Do You Wash Your Hands After Toilet?

moo on 13/01/2018 - 23:02
Last edited 16/01/2018 - 01:28 by 1 other user

Had this thought that came to mind which I'd like to test with the wider OzBargain audience.

Let's start with the following 2 questions:
1. After you've done your business in the toilet, do you wash your hands (e.g. with soap & water)?
2. Why do you wash your hands?

This is where it gets interesting:
The main question is
When you buckle, button, zip etc. straight after you've done your business, how are you avoiding the 'contamination' from your hands to your garments?

Do you even care? If you don't care, then why are you washing your hands in the first place? Is it because it is habit or the 'social norm'?

Keen to hear your thoughts on it, particular those who are obsessed or pedantic about cleanliness. Let's provoke some discussion!

Poll Options

  • 606
    Yes - I do care about hygiene and use soap
  • 82
    Yes - I do care about hygiene and DO NOT use soap
  • 6
    No - I do not care about hygiene
  • 15
    No - Because I do not see the need to
  • 10
    No - Using the taps etc makes my hands dirtier
  • 12
    No - Because I avoid touching anything in the toilet
Health & Beauty

Comments

  • goosegog on 14/01/2018 - 18:55
    +4

    ALWAYS ! It is so important. Also grab a paper towel to open the door on the way out & throw back in the bin which is normally located by the sink.
    Not everyone has good hygiene habits, unfortunately.

  • StingyBritches on 14/01/2018 - 19:09
    +1

    I worry when I'm at a food court and see blokes not washing their hands after No 1 or No 2's. Yuk. Is this the same person who is handling my food? I don't care how clean they think their dick is - bet they'd be upset if the tables were reversed…

  • LUTSlit on 14/01/2018 - 20:31
    -2

    I don't bother when at work. My old fella is fairly clean.

  • Neptunesblood on 14/01/2018 - 20:55
    +1

    Ozbargain has truly lost its way. This is pathetic.

  • cnmarine on 14/01/2018 - 20:58

    Only wash when I got accidental shit on my fingers (usually during diarrhoea and your finger poke through the paper due to the wetness).

  • AR-MEL on 14/01/2018 - 21:02
    +2

    Asian + my faith

    I/We use water+ tissue for washing after 1 as well as 2 where ever possible. I always use the left hand for cleaning and right hand for zipping up. Left hand + Paper towel if required. Just water to clean hand after 1 and with soap after two. Handle all the doorknobs with left as well. Remember we also wash hands before and after food even when using the fork as sometimes assistance may be required.

    related article - www.news.com.au

  • stingyashell on 14/01/2018 - 22:14
    +1

    this poll result is fake. From my experience working at 3 different firm, 80% wash and only 25% wash for longer than 5sec with soap.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/01/2018 - 22:34

    I've actually did a count on this at my workplace.

    I work in an office of 400 people and did a survey (questions and physically watching how many actually wash with soap).

    At the anonymous question "do you wash your hands with soap after using the toilet?" (yes/no) 93% of replies were yes.

    2 of my colleagues and I monitored the sinks and recorded the results. We found out that 3 out of 100 males were washing their hands with soap after using the toilet.

    No females sinks watched. First because we had no females that wanted to participate at this and second there are only a dozen in the office.

    • bobbified on 15/01/2018 - 00:01
      +1

      2 of my colleagues and I monitored the sinks and recorded the results.

      Don't you guys have jobs to do?

      • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 11:55

        Lunch break, 10 minutes a day for 2 weeks, 2 different locations.

        • bobbified on 15/01/2018 - 12:33

          That would be quite awkward!

          If I saw someone standing there when I went in to do a shit and they're still there when I'm done, I'd be thinking that you have a fetish for the smell of
          "roses".

          And if you were standing there with your hands in your pockets, I'd be thinking something else… :p

  • elgrande on 14/01/2018 - 22:34

    What about using phone on the loo.. i.e. tinkering

  • 00 on 14/01/2018 - 23:09
    -1

    Not at first.

    Then I handle a few packets of eneloops.

    Then I wash my hands.

    Using tongs and a bag, I return contaminated eneloops to the shop for a refund.

    Hide while watching unsuspecting OzB buy and handle the returned goods.

  • bobbified on 14/01/2018 - 23:36
    +1

    Serious question..

    How many people here have oral sex or vaginal/anal sex and do both (or all three) during one session interchangeably?

    You're directly introducing urine, faeces and other fluids into your mouth!

    Bacteria doesn't care whether you love each other or not! haha

    • Ayedeevee on 15/01/2018 - 09:30
      +1

      "You never go ass to mouth."

      • bobbified on 15/01/2018 - 10:51

        … that's what you think! haha

      • munecito on 17/01/2018 - 08:16

        Not even once?

        Would you grow up?

    • PleasureMe on 20/01/2018 - 21:00
      +1

      Exactly. Everyone has sex and does it, so I don't know why everyone is making a big deal about people not washing their hands

  • kyttiekat on 15/01/2018 - 01:38
    +2

    I always wash. Not quite for the recommended 60 seconds, though!

    Also, I'm a bit perturbed by how loosely 'OCD' is being thrown around, even becoming an adjective or verb. Perhaps we can all simply use the word 'obsessing/obsessed' in casual conversation, rather than the acronym OCD - unless we quite literally mean to refer to the serious mental health disorder?

    Probably a minor issue that I'm a bit sensitive about - Just an idea to consider!

    • Shiny Mew on 15/01/2018 - 07:27

      A frightening proportion of the population are morons. They will sling around terms like 'OCD' and 'autistic' for as long as they haven't learnt about any other adjectives.

      • Ozpit on 15/01/2018 - 10:19
        +2

        I'm obsessive, I'm compulsive and I'm disordered. OCD covers me to a T.

        • kyttiekat on 15/01/2018 - 13:50

          If you have a clinical diagnosis, and are hopefully in treatment for it, then sure!

          I was referring to people who use the term much more lightly.

      • kyttiekat on 15/01/2018 - 13:53

        Not sure if they're morons, but possibly just unaware of the clinical severity of those diseases…? Although my own family does it too. :/

        • moo on 15/01/2018 - 16:28
          +1

          Fair point kyttiekat.

    • schnoz bargain on 16/01/2018 - 09:10

      "I'm a bit perturbed by how loosely 'OCD' is being thrown around"

      Stop being so OCD about it.

      • kyttiekat on 17/01/2018 - 08:39

        Haaah… :)

  • shortgum on 15/01/2018 - 02:23
    +2

    Shouldn't even a poll. everyone go to toilet must wash their hand and with SOAP wherever possible!. anywhere you go, home, work or public. poll is total rubbish! change you disgusting habit if you not!!

    • PleasureMe on 20/01/2018 - 21:01

      get over it. I never wash my hands and I'm not going to start now just because you tell me that I "must"

  • Godric on 15/01/2018 - 07:09

    I see people from work exit their stalls then exit the rest room… Without washing their hands, and our door handles arent push doors so we have to turn the knob, so washing my hands basically does nothing in that scenario

    • dlakers3peat on 15/01/2018 - 18:13
      +1

      I always use a paper towel to open/close doors when i go to the toilet.

    • Herbse on 16/01/2018 - 14:10

      If you're using soap when you wash your hands, the soap removes the oils in your hands (which is why your hands feel dry after washing them). Without the oils, germs and bact don't have anything to stick onto you

  • Shiny Mew on 15/01/2018 - 07:25

    It's incredible that touchless bathroom facilities aren't legally mandated in 2018 (eg motion sensing taps and doors or zig-zag walkways to prevent prying eyes). Even so, you should wash your hands after touching your junk (but learn to wash your hands properly like those in the medical profession so that you can also hygienically use the waste-free air dryers).

    • joelmuzz on 15/01/2018 - 18:22

      A lot even have zigzag but still put double doors on there, which I think is pretty stupid in a loud public area, in an office is different because farts would escape.
      Makes people touch it and also makes the toilets a more secluded dingy place where more undesirable behavior can happen.

  • TransportPosters on 15/01/2018 - 09:14

    Whatever can be done to make an effort to minimise spread of bacteria, disease and bad hygiene is a good thing, even though poo and wee (and other stuff) from ourselves and others might still remain on our clothes, the taps, soap dispensers and door handles by the time we exit a public bathroom. At least we tried!

  • Ayedeevee on 15/01/2018 - 09:35
    +3

    I feel like people who don't wash their hands generally fall into two categories (often times both):
    1. They don't give a f**k.
    2. They are too stupid to understand the possible repercussions for others.
    You'd struggle to convince either even with a logical argument. Just like litterers, vandals, people who don't indicate, people who don't tie their trailer load down properly, etc. etc.

    At the end of the day, all you can do is be a responsible person yourself and try to teach your children not to be ignorant.

  • narcoleptic-haze on 15/01/2018 - 09:52

    There's definitely a couple of guys where I work who don't wash their hands AT ALL, no matter what they do in the toilet. They'll happily go straight from wiping their arse to making a cup of coffee or a sandwich in the break room without even a drop of water touching their hands…

  • sleepyowl on 15/01/2018 - 10:11
    +1

    Nothing worse than seeing some dude use the urinal then go straight for the door handle

  • John Kimble on 15/01/2018 - 10:13

    Someone coming out of a cubicle is arguably worse

  • ChatCPT on 15/01/2018 - 10:28

    How do you change a vote on the ozbargain poll? I dont use soap but i clicked the use soap option :'(

    • Herbse on 16/01/2018 - 14:11

      If you're not using soap, you might as well not bother. The soap gets rid of the oils where the bacteria latched onto

  • beccii87 on 15/01/2018 - 10:28

    This is crazy. Good hand hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the spread of infection. Better not tell the women in your life.

  • damnscenekids on 15/01/2018 - 11:15

    I always do when in public, unless I'm carrying a heap of bags with me. Then I just use my little hand sanitiser once I'm sat down somewhere. I'll always elbow the toilet door open instead of use the handle because that's more gross than touching the taps in my mind. At home I slack a bit because the bathrooms/toilets are regularly bleached.

  • OzzyOzbourne on 15/01/2018 - 11:42
    +2

    Yes, obviously garments are going to be potentially contaminated, but I don't usually touch other people or eat with the crotch of my pants.

    I often push the toilet door open with the back of my hand, or pull with my little finger to reduce recontamination.

  • spedohero on 15/01/2018 - 13:22

    I took a shower after every pee.

  • dust on 15/01/2018 - 13:30

    I usually just piss all over my hands and then blow dry them. Fresh urine is sterile right?

  • djmm on 15/01/2018 - 13:42

    So… if you shake hand hand with someone who just went to bathroom and not washing hand and you proceed to say eat hot chips, technically you're eating his dick?

    • moo on 15/01/2018 - 14:45

      Indirectly, there might be microscopic skin that you may have been in contact with. Depends on how pedantic you would want to be?

    • PleasureMe on 15/01/2018 - 22:07

      You say it like it's a bad thing. A lot of people like to eat dick

  • gelilloabad on 15/01/2018 - 13:44

    I never think of my belt as dirty until I realise I've never washed it and it is also the first thing I usually touch after wiping my ass.

  • tomwood on 15/01/2018 - 14:41

    I hate people who or when people don't wash their hands. I presume it'd mostly be guys. I wonder what could be done to make them…

  • jas168 on 15/01/2018 - 14:50

    This guy at my work place, using mobile while pissing, he is a genius. Lol..

  • Eeples on 15/01/2018 - 15:14
    +2

    I would suggest if you need to wash your hands after touching your penis you ought to wash your penis; not your hands.

    EDIT: preferably not at the basin.

    • outlander on 15/01/2018 - 15:42
      +1

      I know right? I work in a hotel kitchen and when I make a bread based dish I use my penis to stir the batter around, because at the end of the day at least I know its clean

      • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 16:25
        +1

        -and that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the battered sav was invented.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 15:24

    Seems like there are a lot of people not participating or are just lying. In my experience 25-50% of people don't wash their hands.

    • moo on 15/01/2018 - 16:40
      +1

      I’d imagine only a huge proportion of those who are pro washing hands would be the ones voting. However, as with any change, it will be a journey. This thread and the discussions would have raised an awareness of hygiene as well as the possible impacts. It starts with AWARENESS before the DESIRE to change… channeling my inner ADKAR framework 😬

  • decio60 on 15/01/2018 - 15:38

    lol really we should be washing our hands before going to the toilet all those disgusting germs on our hands from touching everything around us.

  • John Kimble on 15/01/2018 - 16:06

    I reckon the bus/train is likely to have more germs on it than most public toilets as they are at least cleaned regularly…

    • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 16:29
      -1

      I don't think it's a hygiene thing, it's an etiquette thing. Just like how you want someone to greet you when they arrive in the office, it's just plain etiquette to wash your hands after using a toilet. Might as well start farting and burping in the office if you don't think it's a problem.

  • SpotTheOzzie on 15/01/2018 - 16:58
    +1

    Once dumped a chick when I found out she doesn't wash her hands after taking a wiz. That's bushpig mentality.

    • [Deactivated] on 15/01/2018 - 17:38
      +1

      Did you tell her the real reason? If yes, how did she respond?

      • SpotTheOzzie on 16/01/2018 - 03:52
        +1

        I made it apparent and it was met with something along the lines of it not being a big deal.

        Here's the thing, anyone who doesn't wash their hands falls into either category, or both.

        • Does not look after themselves. 0 self respect.

        • Doesn't care about people around them.

        If you're still with someone like that you need to hold yourself to a better standard.

        • [Deactivated] on 16/01/2018 - 08:22

          I'd agree with you there.

  • imcold on 15/01/2018 - 18:39

    I wash my hand all the time, if it's not my tap, ie someone else water I tend to wash 2-3 times longer up to 20 seconds.

    I also never use the hand dryer you just cleaned your hand silly to blow germs right back onto it.

  • schnoz bargain on 15/01/2018 - 18:43

    I had pretty severe OCD but now it's comparatively mild. Still, I'll wash my hands and employ an innate dirtiness system.

    Generally, if I touch a button or zip, that item is now dirty and I'll avoid touching it. If I touch it, I'll wash my hands. Alternatively I'll use a tissue to zip/button up if I want to keep the item clean, or use a clean part of my body, like knuckles, while the item is still clean.

    The tap is dirty but not too bad because supposedly people will turn the tap off with their clean, just-washed hands. But you can't rely on this because some people inexplicably just gush tap water over their hand for a second and call that cleaning (What's the point? Might as well save time and water and just not wash at all in that case.) So I'll turn the tap off with the back of my hand, which I'm less likely to use for anything, then wipe my hand with a paper towel, use sanitiser of it's available, and open the door with a paper towel (or I'll stall until someone else opens the door.) I'm very happy when a toilet has no doors and has automatic taps.

    It's an imperfect system, though, because most everything in the world is dirty. So it's easy to just accept that when I'm out, if I have to touch anything, my clothes and I are dirty. I'll keep track of what's dirty and just set things right when I get to my home which is organised into dirty and clean items/sections.

    It sounds like a lot of work but it's so natural for me that it requires little thought.

    The real question is why do so many people use cubicles for standing and peeing instead of using urinals? There are usually less cubicles than urinals, so those people are hogging it from people who need to go numbers twos, and they'll often pee all over the seat and floor. And for what? They're scared of someone seeing their willy? Firstly, they're unlikely to come across someone like that. Secondly, there's a way to go without flaunting it around, so what's their reason?? But that's a whole other can of worms.

  • Ragnarok1983 on 15/01/2018 - 19:24

    More importantly, who washes their hands before and after?

  • zs8574832 on 15/01/2018 - 21:16

    depend on what I touched

  • ankor on 15/01/2018 - 22:03

    As an ex-hospitality worker, I can say that the habit of washing my hands after the loo have kept with me now that I am in other fields.

    • John Kimble on 15/01/2018 - 22:29
      +1

      As an ex-child that was taught basic personal hygiene, I can say that the habit of washing my hands after the loo has kept with me now that I am an adult.

  • PleasureMe on 15/01/2018 - 22:04

    Need more options in the votes section. For me, it's: No, when I've done number 1, but yes when I go number 2.
    Why? I guess cos number 2 just feels dirtier

  • Dogfight on 15/01/2018 - 22:52

    i wash my c*ck in the morning and i'm good for the day. - Jimmy Carr

    • moo on 15/01/2018 - 23:50

      Some other notable quotes from Jimmy Carr which relates to the theme:

      "On that same subject, I've got a time-saving tip for the gentIemen in the room."

      "I don't wash my hands after I pee."

  • crunchynuts on 15/01/2018 - 22:58

    This reminds me of a friend who told me about holding in a poo, he said it felt great as he could control the turd sliding up or down. Long story short it didn't last long cause he sharted and his wife was pretty pissed off.

    • moo on 15/01/2018 - 23:47
      +1

      I fail to see how your comment relates to this thread? Unless if the excess shart got onto their hands and they did/didn't wash their hands after?

  • rentonc on 16/01/2018 - 00:25

    This is just the first of many variants out there:
    https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3a/b5/8b/3ab58b24f3eb40d1fc41…

  • myusername on 16/01/2018 - 07:38

    before and after taking a piss

  • ESEMCE on 16/01/2018 - 09:05

    1) turn on tap
    2) use soap - doing my best ER impression
    3) rinse hands
    4) grab paper towel
    5) dry hands
    6) turn off tap with paper towel
    7) Open door with paper towel and prop open with foot
    8) score an incredible goal with paper towel into bin across the room (or miss)

  • illidan on 16/01/2018 - 09:56

    I go in with wet wipes. Use wipes for cleaning hands after I've done my business, done with the tissues and before touching my garments. Do my garments and get out to wash my hands. May be a bit of overkill, but that way I feel I don't have shit on my pants! :)

    • Blahness on 16/01/2018 - 11:22

      please don't flush the wipes down the toilet

      • illidan on 16/01/2018 - 16:40

        I don't :)

  • picklewizard on 16/01/2018 - 11:01

    There's no differentiation between #1 and #2 in your poll.

    No.1 - I'll wash my hands if my hands are dirty. I didn't piss on my hands though, if anything I should wash them BEFORE I handle my doodle.

    No.2 - Wash. Soap. Non-negotiable.

  • kingSlayer on 16/01/2018 - 13:15
    +1

    I recommend watching this episode:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pFww_EaLiY

  • mobius on 16/01/2018 - 15:28
    -1

    I wash my penis at the start of the day then I don't have to wash my hands for the rest of it.

  • syousef on 16/01/2018 - 16:58

    Missing the last option:

    • No. I am a filthy monkey that likes to spread pestilence. I never miss an opportunity to spread my bodily waste on things. When I pee, I stand in the middle of the floor and spin.
  • Quantumcat on 18/01/2018 - 13:51

    Anyone who didn't choose option 1, I hope you at least wash your hands before you cook, or shake anyone's hand. If you want to be disgusting at least keep it to yourself.

  • narcoleptic-haze on 24/01/2020 - 17:12
    +1

    So I changed jobs since my last post and I just realised a person here (very small office) doesn't wash their hands either, not even just water, even after sh-tting. I feel so disgusted.

    About a month ago I got gastro from a Sub Way restaurant (assuming now that it was them and not my work colleague) and it was the worst 3 days ever. Fu-k that. Fu-king wash your hands. Christ, why does this even need to be said in 2020.

    • TransportPosters on 06/02/2020 - 22:09

      I know, right! I have a couple of pretty smart, successful friends who are with the times and good people and all, but they don't wash their hands after using the loo. I think in these cases it is more of a cultural thing, and also that they were just raised this way and it's hard to change the habit as an adult. Maybe the next generation or a generation who grows up with something like the current coronavirus will introduce great change in this regard.

  • Serenestyles on 05/02/2020 - 14:36

    eww to those that don't

  • moo on 29/04/2020 - 10:32

    Further to the whole Covid19 event and the push to maintain/improve personal hygiene, for those that were previously against washing hands…has your views changed?

    • PleasureMe on 29/04/2020 - 11:19

      No. I'm not going to catch Covid-19 from not washing my hands after going to the toilet.

  • narcoleptic-haze on 11/02/2021 - 17:23

    Back in the office now! And the person who I mentioned previously that didn't bother washing their hands after sh-tting or peeing still doesn't think it necessary apparently. Guessing he's not taking covid seriously either. I might flag this as another reason to work from home.

  • jv on 11/02/2021 - 17:29

    Do You Wash Your Hands After Toilet?

    Quicker to just wash before going. Especially since COVID.

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