Another bathroom handwashing question

[claudia]

I have never thought about it and I could care about it less.....how I made it past 50 only God knows.....

 

[laurie31]

Now, I do wash my hands after going, but,

You know, it really doesn't matter unless you're going to also strip down and wash your clothes every time you finish using the bathroom. You touch your clothes after you go so you can pull up your pants and pull down your shirt, right? Those germs are now on your clothes.

Think about it.

But if your eye itches, you aren't going to rub it by bending over and scratching it on your clothes, and if you're going to eat your lunch, you aren't going to rub it on your clothes prior to ingesting it. Germs can't hurt us unless we get them inside us, and it's our hands that help them get in.

 

[MariDisney]

I am allerigic to many bathroom soaps etc. I clean my hands with purell or that type cleaner. I will NEVER NOT clean my hands. Though many people may think so becuase they don't see me use the soap in whatever facility.

Same here, I will use Purell while still in the stall AND after touching the door to leave. Some say that door is germier than anything else because of the peoplpe that don't wash. My hands might be cleaner than most of those who wash with soap and then open the door. I almost never see anyone open the door with a towel.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

But if your eye itches, you aren't going to rub it by bending over and scratching it on your clothes, and if you're going to eat your lunch, you aren't going to rub it on your clothes prior to ingesting it. Germs can't hurt us unless we get them inside us, and it's our hands that help them get in.

So you never touch your clothes again before the next time you use the bathroom? If it's on your clothes, it can get on your hands as well.

 

[dismom2]

do those of you who wash your hands in a public restroom rewash them after putting your hand on the door handle to exit or the entrance handle to close it? or get your paper towel from the dispenser before you've washed your hands? if you don't then you've re-exposed your hands to germs which is why some of us choose to exit the washroom using a paper towel or a peice of tissue to open the door, and then use hand sanitizer outside.

It's the people not washing their hands before touching the door handle that are putting the nasty germs on it. If you don't want to use the soap in the bathroom, you should at least use antibacterial gel on your hands before you exit, then again afterward; or use a paper towel on the door handle before you exit. If everyone washed up well, there wouldn't be all those nasty germs on the door to begin with.

As for the OP's question: if it was a co-worker or friend, I would say something to them, and yes, I would avoid touching what they touch if I knew they weren't washing up properly after using the bathroom.

 

[teacups]

I have one thing that is stuck in my head that prevents me from being ok with JUST using Purell... if you happen to get someone's poop on your hand and you use Purell, then you fiddle with your mouth for whatever reason... you just got clean poop in your mouth. I mean, that is just the nastiest thought! Why do I think of things like that?? So, for me personally the best (only!) plan is: soap and water. paper towel to open door. Purell after exiting. My kids are those kind that have to use every single public bathroom they see!

 

[ols386]

do those of you who wash your hands in a public restroom rewash them after putting your hand on the door handle to exit or the entrance handle to close it? or get your paper towel from the dispenser before you've washed your hands? if you don't then you've re-exposed your hands to germs which is why some of us choose to exit the washroom using a paper towel or a peice of tissue to open the door, and then use hand sanitizer outside.

That's funny that you mention this....when I wash my hands in a public restroom, I open the door to the restroom, to exit, with a paper towel. I wash my hands ANY time after I've handled money (or at least as soon as I can after I've handled the money), and when I'm at a very public place, like WDW, I wash my hands frequently.

 

[RN4Babies]

I reuse that paper towel that I've already grabbed to open the door - darn well better be a trash can by the door too so I can toss it immediately. It's best if the door swings out so I can just push with an elbow or foot, but I use a paper towel or something else if I have to touch the handle. I wouldn't have to go to such extreme measures if I hadn't seen SO many women walk straight out the door. EEEEWWWWW!!!! Plus, using just hand sanitizer just kills the germs - it does not clean off whatever was there, so I always think handwashing is best.

 

[Youarehere]

Now, I do wash my hands after going, but,

You know, it really doesn't matter unless you're going to also strip down and wash your clothes every time you finish using the bathroom. You touch your clothes after you go so you can pull up your pants and pull down your shirt, right? Those germs are now on your clothes.

Think about it.

I have never thought about it and I could care about it less.....how I made it past 50 only God knows.....

I'm with you two. I think people are crazy over germs.

I workied in food service for a while- I have watched many videos on handwashing. I have never seen someone in a public restroom wash their hands long enough, while scrubbing vigorously up past their wrists in hot water, to have it even count as handwashing. Never. I just laugh at the germophobes- who do you think you are kidding with that 20 second rinse in luke warm water.

 

[laurie31]

So you never touch your clothes again before the next time you use the bathroom? If it's on your clothes, it can get on your hands as well.

And this brings us back to the "why we wash up before we eat" thing

Although I'm more concerned about what's on my shared keyboard than what's on my clothes. Actually, I really don't normally touch my clothes during the day in the places where I touch them when I use the restroom. (and wow - add this to the "stuff I'd never thought about before" catagory! )

 

[Jennasis]

I remember watching a thing on 20/20 once where they did a swab of assorted bathroom surfaces in a family home (a typical CLEAN home) and found that one of the dirtiest surfaces was the toothbrushes. Apparently there was microscopic feca matter on them and every surface. When you flush, it sprays everywhere microscopically.

Simmer on THAT for a while.

 

[look1angel]

I had a female friend walk out without washing her hands while at a resturant & I thought I was gonna die! While we were in a group of people I told them about the time when I was dating my husband he came out of the bathroom & I asked him What color was the soap & could I feel his hands

I use to do this with my daycare kids when ever it was time to eat they had to go wash up & I caught one kid trying to tell me he washed & when I felt his dry hands I made him go back & wash & yes I then washed mine.

Do you ever wonder because some women may think "Well, I didn't really touch myself the tissue did" that maybe that's why some choose to skip it....oh how gross. I still go through my house wiping down door knobs, banisters where ever people/kids touch.

I had a song for my kids to sing while washing

Wash, Wash Wash your hands
each & everyday
rub n scrub, scrub n rub
germs go down the drain

all to the tune of Row row row yoyr boat

 

[claudia]

I remember watching a thing on 20/20 once where they did a swab of assorted bathroom surfaces in a family home (a typical CLEAN home) and found that one of the dirtiest surfaces was the toothbrushes. Apparently there was microscopic feca matter on them and every surface. When you flush, it sprays everywhere microscopically.

Simmer on THAT for a while.

also, unless you are using a finger nail brush and wash for a minimum of 15-20 seconds each time you wash all those little germie buddies are still on you.