Aibu to ask if it is unhygienic to sit on the bed wearing outdoor clothes

[Scrumbleton]

Chatting to DD who in passing said she won’t sit on her bed wearing clothes she has been outside in, particularly if she’s used public transport. Is this a thing? Am I a bit grubby for not giving it a second thought? I wouldn’t lie on the bed wearing my shoes but other than that don’t give it a second thought.

Sitting in not on top of the bed

I change into PJ'S as soon as I get in - but I do sit on the bed to take my shoes off

My day to day hygiene rules are essentially very strict around food. It's only ever eaten from plates / other crockery. Only ever cut on a board / plate. Hands are washed before eating and when handling food during cooking. I'm amazed by some people who appear to have immaculate houses yet don't wash their hands after handling raw meat.

I'm trying to think of any circumstances when I'd be sitting or lying on the bed in my clothes, so no. Once I'm dressed for the day I'm dressed, that's it. I don't have 'indoor clothes' or even pj's. I rarely have reason to go into the bedroom until after I've had a bath to go to bed. DH, and DCs the same.

Yuk - never do it - I do have OCD however & always change before sitting anywhere at home

@AntiHop, guess you must hate even the thought of camping then!

Yes, I guess camping isn't ideal for those nervous about contamination from the outdoors!

I wouldn't and hope you respect your DDs views and don't sit on her bed in outdoor clothes.

@niceandsimple

I never think about it. But, now that I am, I think that those who obsess to that level will not have very strong immune systems. The question is, is it because they clean too much. Or, because of a weakened immune system, they have to clean more...

Agree with this. Honestly, I think taking off outdoor clothes to sit on a bed is pretty batshit. Irrational, for one thing, as you're just as likely to pick up microbes indoors as outside. You're not doing your immune system any favours living like this as you're probably over-cleaning stuff. And obsessing about stuff you can't control is not great for your mental health.

I actually struggle to see how people can get through life worrying about stuff like this.

Of course, for those of us who have pets that go outdoors, it would be a bit pointless being too precious about ourselves bringing outdoor contamination in. My cat comes in and then goes and sleeps on my bed, so it wouldn't help much if I changed clothes before sitting on it (the bed, not the cat ). And I usually take my shoes off in the porch, but my dog doesn't!

And of course having pets, and not being too clean, are now known to be beneficial to the gut biome and the immune system.

I do wonder how it is that some of the 'bags only on floor, no outdoor clothes on the bed, ever' come to have children. Actual unprotected sex, ewwww.

Yep, the rule in this house is no outdoor clothes on the bed. The pets have free reign though

@lazylinguist and @grasstreeleaf
It's not about outside clothes. It's about public transport clothes. If I had a car (which I don't) and I'd been outside in the countryside, I wouldn't keep my clothes away from the bed due to concerns about them being dirty. I would definitely keep them away from my bed in hayfever season though.

As it happens, I hate camping, but nothing to do with this issue. I refuse to go camping as I don't want to spend my annual leave sleeping on the floor and sharing toilets with strangers.

Gosh, completely bonkers 😳

[quote AntiHop]**@lazylinguist* and @grasstreeleaf*
It's not about outside clothes. It's about public transport clothes. If I had a car (which I don't) and I'd been outside in the countryside, I wouldn't keep my clothes away from the bed due to concerns about them being dirty. I would definitely keep them away from my bed in hayfever season though.

As it happens, I hate camping, but nothing to do with this issue. I refuse to go camping as I don't want to spend my annual leave sleeping on the floor and sharing toilets with strangers.[/quote]
This is exactly the same for me, it’s not really the ‘being outside’ bit - it’s the public transport.

I take the tube and it is filthy. The seats are literally grey with dirt. I remember seeing vomit all over the seats one time - I just don’t want those germs on or in my bed.

When I visit my DM in the countryside, I am far more relaxed about this sort of thing!

I had no idea this was a thing people thought about until I saw a thread on here. Couldn't care. And my dog sleeps on the bed occasionally.

I roll my eyes at people like this.
I mean seriously, get a grip.

DDog has been sleeping on our bed on and off all day today...

My bedsheets go outdoors, when I dry them. Would seem a bit ridiculous not sitting on the bed in a jumper I’d worn on a train just in case it somehow… what? Tracked Outside Germs in on its fibres?

I wouldn't give this a single thought. It's nuts.

Our immune systems need challenging in order to work properly. Doctors are already saying that the last year of obsessive handwashing and sanitising is likely to lead to us all catching far more bugs when the pandemic is over. This will be due to the fact that our immune systems won't have been challenged by enough viruses and bacteria, so won't be in the best condition to fight off anything.

there are literally millions of faeces droplets on your handbag

Surely that's only if you put your bag on the floor of public toilets? Otherwise how does it get there?!

@adrianmolesmole

there are literally millions of faeces droplets on your handbag

Surely that's only if you put your bag on the floor of public toilets? Otherwise how does it get there?!

Doesn’t have to be a toilet floor - it’s carried from peoples shoes from bathrooms to elsewhere.

Of course you need germs to build your immune system, we need them to live! What’s clear is that people don’t seem to realise that there are some germs and illnesses you can get over and over again. Eg. Norovirus - you can get this again as soon as you’re better, it doesn’t matter that you’ve “had the germs to build your immune system”.

It’s not the germs that are the issue it’s pathogens they could carry. It’s not about being a clean freak or cleaning absolutely everything obsessively but targeted hygiene.

For those with OCD that’s a separate issue and can be very debilitating - so those people saying people are “nuts” and “bonkers” it’s probably quite hurtful to those with OCD as it’s a mental health condition so would be more careful with your words if ever chatting about this with someone as you may not be aware!

@Disneyblue

I roll my eyes at people like this. I mean seriously, get a grip.

Agree. And I'd be quite careful about trying not to pass this sort of neurosis onto your kids as well. Really not healthy.

It's not about outside clothes. It's about public transport clothes

Ok. Fair enough I guess. I never use public transport. Although when I used to years ago I certainly didn't feel the need to change or shower when I got home or think about where I put my bag.

What’s clear is that people don’t seem to realise that there are some germs and illnesses you can get over and over again. Eg. Norovirus - you can get this again as soon as you’re better, it doesn’t matter that you’ve “had the germs to build your immune system”.

I'm certainly aware of that. But in the context of this thread, is there any suggestion that there is any evidence at all that the people who are super-vigilant about bringing outdoor germs in etc, or who keep an extremely clean house, are actually ill less often? With things like norovirus or otherwise? I somehow doubt it. My family get colds etc like everyone else (not this last year though!), but none of us have had stomach bug type things, d&v etc for literally years and years.