To expect my son to wash his hands when he gets in?

[Whyareyousoannoying]

Ds 16yo has been at work or college, come home on public transport.

Aibu to expect him to wash his hands upon arriving home before he starts touching everything especially the fridge, food, cups etc. he will walk straight in and start going in the fridge making a drink not washing his hands.

When I ask him he shouts at me and calls me a germ phobe.

Everyone else in the house manages to wash their hands when they get in.

Well this is different, I can see why you would take extra precautions under these circumstances.

I'm surprised so many people don't do this. I was always brought up to wash hands after the toilet, before prepping food, and when getting home.

No I don't bathe my hands in dettol 🙄 there is no need to be snippy.

Everyone else in the house just washes their hands automatically.

My logic is if you've been on public transport or in school or ds has a job in a grubby place, you're going to be spreading germs if you come in and start going straight in all the kitchen cupboards and fridge.

I'll take on board some people think it's ott but don't think I can change the habit of a lifetime.

I wash my hands because they don't feel clean when I've been out. I don't worry about what anyone else does.

Same, it's nothing to do with the pandemic it's just something I've always done.

At least someone is on my wavelength.

Nope, wouldn't occur to us. But then, I'm a believer in germ exposure being a good thing. My kidd are rarely, if ever sick. We've had one sick bug since they've been born and they're teens now.

Wash after the loo and before cooking, or if especially grubby seems reasonable.

Yes we all do. Call me a germaphobe if you like, i like being clean!

Yes, I do. However, that's not really the question is it? For a simple request, which will take him 1 minute, he shouldn't be shouting at you. I'm assuming that when he's at college/work, he doesn't shout at people who make simple requests of him?

Yanbu. We all do in this house. Better to spend 30 seconds hand washing than spread something nasty around the house. I simply don't have time for anyone to be ill.

I wash my hands when I get in from work because grim London transport.

I totally agree! Came to it after spending hours on buses seeing men pick their noses or scratch their nuts and having to share handrails with them. Ughhhhhh. It’s not even about getting sick (or not), it’s just so, so gross!

I wouldn't wash hands on entering the house.
I would wash them before grabbing food (raw or ready to eat).

We wash hands when we come in from anywhere. My kids wash their hands after school. It's good practice and instills good habits. My son is in reception and has fabulous hand hygiene and has avoided all the vomiting bugs that have gone round his class. It takes minutes and could save you from a not very nice virus. It's a no brainer to me.

That's what I think.

Honestly the amount of people I see at work walk out of the toilet without handwashing, picking their noses and all sorts of other disgusting things.

Nobody is my house has ever done this. Never been a sick bug in my house. Maybe 2 colds / viruses in about 10 years. That's it.

This is odd. Why would he wash his hands?

Me and my DD wash our hands when we get in. She usually has a snack and I start cooking so it just makes sense. I think it is a hangover from the pandemic. Friends I have from Europe always wash their hands before eating.

The only time I wash my hands when I come home is when I've been to my allotment.

@Whyareyousoannoying

My dr told me to do this years ago.

Even if your son doesn't want to it's your house and surely your rules apply. It's not asking a lot.

Totally with you OP. I was also brought up to do this, have always done so and would feel awkward not doing so.

Just get hand gel and put it by the door. Nice and easy for a tired commuting teenager. Solves both issues.

Nope,never crossed my mind . Always after the loo ,emptying bin ie obvious hazards.

We all wash out hands when come in & use hand gel in the car. I am not a germaphobe by any means, but stomach bugs of all kinds are passed on via contaminated surfaces and I absolutely don't trust that other people wash their hands after the loo properly (or at all)

Absolutely with you on this one op

I do wash my hands, when I come home from work, but then I work in a First school!!! Children are germ magnets!

I always wash my hands when I come in, it's automatic for me.

Of far more concern is the fact your 16 year old son thinks he can shout at you OP. No way would I tolerate that and he'd be sorry..

It was my son washing his hands when he came in that lead to DH and I
always doing it. Not germaphobes but when I see where some people’s hands go…🤑