Disgusting things discovered on MN

[Pricklypear12]

During my time on MN I have read about some disgusting/unhygienic things that people do on a regular basis.

Examples are:
Letting dogs lick human plates
Washing dog bowls in dishwasher with regular dishes
Sharing bath water (seen this one today!)
Sucking snot out of a baby's nose (I somewhat get it but really think I could never)

What are some vile things you've read about on MN that are seemingly normal to those that post about them?

I would like to give a about out to Cheeky Wipes on this thread as dry wiping has been discussed so much. Beside my toilet in en suite we have two plastic boxes. One has cotton squares soaking in lavender oil and a larger one has water and tea tree oil. When either my husband or I open bowels at a time where shower is not imminent, we dry wipe initially and then use a damp cotton square to render our backsides spotless. I also use one at bedtime after final wee so that I am nice and clean. If I am sitting on the toilet and notice the mirror looks messy or the skirting is dusty, I grab a wipe and do a bit of housework after my wee. I give the quotes a quick hand rinse and advice them in a bit white wash once a week with school shirts and light towels etc and they always come out spotless. I felt quite snug when toilet rolls were running out but 3 teens were worried they might need to join the wet wiping. They prefer to use half a roll of paper after each poo.😂

As an Occupational Therapist, I have to not only ask but also observed on pretty much a daily basis how my patients manage their personal hygiene after using toilet so definitely a common conversation for me.

Quite a few posters on this thread are assuming that all waste water goes down the same pipe, so OK to pee in the shower etc

What do you think urine contains? Dangerous bacteria? Quite the contrary. It should come out pretty much sterile. Certainly less bacteria than from our skin, or from washing our privates.
Just water, urea, ammonia, some salts. Nothing worse than the chemicals in most cleaning products which often also contain ammonia.
What an odd comment.

Quite a few posters on this thread are assuming that all waste water goes down the same pipe, so OK to pee in the shower etc

WTF? You think there are two underground systems for water? So shower water goes where differently from toilet water...?

Anyone pee in the bath?

LadyDanburysCane
GloriaSicTransitMundi

@pam290358 is correct:

Help & Advice > Product Guides > Plumbing & Heating

Unless you’re a qualified plumber or drainage engineer, soil pipes and waste pipes can be a minefield to navigate. There are lots of pipes inside a property and lots of pipes that exit the property too so usually unless you have prior experience, understanding which pipe is which can be an issue. One of the most common problems is confusion between a soil pipe and a waste pipe. So how does a soil pipe differ from a waste pipe?

In the most simple terms, both pipes carry waste from our homes to the sewer but there is a crucial difference between the two types. A soil pipe is designed to carry soiled water from the toilet, urinal or bidet to the sewer. A waste pipe carries water from your sinks, shower, washing machine or bath.

But your post clearly says that all waste goes to the sewer! So all to the same place! Modern pipes are made of the same materials but soil pipes are bigger simply to allow solid waste through, urine is not solid.

@LadyDanburysCane read my next post, right underneath the one you're quoting, starts with however

We always shared bath water growing up, my dad would run the bath and have it first, then my mum, then me and my sister together

He is an electrician and was always covered in dust

In retrospect, it was very unhygienic...but none of us were ever unwell and we didn't have much money so running three baths was out of the question. We didn't have a shower either and couldn't afford to install one.

It was only when I got to about 22 that I realised this isn't that normal

We also had a communal bar of soap in the shared bath when i was a kid. Each person rubbed it all over their face and body. There is still a bar of soap in my parents bathroom that I avoid touching

@Lweji

Quite a few posters on this thread are assuming that all waste water goes down the same pipe, so OK to pee in the shower etc

What do you think urine contains? Dangerous bacteria? Quite the contrary. It should come out pretty much sterile. Certainly less bacteria than from our skin, or from washing our privates.
Just water, urea, ammonia, some salts. Nothing worse than the chemicals in most cleaning products which often also contain ammonia.
What an odd comment.

Urine is not sterile. But it is unlikely to contain any dangerous bacteria either.

www.healthline.com/health/is-urine-sterile

@CounsellorTroi. As I have said in previous posts upthread, that comment was somewhat badly worded as I don’t have a problem with peeing in the shower. It was aimed more at pointing out that flushed toilet waste goes down the soil pipe - one PP had posted about putting poo down the shower drain and I was pointing out that this would more than likely eventually block the drain. I also pointed out that although urine is not sterile, it’s safe to pee in the shower - you can even pee in a cup or similar if you’re caught short, as long as you empty it immediately and wash it thoroughly. However, urine does carry increased levels of bacteria if you have a urinary infection so you would need to be hygienic if this were the case.

@WiganNorthWest

We also had a communal bar of soap in the shared bath when i was a kid. Each person rubbed it all over their face and body. There is still a bar of soap in my parents bathroom that I avoid touching

You use the soap directly on your skin? Don't most people use a sponge or a flannel? I'm telling you now I'm not getting f personalised soap dishes.

@Cottoncandyisland

We always shared bath water growing up, my dad would run the bath and have it first, then my mum, then me and my sister together

He is an electrician and was always covered in dust

In retrospect, it was very unhygienic...but none of us were ever unwell and we didn't have much money so running three baths was out of the question. We didn't have a shower either and couldn't afford to install one.

It was only when I got to about 22 that I realised this isn't that normal

Yep same here, I remember lots of furious arguments about someone letting the bath water out when someone had wanted to use it!

You use the soap directly on your skin? Don't most people use a sponge or a flannel? I'm telling you now I'm not getting f personalised soap dishes.

DH and I use soap directly. We have our own bars of soap, but only because we prefer different brands. I don't think either of us would be bothered if we used the same one.

Most things I'm fine with but putting your toilet brush in the dishwasher is gross! Just no.

Well this has been an eye opener...

Most things I'm fine with but putting your toilet brush in the dishwasher is gross!

I don’t think anyone seriously suggested this.

I might be wrong ...

@TheKeatingFive

Most things I'm fine with but putting your toilet brush in the dishwasher is gross!

I don’t think anyone seriously suggested this.

I might be wrong ...

You are, unfortunately, wrong. I saw it on a thread. Along with cooking salmon in the dishwasher and various other uses.

DH and me use same soap in shower, no sponge or cloth! I buy flushable wipes to save myself the horror of looking at my DHs skiddy pants which he blames on being very hairy and the poo gets trapped. Towels washed once a week, bedding every fortnight and the cats not only sleep on our bed but walk on our worktops as they are arseholes. I also have two DSs and none of the males close the lid if they flush and I'm dubious about their handwashing.

@Hobbitytoes

DH and me use same soap in shower, no sponge or cloth! I buy flushable wipes to save myself the horror of looking at my DHs skiddy pants which he blames on being very hairy and the poo gets trapped. Towels washed once a week, bedding every fortnight and the cats not only sleep on our bed but walk on our worktops as they are arseholes. I also have two DSs and none of the males close the lid if they flush and I'm dubious about their handwashing.

Wait are you meant to close the lid when flushing? Out toilet lid is permanently open, never really thought about what the lid is for

Apparently so. Although I only discovered that my toothbrush must be filled with poo particles on mumsnet due to unfortunately having filthy boys/man living in my house

I just put a wash on. There was sweaty gym clothes, underwear and normal day clothes. Poo particles galore.

I use the toilet lid as a sort of extra table to put my book on when I'm reading in the bath and I need to put the book down.
Or as a seat, if I'm chatting to DH when he's in the bath.
You mean that's not what it's supposed to be for?

Wait are you meant to close the lid when flushing? Out toilet lid is permanently open, never really thought about what the lid is for

I proved the need for the lid to be closed to DS by putting food dye in the water, closing the lid and flushing. I then opened the lid and showed the coloured splashes on the underside of the lid. He has never left the lid up since!

DH has always been a lid closer so no issues with him 😃

You use the soap directly on your skin? Don't most people use a sponge or a flannel? I'm telling you now I'm not getting f personalised soap dishes.

I certainly don't use a sponge, flannel or personalised soap dishes.
TBF, I used shower gel for a long time, now soap again to reduce plastic packaging.
And I tend to lather hands, then spread through body.

Soap is self cleaning, but...

It should come out pretty much sterile. Certainly less bacteria than from our skin, or from washing our privates. grin

Urine is not sterile. But it is unlikely to contain any dangerous bacteria either.

So, you agree with me.

In any case, if you have more than a few bacteria that urine has mostly picked up on the way out, you better see a doctor.