To expect guests to wash their hands on arrival?

[SillyFillyDress]

Am I being unreasonable in thinking people should wash their hands when coming from outside to your house?
Would you ask kids who come to yours for a playdate to wash their hands?
Would you ask adults?

Yeah. that's OTT.

Shoes off, fine. Washing hands before entering? nah.

Ha ha, we were told to do this absolutely not so long ago, it helps prevent viral infection. Hmmm, a lot of friends and family are currently bunged up with some kind of lurgy Atm, maybe because it's gone back to being weird to ask folks to do this as routine lol.

That sounds unhinged.

This is weird. Also a bit surprised by how many PP wash hands after public transport. There are germs in the world - it’s not healthy to live in a sterile bubble.

I’d do this if asked, but I wouldn’t want to come back to visit again!

No. And whether they expressed it or not, I think a lot of people would be offended and think you were very, very strange (and possibly ill) to make such a request. Unless there is some backstory about you or a family member being immunocompromised.

The braver amongst your visitors might even turn on their heels (that's if you let them keep their shoes on in your home).

That is a very odd and OTT request, I thought you were going to say you had a newborn and wanted people to wash hands before handling her. I am 57 and have never, even as a child, been asked to wash my hands before coming into a house. Is this a hangover from Covid?

No, it would never occur to me. Adults can be left in charge of their own hygiene.

I'd be pretty insulted to be asked to wash my hands on arrival at someone's house tbh.

Unless you have a significantly immunosuppressed person in your household - maybe having chemo or something - yes, it would be weird and rude to ask people to wash their hands when they came into your house.

Germ phobia, OP?

I actually do wash my own hands whenever I get home. I've never thought to expect it of others.

Frequent handwashing and sanitising of hands, yes. Asking people to wash their hands specifically when they cross your threshold, no. What next? Standing over them making sure they wash long enough in hot enough water? Making sure they use a nail brush? Lining them up for inspection afterwards?

Nope

My DH and his family do this and I find it weird. I remember once I came back from work and my MIL had my baby and wouldn't let me hold her until I washed my hands.
I understand why people do it, but I think it's a bit odd to expect everyone to do the same.

I'd never expect it of guests unless they were about to help me bake or something. If I had a newborn who they were coming to visit I'd hope they'd wash their hands.

I do it myself whenever I come home. I sometimes ask friends if I can at their house or will nip to the loo in a coffee shop etc to wash my hands before eating or specifically if they have a baby who I'm likely to hold at some point. I am meticulous with hygiene though and tend to overthink things.

I've voted YABU. Simply because, although it's good hygiene, it's not a common social convention.

If visiting someone immunocompromised or before handling a new born baby, then it would be reasonable to ask but a normal visit, no, it would imply you think the visitor is dirty.

I remember a primary school friend's mum asking me to do this when I went round for tea (as we called it then, it's a playdate these days!). I was amazed but complied; clearly it was normal for her own children who didn't need to be told.
I do wash hands before touching a very young baby and I insisted on my toddler son washing hands on arriving home until his baby sister was 3ish months old. But now, nah, it's all good immunity building. I wouldn't ask my children to wash hands before eating unless they're visibly dirty either.

Crazy.

I’ve seen people on the bus cough up phlegm into their hand, inspect it, then wipe it on the handrail. Or reach into their trousers to scratch their backside and then press the bell. After that, taking 30 seconds to wash my hands if I’ve been on public transport just seems a small effort!

Too controlling to demand it, but I agree with you. We spent two years in lockdown, I get some filth is good but I consider it basic hygiene to wash my hands after touching all sorts. Just logical for me.

Only if they were visibly dirty. And then I would hope I wouldn't need to ask. That's really weird.
I usually wash my own hands when I get home, but wouldn't demand it of others.

If anyone asked me to do this, then (unless they were immunocompromised or something) I'd assume they were struggling with severe anxiety or full-on OCD (in the medical sense, not the "I'm a bit fussy" way people often use it).

Are you okay OP?

YABU. Only time I requested it was with premature DC2 in the early weeks.

I rarely wash my hands just for the sake of it. I do pee a lot though and always wash carefully with soap after so I guess that's enough. I tell my kids to wash hands before dinner if they have been playing outside. One spends a lot of time up a tree or in a ditch so I think that's fair.

No!

Same as this

Yes you are being very weird. Back in the day I'd probably have asked young children on play dates to wash their hand before dinner, but that's it.

you forgot conducting the singing of happy birthday.