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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think hygiene standards are low in Britain?

834 replies

castemary · 10/05/2021 10:46

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?

OP posts:
Gwenhwyfar · 15/05/2021 11:35

There's stuff from people's bodies in the swimming pool water anyway. The chlorine means they do you no harm.

Do you ever swim in the sea? Imagine what's in there and there are not usually showers before going to the sea either.

EBearhug · 15/05/2021 11:50

When I had an abscess healing, I wasn't allowed to swim in the pool, but they were happy for me to go in the sea as much as I wanted. Preferably a blue flag beach, but it was the salt water that was seen as good. (I was meant to take salt baths twice a day, too.)

Sometimesonly · 15/05/2021 11:58

Do you ever swim in the sea? Imagine what's in there and there are not usually showers before going to the sea either.

GrinGrin The sea is slightly bigger than your average pool so rather more diluted. "There's stuff already in there" is not very convincing as an argument. Just have a shower before you get in and don't add more "stuff"! It's not hard and it's pretty gross not to.

Ddot · 15/05/2021 12:18

Fish poo

Gwenhwyfar · 15/05/2021 18:01

" Just have a shower before you get in and don't add more "stuff"! It's not hard and it's pretty gross not to."

You haven't explained what harm it does not to, given that the pool is full of chlorine.

countrygirl99 · 15/05/2021 19:01

@Ddot

Fish poo
Yep, a lot more fish in the sea than your average municipal pool. There will also be bodily waste from birds and mammals too. Possibly even untreated human sewage
Sometimesonly · 15/05/2021 19:52

You haven't explained what harm it does not to, given that the pool is full of chlorine.
As has already been pointed out, if you go in with body lotion or for a start it makes the water scummy - chlorine doesn't make a difference. In any case, this thread is about hygiene standards so I think it is clear that we have different ones. Oh god, I guess you are one of those people who think it is fine to wee in it then as "the chlorine deals with it". Grin

Gwenhwyfar · 15/05/2021 19:56

"Oh god, I guess you are one of those people who think it is fine to wee in it then as "the chlorine deals with it". grin"

Not at all, but it does happen in children's pools doesn't it?
I don't know what you mean about the water being 'scummy' and chlorine not dealing with it.

StellaLeonte · 15/05/2021 20:03

I’ve lived in five different countries and can’t say I find the UK to be less hygienic. WHO are the lost souls that aren’t washing their bras or cleaning their teeth???!!!

redcandlelight · 15/05/2021 20:37

@Gwenhwyfar

"Oh god, I guess you are one of those people who think it is fine to wee in it then as "the chlorine deals with it". grin"

Not at all, but it does happen in children's pools doesn't it?
I don't know what you mean about the water being 'scummy' and chlorine not dealing with it.

chlorine doesn't deal with a grim layer of oil floating on the water from body lotion, make up, hair products.
Ddot · 15/05/2021 22:16

My fro has so much crap in it, I could pollute a swimming pool single handed

Averyyounggrandmaofsix · 16/05/2021 15:21

So 33 pages now and I'm still no wiser as to where these places are that are so much more hygienic than here.

vodkaredbullgirl · 16/05/2021 15:56

Same here lol

Gwenhwyfar · 16/05/2021 16:27

@Averyyounggrandmaofsix

So 33 pages now and I'm still no wiser as to where these places are that are so much more hygienic than here.
I've read the thread and the countries mentioned are Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Singapore, Korea and Japan. I personally dispute Korea. The rest may be true. The Scandinavian countries in particular can afford for everything to be of high standard.

I don't agree that it's true compared to MOST of the world though.

freckles20 · 16/05/2021 18:44

I'm still none the wiser as to why it matters?

FreshFancyFrogglette · 16/05/2021 18:54

You might be right. I read an article about how a Third of people surveyed didn't change their bed more than once a year. I can well believe it. I think my hygiene is shocking, I only do it at all because of dd. Not sure if its down to apathy, laziness or depression.. But I can't seem to find time, motivation, or money to get on top of it. Am always running out of washing powder, toilet bleach, washing up liquid, deodorant. I can't afford to replace all of them every month. I have spent a lot onmasks and hand wash since the pandemic, but that's because it's essential.

Ddot · 16/05/2021 20:13

I heard a comment about how British people wear dirty disposable masks. My brother was in Turkey masks £3 a box, here a box was ridiculous amount. I had to steam and reuse disposable ones for work as wouldnt supply. I saw a box going for £50

Original poster
castemary · 17/05/2021 00:27

@Gwenhwyfar

" Just have a shower before you get in and don't add more "stuff"! It's not hard and it's pretty gross not to."

You haven't explained what harm it does not to, given that the pool is full of chlorine.

Pools in Britain have to add more chlorine due to poor hygiene.
OP posts:
CallieJones · 17/05/2021 07:31

You can get masks in poundland now

ceilingsand · 17/05/2021 07:59

I don't recognise this picture of UK at all. God knows what you have read.

HectorHalloumi · 17/05/2021 09:39

Pools in Britain have to add more chlorine due to poor hygiene.

As opposed to where? Where is the evidence for this? What countries don't use as much Chlorine as here because we're all filthy animals?

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 17/05/2021 10:50

‘ I read an article about how a Third of people surveyed didn't change their bed more than once a year.’

I am having trouble believing that.

user1497207191 · 17/05/2021 11:04

@Ddot

I heard a comment about how British people wear dirty disposable masks. My brother was in Turkey masks £3 a box, here a box was ridiculous amount. I had to steam and reuse disposable ones for work as wouldnt supply. I saw a box going for £50
Just go into a hospital - most have boxes of them just inside the door. Take a handful.
Ddot · 17/05/2021 14:27

User1487207191
This was mid pandemic, I was working as key worker with no ppe. I had to scroungers or steal the bloody stuff to keep myself safe

Gwenhwyfar · 17/05/2021 17:15

@TheCountessofFitzdotterel

‘ I read an article about how a Third of people surveyed didn't change their bed more than once a year.’

I am having trouble believing that.

I'm not to be honest. When you change them regularly, you realise they start to smell if you haven't done it for two or three weeks, but if you go a long time without changing them, you get used to the smell. I definitely know people who only changed them very rarely.