Do you wash your hands after you use the restroom?

[Anonymous]

I've noticed that maybe 15% of my co-workers do not wash their hand after they pee. I understand urine is sterile and all but I think that's a little gross. So, do you? If you don't, why not?

[Anonymous]

Of course. Where the hell do you work? I'd say 98% of my female coworkers wash. It's a very rare occurance to have someone not wash their hands.

[Anonymous]

Uh, yes. An old boss didn't and everyone knew - was an office joke.

[Anonymous]

Yes. My boss doesn't. And he takes work documents in with him.

[Anonymous]

Of course. And our bathrooms even have hand sanitizer, so if people don't feel like washing, they can at least sanitize (I don't think that's good enough, or a good idea, but whatever). Still, I know there are people in my office and in the office that shares our bathroom who don't wash their hands, after #1 or #2 (and yes, it's really easy to tell). What always shocks me is that someone will walk out of a stall while I'm at the sink washing my hands, and they will just walk right past me out the door. How do they not think this is gross? and why not just at least do a quick rinse so you don't look like completely disgusting?

[Anonymous]

Uh, yes. I think that's on the executive summary of Life 101.

[Anonymous]

OP here, though no one has owned up to being a serial non-handwasher yet, what do you think of the defence that urine is sterile?

[Anonymous]

OP again, my office is large. At least 50 people on my floor and we have 6-7 floors. I can only see their shoes and pants while I'm in the stall so I can't pin point who is the non-handwasher! Arrgh.

[Anonymous]

I emphatically do not wash my hands when I (female) pee while in my own home. Ever. Poop, yes.

While out of the house and I think someone will be observing me, I rinse my hands after peeing. If I am the only person in the restroom, then I don't.

I post on these kinds of threads all the time (another is, how often do your kids bathe? how often do your kids wash hands? do you use sanitzer?) So I'll say here, again -- I am never, ever, ever sick. Neither are my kids, although one gets upper respiratory something 1x a year, transmitted by friends sneezing I bet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, though no one has owned up to being a serial non-handwasher yet, what do you think of the defence that urine is sterile?

I think it's dumb. Mostly because it is clear of the sanitary reasons why we should wash after the bathroom. But what I think is equally important is that hands should be washed throughout the day to get rid of germs from doorknobs, handshakes, sneezes... etc. It is simplest to just do this when you go to the bathroom. Otherwise your hands likely do not get cleaned throughout the day.

[Anonymous]

I generally do not wash after peeing when I'm at home. I always wash after pooping, no matter where I am.

I definitely wash in public restrooms, b/c, well, people would judge me.

My office has private bathrooms (old converted townhouse). Most of the time I rinse my hands when I'm at work. I do keep hand sanitizer on my desk and use that sporadically - particularly when there are a lot of germs going around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, though no one has owned up to being a serial non-handwasher yet, what do you think of the defence that urine is sterile?

Urine is sterile INSIDE the body. It can pick up lots of bacteria upon its exit. Are these people under the impression that urine remains sterile in perpetuity?

[Anonymous]

I often don't wash my hands. Definitely not in my own home. I was never grossed out by this until more recently, which is when I began washing them about 30% of the time - when I really feel they need it. My mom never washed her hands, and didn't really care if we did. If someone else is in the bathroom, even just in a stall and can't see me, I'll at least run the water and do a rinse/act like I wash. I realize most people think it's gross - I'm just not that concerned with germs. I'm very healthy and have a great immune system! FWIW, I teach my daughter to wash her hands when we go to the bathroom anywhere outside of our home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I often don't wash my hands. Definitely not in my own home. I was never grossed out by this until more recently, which is when I began washing them about 30% of the time - when I really feel they need it. My mom never washed her hands, and didn't really care if we did. If someone else is in the bathroom, even just in a stall and can't see me, I'll at least run the water and do a rinse/act like I wash. I realize most people think it's gross - I'm just not that concerned with germs. I'm very healthy and have a great immune system! FWIW, I teach my daughter to wash her hands when we go to the bathroom anywhere outside of our home.

I hope I don't work with or near people of this mindset. You put other people's health at risk with shared objects and surfaces. Of course germs are everywhere, but there are things we can do to limit them.

[Anonymous]

I wash my hands 100% of the time after using the bathroom, regardless of where I am.