Do You Wash your Hands After Using the Toilet?

Tropez

euronorris wrote: »

I always wash my hands after the toilet, or after taking the bins out (for example), but I don't go crazy with it. It should just be about damage limitation, rather than outright germ annilihation.

What I don't understand is that touchless liquid soap dispenser that came out recently. You wash your hands immediately after pumping out the soap, and you have no need to touch it again after that, so what germs are you actually eliminating there? None. Absolutely, completely, 100% pointless!

I think the point is that while you may not need to touch a button on a soap dispenser again after washing your hands, the next person who comes along to use it would do.

I think the ones that are sold for home use are meant for busy homes with one lav where in the morning mum, dad and however many offspring they have are all fighting for the lavatory at the same time which means germs on any buttons for soap dispensers haven't had chance to die yet.

meritaten

I used to work as a barmaid and one place I worked in had the mens room door right opposite the bar. one quiet evening the landlady and I did a straw poll on how many men came out still zipping up thier trousers! Obviously they wouldnt have washed thier hands! we were disgusted to find that nearly 70% did this!!!!!!!!!!!! That evening the landlady stopped putting dishes of salted nuts on the bar!!!!!!!!!!!!
oh and, nearly all the offenders were older 'gentlemen'!

euronorris

Tropez wrote: »

I think the point is that while you may not need to touch a button on a soap dispenser again after washing your hands, the next person who comes along to use it would do.

I think the ones that are sold for home use are meant for busy homes with one lav where in the morning mum, dad and however many offspring they have are all fighting for the lavatory at the same time which means germs on any buttons for soap dispensers haven't had chance to die yet.

But they'll also be washing their hands straight after touching it.....

Still pointless IMO.

tinktinktinkerbell

i have to be 100% honest and say that when im at home and if ive just had a wee i dont (unless im preparing food right after) , i do if ive had a number 2 though all the time

and i do if out no matter what but then i also use hand gel if out to avoid getting peoples cold and flu germs

and i always wash my hands as soon as i come in after being out

Peater

In the gents at work, there are 2 doors that require you to pull them open upon exit. No matter how much you wash your hands, you will get got by the handles!!! I try to operate them with my pinky or knuckles (digits i wouldn't use during eating etc), but you look like a complete loon.

I think it's best to not get too obsessed about germs unless you have an illness tbh. It would get sooooo tiring.

Tropez

euronorris wrote: »

But they'll also be washing their hands straight after touching it.....

Still pointless IMO.

True but it has to be said that most people don't know how to wash their hands properly so they're very unlikely to wash off all the germs that they may or may not pick up otherwise.

Heck, keeping in line with the OP, the number of people who I've seen throw their hands underwater for 5-10 seconds with a little bit of soap (or in some cases, none at all) who think that is washing their hands is very, very high.

It's like the line out of Pulp Fiction where Vincent says to Jules "You watched me wash my hands!" to which Jules retorts "I watched you get them wet!".

But of course, the general purpose is to extract a few more quid from the hygiene-conscious shopper than they would get over a regular soap dispenser but there's more of a purpose for them in public toilets.

For some people it would also be a keeping up appearances type of thing... My dad was always mucking about with cars and dirty tools for which mum would often chastise him about how mucky he made our soap or soap dispenser look. If something you do at home results in a lot of grime or dirt, then at least you get to keep your soap dispenser looking pristine.

euronorris

Some good points there. But, in response to the first point, I do think it's better that we aim to educate people into washing their own hands properly, rather than trying to take the responsibility away from them, or letting them think they are doing a good job. Not everyone would listen though, of course. Sigh.

peachyprice

Tropez wrote: »

I think the point is that while you may not need to touch a button on a soap dispenser again after washing your hands, the next person who comes along to use it would do.

I think the ones that are sold for home use are meant for busy homes with one lav where in the morning mum, dad and however many offspring they have are all fighting for the lavatory at the same time which means germs on any buttons for soap dispensers haven't had chance to die yet.

That still doesn't make any sense.

The only reason the next person would have to touch the soap dispenser is to wash their hands and therefore wash off the germs that may be on the soap dispenser from the previous person.

It's nothing but a gimmick aimed at the paranoid.

Lotus-eater

euronorris wrote: »

Some good points there. But, in response to the first point, I do think it's better that we aim to educate people into washing their own hands properly, rather than trying to take the responsibility away from them, or letting them think they are doing a good job. Not everyone would listen though, of course. Sigh.

<fingersinears> I can't hear you! </fingersinears>

:rotfl:

Tropez

euronorris wrote: »

Some good points there. But, in response to the first point, I do think it's better that we aim to educate people into washing their own hands properly, rather than trying to take the responsibility away from them, or letting them think they are doing a good job. Not everyone would listen though, of course. Sigh.

That's right. They didn't listen during the swine flu outbreak, they're unlikely to listen now.

Many people who use public conveniences want to get out of there as quickly as possible, usually because such conveniences are disgusting. As a result, people don't wash their hands properly because doing so takes time that they don't wish to waste. Plus, with the number of companies now operating some sort of system for monitoring toilet breaks even in the workplace people may feel that they can't expend the time to wash their hands properly.

And of course, some people just don't care.

peachyprice wrote: »

That still doesn't make any sense.

The only reason the next person would have to touch the soap dispenser is to wash their hands and therefore wash off the germs that may be on the soap dispenser from the previous person.

It's nothing but a gimmick aimed at the paranoid.

Already answered that in another post but on the whole I'd say I agree with that sentiment, but there are a few practical uses I can think of.