Why do none of my in-laws wash their hands

[mintandcoral]

Need a rant to be honest. Actually sick of their lack of hygiene.

They’ve only arrived today and it’s making my skin crawl. I’ve gone to bed for an early night and I’ve just heard my fil going to the toilet, not flush or wash his hands. A few minutes later, mil comes up. She flushes at least but also, very definitely, does not wash her hands! The toilet is a small toilet along our upstairs landing (separate from a bathroom) and you can hear the tap being turned on very clearly.

We had chicken wraps for dinner, all putting their fingers in the sodding salad. Fil currently has a cold.

Debating whether to say something to my husband but there’s a huge backstory whereby he feels like I’m constantly criticising them, so probably best to keep my mouth shut. I might just passive aggressively repeatedly remind the kids to wash their hands tomorrow.

But you’ve contaminated half your house by that point. Why bother washing your hands before eating if there’s faecal matter all over your plates and cutlery?

I HOPE it's the majority's basic hygiene ! I am all for your idea about different islands for the handwashing/non handwashing people. I just don't get it. I mean it's something you don't even think about- I couldn't NOT wash my hands after going to the bathroom or eating or before food prep. My DH uncle still calls me hygiene police because I insisted on everyone washing their hands before touching my baby 15 years ago..

Wow I love these threads as such an eye opener. Normally I am on the side of ‘people on MN are crazy uptight about hygiene’ because I don’t wash my bedsheets or towels as frequently as many. But handwashing is another story. I can’t understand why you wouldn’t do it at night, I wipe/dry my bum when I’ve had a wee! Can’t imagine ever not washing hands that have touched anything bummy. And I had no idea that so many people wouldn’t wash hands at home.

I just lost my appetite 🤢 I'm never visiting anyone before inquiring about their hygiene 🤣

In a public loo sometimes the basins themselves are blocked, gross health hazard with a broken, filthy, runner towel.

Unfortunately, you didn't dream it. She didn't say whether she washed her hands afterwards, but probably not.

I don’t wash my hands routinely before making a cup of tea or getting a drink out of the fridge, it would depend on what I had been doing before.
If you say that you routinely wash your hands before doing anything in the kitchen then you are indeed washing your hands a lot and washing them a few extra times after a ‘quick’ pee is hardly going to make a difference to the condition of your hands

I reckon they have one of these… when mn approve the picture lol

I’m someone who is quite obsessive with hand hygiene and frequently use hand sanitizer when out and about and unable to wash. I am also someone who has to use the toilet frequently at night and it is so embarrassing in another’s home. For this reason I can understand why they wouldn’t flush the loo, or run a hot tap. It’s perfectly hygienic to wash in cold water though as long as you use soap, it’s the soap that cleans a the water just rinses it away. A cold tap can normally be run quietly if you only turn it on slightly. TBH if I was your relative and I thought you were lying in bed counting my bathroom visits each night, I would probably stay in a hotel.

🤣🤣

I didn't say that i was replying to you saying getting a biscuit out a biscuit tin

I don't wash my hands in public toilets - there is absolutely NOTHING in there that I will touch with bare hands. The ridiculous way they are designed means that almost always you have to PULL several doors open to get out, so what's the point of doing that with newly washed hands? If they have no pull doorhandles then I might wash, provided there are paper towels. Hand driers are another disgusting invention (google it). So I use toilet paper (or my own stash of tissues) to close cubicle door, to put lid down, to flush, another wodge to open cubicle door, then same to get out of the sodding doors I have to pull open. Then I have to chuck the used paper/tissues on the floor if there is no bin nearby. Not ideal but until the morons who commission and design these things can do it properly, I'll carry on. Back in the car or outside I use a wet wipe and/or antibac gel on my hands (always in my bag).

So would you be happy after your quick wee to help yourself to a drink out the fridge, turn the kettle on, select fruit from the fruit bowl, you get the gist?

Public toilets - wash hands, leave tap running , dry hands. If paper towels, use the towel to switch off tap and open door. If air dryer, then use your sleeve or the bottom of your jacket over your hand.

But this isn't how germs work how long do you think germs survive on surfaces. I also clean my home daily. The fact that we never get ill says it all to me. I bet I've already washed my hands more then you have today. Including 2 lots of dishes

No as fruit would be eating how are you not understanding this

A drink from the fridge? Emptying the dishwasher and putting away the lovely clean plates?

My in laws are the same, they also only brush their teeth at the most once a day and they share the same toothbrush. They drink a lot too so their teeth are terrible.

@FlyingApple share a toothbrush ??? that is truly horrific

So if you’re repeatedly washing your hands throughout the day why do you stubbornly refuse after you’ve used the toilet? It’s nonsensical.

C.Diff survives for months on hard surfaces. Colds/flu will be a day or two.

@youalright if you can put your hands in the dish washing water then it isn’t hot enough I would say

ETA to clean dishes thoroughly I mean and washing up water shouldn’t really be used for a dual purpose

Apparently it’s unnecessary

Yes but don't worry, I don't think it gets much use by either of them!

What are you talking about

I couldn't even tell you the last time I've even had a cold i don't think ive ever had flu maybe once in my life. I don't think ive had a sickness bug since being a child. I've only ever thrown up as an adult from alcohol or pregnancy.