To think hygiene standards are low in Britain?

[castemary]

This obviously does not apply to everyone. But in Britain, I think there is a general acceptance of fairly low hygiene standards. I see it in several areas.
With individuals you have people telling everyone they do not wash bras for months, do not clean their teeth every day, do not wash face masks every day.
In public areas, offices and shops the cleaning often consist of no more than a quick hoover occasionally, a mop and a bit of damp wiping. Apart from toilets, places are rarely properly cleaned.
I think most people simply do not realise how unhygienic Britain is until they go to countries that do have a good standard of hygiene. There seems to be a lot of emphasis in Britain on superficial things that make places look good such as scatter cushions or make-up, and not on basic hygiene and cleanliness.
AIBU?

I don't know if the British are less hygienic than other nations, but one thing's for sure, you guys are world champions at tearing yourselves to pieces over stuff that doesn't really matter. 😂

@AllesAusLiebe

I don't know if the British are less hygienic than other nations, but one thing's for sure, you guys are world champions at tearing yourselves to pieces over stuff that doesn't really matter. 😂

So true 😂

@AllesAusLiebe

I don't know if the British are less hygienic than other nations, but one thing's for sure, you guys are world champions at tearing yourselves to pieces over stuff that doesn't really matter. 😂

Yes this.

I still can't work out why it matters do much to some people!

I was born in Malaysia. Logically you would shower and bathe more given it is hot, and you will sweat more. My DH is from a very working class area of the UK, and cheerfully tells me that growing up, he only had one bath a week usually (Sunday evenings), and some houses even as late as 1980 did not have indoor bathrooms- rows of baths for hire were provided, hence why swimming pools are sometimes called baths as they had these rows of baths for bathing in. Just a question of culture and climate I think.

Oh dear..where do you live.This is obviously a wind up lol.Dont be silly.Lol.Now you must excuse me..I have to get the tin bath out of the outhouse..and collect water from the river.

Wow - you really haven’t travelled extensively if that’s your conclusion! Where have you been? Switzerland snd Germany? Ridiculous post.

I think we've suffered so much with covid partly because we are so clean. We are supposed to be around dirt etc to build our immune systems. Especially children.
Looking back over generations when people would be out scrubbing their front steps then yes we are less hygienic now, mainly due to laziness. But I don't think it's a bad thing as long as your not living in a hovel

Was this question intended to just get in an argument or are you actually that dense?

Crumbs not sure what circles you mix in

But I’m not aware of any non bra washers my house is clean my work areas are spotless and shops etc are also clean. I agree there are many mucky buggers who leave clearing up in washing areas at work for example but I would deffo say we are clean here in the uk

I have travelled and always glad to get back

You’re definitely not being unreasonable 😂

We had months of every single show on tv showing the people of England how to wash their hands in the beginning of the pandemic. I mean that was extreme to say the least. I can’t believe that people didn’t know how to wash their hands.

Who doesn’t clean their bra for months or their teeth every day?! That’s grim! I suppose there probably are some less than hygienic people out there but I wouldn’t say it was overly common surely?!

It’s a bit rude to go barefoot in somebody else’s house no matter how nice your feet are. You keep your socks on or accept a pair of slippers or keep a pair of socks in your handbag?

So it’s rude to keep your shoes on, it’s rude to go barefoot even on the hottest day, is there anything that isn’t rude? I’m not going to risk fracturing my hip by falling after skidding on a hard floor in socks nor am I wearing someone else’s slippers which may or may not be clean. Thank goodness I know absolutely nobody so precious.

I agree OP. My OCD around “germs” is an issue in Britain but when I go home I do not have the same problem. My problem developed after I came to this country and observed the general poor hygienic standards and some fairly disgusting behaviour on public transport- yawning, sneezing, coughing without covering mouths, picking noses and then holding on to the rails. Spit all over the pavements and walkways. Shoes on bus seats, bags placed on floors where people walk with shoes contaminated with spit, animal faeces, etc. I could go on.

Many people only take one shower a day even during the hot summers. Some admit to going days without having a shower.

Good grief! I do wonder how half the people on this thread would have coped with life in their grandparents generation.

You do realise that they didn't have dishwashers, washing machines, showers, anti-bacterial wipes or even hot running water in some cases? All these things are a very recent addition to life and society

@castemary

I do not think people understand hygiene. It is not about bleaching surfaces. That is not a good idea. But basic hygiene is lacking. I was taught as a child to wash my hands before eating. In Britain, it seems rare to get your children to do this unless their hands are visibly dirty. Schools were complaining at the beginning of the pandemic that they do not have enough sinks for all children to wash their hands before they eat. I think this is very basic hygiene. It is not bleaching every surface within an inch of its life or following Mrs Hinch. But very basic hygiene.

Literally every single primary school and nursery I have ever been in (and it’s a lot!) have the kids wash their hands before lunch, without fail, every one. I think by the time they’re 11 they can take responsibility for it themselves!

I wouldn’t make such sweeping statement but there are few things that do bug me in Britain. Shoes in the house...just too unhygienic and people wearing shoes around indoor swimming pools. They shouldn’t do it yet they do and it increases the need for more chlorine in the water which is not good. But then my husband is English and his parents never wore shoes in the house so it doesn’t apply to all.

After just returning from Turkey to have surgery, I cannot agree?

There were 4 of us that arrived together at the clinic, we had an MRI in quick succession and not one wipe down or bacticlean clean spray between us!

Many people only take one shower a day even during the hot summers

For Christ’s sake, how many do you want people to have? One a day has always been enough for me, surely it’s enough for any normal person?

@Coolandclamy - how ever do you manage to survive in this God forsaken pit of filth?

Why on earth would you stay here if it has resulted in such a debilitating health condition?

@Coolandclamy

I agree OP. My OCD around “germs” is an issue in Britain but when I go home I do not have the same problem. My problem developed after I came to this country and observed the general poor hygienic standards and some fairly disgusting behaviour on public transport- yawning, sneezing, coughing without covering mouths, picking noses and then holding on to the rails. Spit all over the pavements and walkways. Shoes on bus seats, bags placed on floors where people walk with shoes contaminated with spit, animal faeces, etc. I could go on.

Many people only take one shower a day even during the hot summers. Some admit to going days without having a shower.

People yawn on public transport? The horror

I couldn't believe how clean the roads and pavements were in Turkey despite not being able to find a bin on street (maybe they take their rubbish home) but couldn't get over how grimy Budapest was....and you'd think our public toilets were bad!

I really don't think we're that bad and probably worse things to worry about!!

I have observed the following in the UK (that makes my skin crawl):

• A large number of people wear shoes in the house and a large number of people with carpet wear shoes in the house.
• A lot of people don't wash their hands or change clothes when they come home and have just travelled on public transport.
• A lot of people put their handbags on public floors (or even the pavement) and then have no issues dropping them on the kitchen table.
• A lot of people don't know how to cook properly and as such, do not understand, or know much about food hygiene.

But:

• Our toilets are cleaner then a lot of European countries and countries world-wide.
• I have encountered many people with poor personal hygiene but being from the UK wasn't something that I noticed as part of that pattern.
• A lot of people from many countries (including the UK) have never actually learnt to clean and know nothing about germs.

In conclusion I would say that the UK falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum and could certainly improve it's personal hygiene and respect of common spaces. I will never understand this whole thing of wearing shoes in the house. I don't know anyone that doesn't wash their bra for months on end. I've had flatmates who don't change sheets for weeks, not throw out rotting food for weeks and think that the kitchen counter is a good place to drop smelly, dirty socks. I had another then only showered twice in ten days (before she left because I asked her to) One was English, one was Dutch, one was Spanish and one was American.

Re: masks, yes, people are grim.

Hygiene is not about washing machines and dishwasher.

Even in very poor country people can be hygienic. I think people in Britain think simply by being wealthier they are naturally cleaner. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel without covering their mouths. Did you miss that part? Do you think it is acceptable and hygienic to yawn, sneeze, cough without covering your mouth?

Public swimming baths changing rooms stink. Most public loos stink. We have a massive litter problem. We have a massive dog poo problem. So I'm rather inclined to agree that we have some people who just don't give a shiny shite about hygiene/germs/personal care.