Ask Lemmy

So Penn & Teller used to do a show called Bullshit where they would investigate things and explain why the "common knowledge" on them was, well, bullshit.

In the episode on handwashing, they took samples from people's hands, faces, and groins before and after using the bathroom. They came to the conclusion that the before/after on hands was negligible, because most people's groins are under multiple layers of protection and don't get exposed to germs.

What they didn't bring up in the show is that that's not why you wash your hands when you're in the bathroom. It doesn't matter if your asshole is downright sterile, because it's everything else in the world that is filthy. You wash your hands when you're in the bathroom because you should be washing your hands regularly throughout the day and it's easiest to do when you're already in the room with the soap and running water. It's got very little to do with anything else you may be doing in the bathroom.

I regret opening this thread and this completly validates me using anything but my bare hands to grab door handles.

Of course. I am shocked people don't. But it's not entirely the act of peeing, it's the fact a sink and soap are right there. It's a good idea to wash your hands occasionally, so how about now?

Yes. Even at home. Poo particles everywhere, especially on the flusher.

Take a minute, wash your hands, smile in the mirror to make sure nothing is in your teeth. Straighten yourself up and walk out of that bathroom with your head held high. You deserve it.

How can people not wash after every trip to the restroom? I find it disgusting if I don't do it, so you can imagine how I feel about others not doing it.

Yes. Especially at work, especially before taking a piss. See, the break room has free snacks, including hot chips. I've yet to make the mistake of neglecting to double wash my hands but the fear of god and caspaicin is within me.

LIFEHACK: do both at once by pissing in your hands! it's environmentally friendly!!!

At work my hands are dirtier than my dick, I have to wash them before I pee. Come to think of it my hands are probably always dirtier than my dick because despite my best efforts I still can't use it to open doors and not many people want to shake hands with it.

Even if I'm in a hurry, I splash them in water with a squirt of soap and quick scrub. I touch keyboards all day and my hands need to be cleaned. Never mind when I physically worked with IT equipment.

Every time. It’s about upkeep, not worrying whether I touched anything. Plus, I always blot with toilet paper anyway…

Lmao, reminds me of a college bathroom experience where someone entered, used the urinal, used the hand drier, and left.

I was astounded.

Yes, every single time. Even if I'm camping in the middle of nowhere. Hell, even if I sat down and didn't even touch my dong.

If I don't wash them, it feels like there is an invisible film on my hands. I don't know how to describe it. Like, a film of filth or grease or something. Purely mental. I HAVE to wash them.

When in public:

Push door open (usually with elbow) Do business Extract paper towel, but do not grab them... Wash hands Get paper towel that has been dangling and begin to dry hands Use paper towel to get more paper towels (not touching the paper towel dispenser mechanism with skin, using the used ppr towel) Use new paper towel to secure the soiled one, and complete doing my hands, and turn off the water... Use paper towel once more to open the door out of the bathroom

Its crazy not to unless the bathroom sink is so gross it feels like it would be worse. What really gets me is folks don't shower before going into the pool. ewww. I would rather have everyone take a pee in the pool than not shower before. that at least is just proteins as opposed to all the dead skin, bacteria, and oil.

Somewhat related, have a think about how clean your belt is. Probably the first thing you touch after getting cack handed and never washed. Enjoy!

Yeah, there's always tiny droplets. Would you also not wash your hands after pissing directly on it?

Honestly I wouldn't sweat it. It's more something that seems gross than is actually going to make you sick. Pretty much ANY high traffic surface in public is gonna have way more pathogens on it than something in your house. And breathing the same air as your roommate is more likely to get you sick than touching something that they've touched. Still kinda gross though.

Usually during. I mean the sink is right there anyway, it saves time, and water.

No, before

Just seeing the state of toilets and stalls when some people leave… I don’t want that on my hands. When i’m at work I notice many people do their business and bolt out the door if they think they’re alone.

Surgeons wash their hand after peeing. Tradies wash them before peeing. Who would you rather shag?

Also maybe surgeons should be out of the running completely. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25498174/

do you wash your hands after shaking someones hand or scratching your arm ?

do you pee on your hands ? do you wash your dick where you shower ?

I'm the same as your roommate but then I'm also not pissing on my hands. i do occasionally but only just before I eat and not because I've just pissed.

I don't. My hands will get far more dirty touching literally anything else in the bathroom than they will in the one whole second it takes to pull out/put up my dick.

But I also don't hold it when I pee.