to wash my hands every time I've been out?

[itsallsohard]

Since the pandemic, I have taken to washing my hands as soon as I come in the house from outside. Obviously perhaps if I've been on public buses, or gardening; but also if I've just been out in my own car, or to the grocery store. None of us in the family is especially prone to illness or to worrying, and before the pandemic (unless someone in the family was actually sick) we all just washed hands after using the toilet and before cooking or eating.

Is it really disgusting that I didn't do this before 2020? Or is it a bit OCD that I do it now? I genuinely can't decide. YABU = that's too much hand-washing. YANBU = sounds normal, we do too
(edited to try to get rid of some rogue strike-outs of whole lines...)

This is normal, I was brought up to do this.

No, I don't think that's odd. I was brought up to wash my hands when I come in too, although I've normally been on public transport or shopping (or putting out rubbisn and so on).

YANBU! I always wash my hands as soon as I get in. It's basic hygiene, as you've touched things that loads of other people have touched. This is how you pick up colds, bugs etc.

It's such an easy thing to do though, is a good habit to get into and you don't even have to make it a thing - just do it.

I was my hands when I get in too (especially if I've been shopping)!

I had exactly the same epiphany today. I always wash my hands now, can't really remember doing it regularly pre-pandemic

Only wash my hands after the toilet, or before cooking. Never get sick so just don't worry about it at all.

Yep we do it here too.

I always do it too. It just seems a good thing to clean off any dirt or germs.

I don’t think I always did it but I do now.

YANBU that is normal behaviour , I also always have hand sanitiser in my bag and car and use it a lot .

I do too, those sticky supermarkets trolley handles 🤢

Normal I’d say. I always wash my hands when I come in from doing stuff away from the house.

My children are well drilled: as soon as they come home from anywhere, they wash their hands. We all do. I’m less bothered about after I’ve been in my own garden (although probably still do - especially if I’m going to cook or eat) because I see nature dirt as clean whereas shopping trolleys are filthy from other people 🤢

I probably wash my hands more at work, than at home. Do wash hands after the toilet, cooking, gardening and picking up dog poop.

YANBU I've done the same since way before the pandemic
It just makes sense. I'm not saying this contributes to the fact I'm never ill, but it certainly doesn't hurt.

I don’t just wash my hands every time I get home now, I also wipe my phone with anti bac wipes. 🤣

Never ever have I washed my hands after being outside the house. I will wash them after gardening, after going to the loo, or before prepping food and that’s it!!

I'm astonished at the amount of people who treated basic hygiene as though it were a mere choice between ice cream flavours prior to the pandemic. "Well I never so much as washed my thermos after everyone on the bus had a sip of my tea and I'm still standing!!"

Absolutely normal in my culture.
We also bathe children daily/ clean clothes and I wouldn't dream of going to bed without a bath or a shower .
Cue endless children don't need a daily bath yada yada
Yes they do !
Sets thread on fire 😂

I wouldn't say it's in the realm of germ-phobic obsessive, but it's certainly not something it would occur to me to do. I wash my hands after going to the toilet and before and after cooking. I never get sick (except the odd cold). I haven't had any kind of vomiting sickness since my dc were little (they are 16 and 18).

It's not a 'bit OCD' I wish people wouldnt use a debilitating illness so freely.

It's good sense to wash your hands when you come in from outside (grocery shops are filthy), used the toilet, petted animals or prior to preparing food.

If you wash your hands so often they are cracked and chapped and it prevents you from carrying out everyday tasks then that's too much, simply avoiding the cross contamination of different areas is not, washing hands is such a simple measure that we can all take and it's a luxury we take for granted.

I didn't grow up doing it, but doctor DH always does this and I picked up the habit. My sister was really surprised that when I went to visit her and her new baby at their home that I went and washed my hands first! Just seemed common sense to me.

Totally normal IMO. But you would be amazed at some people's lack of hygiene. When the pandemic started I was amazed that handwash/soap disappeared from the shelves. Made me think that it wasn't something lots of people used frequently. I always have a couple spares in the cupboard

I wasn’t brought up to do this, but I started doing it as an adult way before the pandemic - especially after having DD as I was so often wrangling buggy/baby stuff on public transport when out! It makes sense though - when you’re out you’re touching all sorts of things from bus handles to money to supermarket touchscreens to car doors to petrol pumps and so on, I just like my hands to be clean when I’m at home. I’m not otherwise particularly anxious about handwashing.