What is your stance on washing your hands after using the restroom?
I, personally, feel that one should ALWAYS wash their hands. No exceptions. For one thing, you usually have to touch doorknobs to get out of the room. For another, eventually you'll have to touch something, and someone else may have to touch that same thing sometime. Not washing your hands (and then touching your face) is the fastest way to get sick, short of someone coughing directly into your face, but then at least you know where the illness came from.
I understand that the potty-process is different for men and women, and that little kids who are being potty-trained possibly (only possibly) aren't touching gross things, but doesn't washing your hands make sense in general? After all, unless you cleaned the restroom yourself, you don't know how clean anything is. Is there enough toilet paper in the world to justify not washing your hands?
I ask because twice today (and a couple of times previously), I was in the Ladies' room with a female coworker who didn't wash her hands.
A FEMALE!
TWICE IN ONE DAY!!!!
Now I don't want to touch any doorknobs, or chairs, or anything else she may have touched ever again. I haven't checked whether she has hand sanitizer... but you can be assured I will be buying some pronto.
Also, one of the times we were in there, this same woman was on the phone. I heard her talking, she flushed the toilet, and then continued sitting in her stall as she continued to chat. I waited a few minutes, then left without doing my thing. I worked about 10 more minutes then went back and she was finishing up (in the stall, not on the phone-- she left still talking, and did not wash her hands). I guess her friend didn't mind the toilet sounds, but I didn't feel comfortable having some stranger on the phone hear what I was doing.
So... not washing hands and talking on the phone in the public restroom. Are there times when this is appropriate? For a grown woman (or man)?
I'll be honest: I'm a little terrified of your possible affirmative responses. If that's the case, feel free to be as brief and undetailed as possible...
Ew. Seriously, ew.
6 comments:
At work, we change the kid's diapers and we still have them wash their hands to get them in the habit of it, plus a kid's hands can always use an extra washing right? I'm the same way, EVERY time they go to the bathroom hands should be washed.
I don't care HOW much tp you use. You're still touching very intimate parts and there's always the potential for 'stuff' to get where it shouldn't.
As for talking on the phone while using the john-GROSS!!
Always wash. Also, I use a paper towel to open the door, so my hand doesn't directly touch the doorknob/handle.
Glad we're all in agreement -- phew!
Aaron, that's a good idea... I'll have to improve my tossing skills so I can reach the trash can from the door. I was really good at it once. With this kind of motivation, I'm bound to get good at it again ASAP!
Ew. A few comments.
1. I love the restrooms at Costco that don't have an exit/entrance door, just a turn in the wall thing (do you have any idea what I'm talking about?) because then I don't have to worry about touching the doorknob.
2. If there is a door to exit the restroom, I either do what Aaron suggested, if the garbage can is close by and there are paper towels instead of air dryers, or I push it open with my elbow.
3. In public restrooms, I always flush with my foot.
Rach, I am in full agreement that the doorless restrooms are awesome, and I am all about not touching door handles if I can help it. Ew!
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