To my colleagues (and others) that don’t wash their hands in the bathroom….

[Anonymous]

.....I think of you as a dirty person. I am sure others do, too. Do you realize that? I know there are plenty of folks who wash their hands but might be considered dirty for other reasons….but……they don’t make it obviously apparent whereas you do.

So gross. Don’t be offended that I decline eating the homemade treats you bring in and offer everyone.

I know there have been lengthy threads on this before, but it needs to keep being said.

[Anonymous]

Couldn't agree more. I truly think of the non-hand washers (or the "a two second rinse is washing" ones, too) as disgusting. Trust me, if you went into a bathroom stall for ANY reason, you should be washing your hands afterward - even if you just went in there to tuck in your blouse. You did touch the door lock, right? Do you assume no one else has touched that door lock after having wiped away their feces?

A couple of days ago I heard a woman using the toilet in the stall next to me. She then came out, grabbed her purse, and proceeded to apply make up. All I could think was "oh my god, disgusting!" Not sure if she washed her hands after that. But gross - why not just rub your face on the toilet seat?

[Anonymous]

I still remember the last big debate thread on hand washing, and it upset me so much (that grown adults think it's okay not to wash their hands after using a public bathroom) that I will post now and hopefully avoid this thread from here on out!

As a public health professional, hand washing is just one of those no-brainer things everyone should be doing. You should do it throughout the day if reasonably possible, and going to the bathroom is a great excuse - hey, here I am with water, soap, and something to dry my hands with, might as well wash!

Beyond that, it is just a big social norm thing. I would be horrified if I saw a colleague not wash their hands. People will judge you. I know not everyone cares about that, but most people actually do.

[Anonymous]

And please - do me a favor (guys, this is mostly a man offense) and DON'T bring that client file into the bathroom with you to review while you sit on the toilet. I am beyond disgusted and really hate taking anything from your office, not knowing whether it's been party to your pooping.

[Anonymous]

What if you prefer to use hand sanitizer. I hate touching the dirty faucets, paper towel dispensers, etc. in a bathroom. I would much rather use the hand sanitizer I carry with me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you prefer to use hand sanitizer. I hate touching the dirty faucets, paper towel dispensers, etc. in a bathroom. I would much rather use the hand sanitizer I carry with me.

I suppose most of the time it's OK, but what if there's some, um, debris on your hands? Sanitizer doesn't get it off, just kills the germs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What if you prefer to use hand sanitizer. I hate touching the dirty faucets, paper towel dispensers, etc. in a bathroom. I would much rather use the hand sanitizer I carry with me.

Go with the belt and suspenders approach!

Turn water on. Soap up your hands. Reach for paper towel while water is still running. Dry hands, use paper towel to turn off faucet and open door. Dispose of paper towel. You have clean hands. If the paper towel dispenser is hand crank, use your elbow to push crank lever, or get yourself some paper towel ready before you begin washing.

Feeling extra vigilant? Use your hand sanitizer after washing.

[Anonymous]

I never wash my hands unless other people are around!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What if you prefer to use hand sanitizer. I hate touching the dirty faucets, paper towel dispensers, etc. in a bathroom. I would much rather use the hand sanitizer I carry with me.

I suppose most of the time it's OK, but what if there's some, um, debris on your hands? Sanitizer doesn't get it off, just kills the germs.

Wouldn't you know if there's some debris on your hands??

[Anonymous]

The toilet is probably the most sanitary thing you come in contact with during your work day. At least it gets sanitized on a regular basis. And since I don't piss or shit on my hands when I use the bathroom, I really don't see the point in washing my hands, only to touch a plethora of public surfaces as I'm leaving the bathroom and going about my day. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:... what if there's some, um, debris on your hands?

If there's debris on your hands, you're doing something wrong in that stall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The toilet is probably the most sanitary thing you come in contact with during your work day. At least it gets sanitized on a regular basis. And since I don't piss or shit on my hands when I use the bathroom, I really don't see the point in washing my hands, only to touch a plethora of public surfaces as I'm leaving the bathroom and going about my day. To each his own.

Then I assume you are washing your hands before you use the bathroom, right?

Or do you just not wash your hands.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The toilet is probably the most sanitary thing you come in contact with during your work day. At least it gets sanitized on a regular basis. And since I don't piss or shit on my hands when I use the bathroom, I really don't see the point in washing my hands, only to touch a plethora of public surfaces as I'm leaving the bathroom and going about my day. To each his own.

Yeah, but you are still touching the lock on the door, which the person before you might have opened after they got she own poop on her hands. So you need to trust the person who used the stall before you. Just sayin'.

[Anonymous]

PP here- sorry, I can't type today... "after she got her own poop on her hands"... I can't even believe I am typing that sentence...

[Anonymous]

I use sanitizer when I get back to my desk. The faucets and doors are filthy.