? Are there any medics around who could clarify this?

Also, you never know which cold/flu virus/stomach bug could be the one that has the potential to end your life, if you happen to be vulnerable to it, so surely avoiding ingesting germs is common sense? (Although I admit I'm prone to anxiety so probably focus on this stuff more than others.)

OP posts:
Crockof · 07/09/2019 21:17

Ugh now reading back, people washing at low temperatures Confused

Funguy · 07/09/2019 21:18

Te worst I call The Vomit Party.
Marks and Spencers; two Mums in the loo revelling in the fact the kids had been sick. I was nearly sick too as they screeched with hilarity at the event totally unaware that vomit needs cleaning off children MAINLY BECAUSE IT STINKS.
They would not move one inch as I edged out, it reminded me of some grim Greek augury.

Crockof · 07/09/2019 21:24

I've given up reading this thread, honestly I can't take it, it was the filthy sponge and the coffee cups that pushed me over the edge.

mightyminty · 07/09/2019 21:24

Beyond basic hygiene none of this would bother me! Although I totally understand people who have a less tolerant attitude.

CremeEggThief · 07/09/2019 21:25

YANBU, OP. All your examples would bother me.

MitziK · 07/09/2019 21:32

Vulpine - but how does anybody know there isn't anybody around who is vulnerable? If they're in their own home, it might be 'OK', but then they leave their home and do exactly the same things when outside.

If I haven't got a hanky or access to a sink, I sneeze into the crook of my elbow. I'm not smearing my viral load onto a handrail or mug for somebody else to have to fight off.

If somebody doesn't worry about washing their hands after the toilet and then goes out to catch a bus, how do they know the next kid to hold that rail isn't back at school after their last chemo appointment?

The cake brought in for the office - are they supposed to be informed by somebody 'oh, I'm immunocompromised, so I have to get the first slice and can I see a photograph of your kitchen?'.

If they're happy to suck a dummy for their baby - who is roughly as vulnerable as I am - I'm not going to trust them to offer me a plate of biscuits, as there's a good chance they've dropped them on a dirty floor, chanted the mantra of' five second rule' and put them back on the plate.

It's always used as an excuse 'germs help build immunity'. I had too much of an immune system (hey, maybe it's because I grew up in a midden) and I now have to knock it back (which is a pretty fucking blunt tool) - germs cull the weakest and most vulnerable.

I would far rather trust somebody who is 'unreasonable' than somebody who is at best, somewhat lackadaisical about hygiene.

Outsomnia · 07/09/2019 21:36

Defenbaker

I really think it is anxiety about what might happen TBH, and I know you may be fearful. As adults I think we may have immunity to a lot of things now. Our kids need the same exposure. But that's not happening.

Could be why there are so many childhood issues I dunno.

Jade218 · 07/09/2019 21:39

@Outsomnia I totally agree

adaline · 07/09/2019 21:48

None of these examples would really bother me at all, I have to say.

Outsomnia · 07/09/2019 21:49

Jade,

Thanks,

Germs are all around us, we cannot prevent them invading our space unless we do not leave our pristine germ free abodes without a Hazmat Suit.

It is just another "thing" that someone, somewhere instilled in us. But I ain't buying it!

speakout · 07/09/2019 22:03

*Germs"are not actually something to avoid, they are part of our biome, they assist in keeping our skin free of pathogens, they live in our gut and help us digest our food. They keep our immune system piqued and primed. Without "germs" we could not survive.

OhTheRoses · 07/09/2019 22:12

When DS was a baby, I used to carry 2/3 sterilised dummies in a plastic bag so there was a clean one if required. DD did not have a dummy.

DappledThings · 07/09/2019 22:17

When DS was a baby, I used to carry 2/3 sterilised dummies in a plastic bag so there was a clean one if require

I'm not organised enough!

jellybaby1 · 07/09/2019 22:17

Haha its like a competition as to who can be the most prissy and outraged 🤣🤣🤣

puppymouse · 07/09/2019 22:21

I wouldn't notice any of those things. But I also share food and kisses with my dog and my horse.

DD seems to have a very robust constitution and is rarely ill. My mum thinks it's because "she's very particular about washing her hands every time she goes to the toilet." Which tells you how hot they were on hygiene when I was growing up. Hmm

Dothedamnthang · 07/09/2019 22:26

YANBU at all.
I would have noticed everything you mentioned. Like you, I'm conscious of what's hygienic or not and if I'd have witnessed those things I'd definitely have felt uncomfortable. Licking fingers while serving others food? FFS.