Guys washing hands in public bathrooms

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Inspired by the farting in a urinal thread, I must ask the eternal question- do guys really wash their hands after going to the bathroom (peeing)?

The reason I ask, is that I am always amazed when I am in a busy venue, such as a restroom in a bar, or sporting event, or concert, how every single guy will go use the urinal, and then stand in a line to wash their hands afterwards. If this were true, one could extrapolate that every single guy washes their hands every single time they urinate at home too. It seems the more packed the washroom is, the more guys make an obvious attempt to clean their hands.

I find this doubtful. Seems like a big show to me.

From an infection control standpoint, excepting the hands free systems, I see it as this. Guy "A" takes a dump and goes to turn on the sink, rubbing his e-coli all over the sink handles. He washes his hands (relatively) clean, and then regrabs his E-coli as he turns the sink handle off. Guy "B" goes to turn on the sink and grabs Guy "A"s e-coli on the sink handle as he goes to wash his hands- and so on and so forth. Then all the guys grab the door knob on the way out of the restroom.

All I can say from an infection standpoint is that when I am in a public place, I try to never touch any door knobs or handles. I purposely push the door open from a high standpoint, or by pushing the glass in an out of way area where no one touches.

[KFC911]

I wash my hands BEFORE taking a leak...I don't want germs...not really. I do like the hands free soap dispensers, water, etc. and avoid the door handle on the way out if possible....use a paper towel, etc. if I must. I'm not anal about washing after every leak (but I do if in a faculity)....I've consumed WAY too many beers boating over the years to care anymore

[onewhippedpuppy]

I always wash my hands but don’t care about the rest of it. Most of the germaphobes I have known over the years are sick all the time, I don’t see that as a coincidence.

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by KC911

I wash my hands BEFORE taking a leak...I don't want germs...not really. I do like the hands free soap dispensers, water, etc. and avoid the door handle on the way out if possible....use a paper towel, etc. if I must. I'm not anal about washing after every leak (but I do if in a faculity)....I've consumed WAY too many beers boating over the years to care anymore

I work in manufacturing and consider myself a hands on sort of guy. At work, I have washed my hands before too.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by jcommin

I work in manufacturing and consider myself a hands on sort of guy. At work, I have washed my hands before too.

I consider effeciency important...I wash, take a leak, then wash again...all standing right there at the sink .

[David]

A high school friend of mine was at a school event in Oklahoma. He was wearing a Texas A&M shirt and as he was leaving the restroom after peeing an old man commented that in Oklahoma people wash their hands after going to to the restroom. My friend replied, "in Texas we don't piss on our hands" and walked out the door

[john70t]

The Cyclades ferry had a blue UV light on the hands air drier.
Those might become more common in public and medical facilities.

There is also press-n-stick film for door handles https://www.popsci.com/science/article/2009-10/saving-skin
"Patented by Sharklet Technologies, a Florida-based biotech company, the film, which is covered with microscopic diamond-shaped bumps, is the first "surface topography" proven to keep the bugs at bay. In tests in a California hospital, for three weeks the plastic sheeting's surface prevented dangerous microorganisms, such as E. coli and Staphylococcus A, from establishing colonies large enough to infect humans."


(I think I typed this same post a decade ago)

[Rick Lee]

When in a restaurant, the time when you most want to wash your hands is after you're done handling the menu.

[stevej37]

I was in a restroom at Lowes a few weeks back. Standing at the urinal, I heard a man (who looked to be about 60) exiting from one of the stalls. As he walked behind me, I looked over my shoulder as he went for the sink. Sticking out of the back of his pants and trailing all the way to the floor, was a 4 ft length of TP.
As he washed, I thought I had better tell him. I said "Sir"...no resonse. I said it again as he went for the exit.
This time he spun around and said "what the hell you want?"
I should have said nothing after that, but I kindly told him what he had hanging out of the back of his pants.
He never replied, but looked in the mirror and headed back for the stall!

[berettafan]

I won't use non-auto sinks. I mean a guy just held his junk or ran his hand up his ass and the very next thing he touched was the handle on the faucet.

[stomachmonkey]

I also subscribe to the Don King philosophy of washing my hands BEFORE I touch my Richard.

I also wash them afterwards.

Always grab a paper towel, dry my hands, then use that to turn off the faucet.

Grab a fresh paper towel for the door.

I wash my hands at home every time as well.

In fact I probably wash my hands 20x’s a day.

Not so much a germophobe, just can’t stand the feeling or thought of my hands not being clean.

I have sensory issues.

My front door is this huge iron thing.

I use a paper towel or my shirt to open it because I can’t tolerate the metallic odor it leaves behind.

[URY914]

You do better by not touching anything other than your own junk in a public bathroom. It is cleaner than the door handles and sink faucet handles.

[berettafan]

especially if you scrub it often!

[john70t]

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121004104048.htm
"44% of the pigs tested positive for MRSA at slaughter, which was higher than in 2009, when the last survey of pigs in slaughterhouses was conducted.
..
Staphylococci are bacteria found in humans, animals and in our surrounding environment. Staphylococcus aureus is part of the normal nasal and skin flora in approx. 50% of the population. Staphylococcus aureus can cause a wide range of infections ranging from superficial wounds and abscesses to serious infections such as Osteitis and Endocarditis. In hospitals, Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent cause of post-surgery infections. A large proportion of those infected with MRSA are just carriers of MRSA without being sick."

https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20140422/paper-money-carries-bacteria

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/strange-but-true-humans-carry-more-bacterial-cells-than-human-ones/

[GH85Carrera]

I certainly believe germs are real. No doubt about them. BUT.....

A couple of years ago we went to the Louisville Slugger plant where they make the baseball bats. The entire front half of the place is a hands on museum and it is very crowded. The line to get in was a block long when we were leaving. The museum has displays of old famous bats and different buttons to push, things to touch and do. It must be a germaphobe nightmare. We spent sever hours there and saw the bats in production, and the movie. Afterward we were supposed to go to eat. The bus driver took us to the wrong restaurant. The restaurant was happy to fit us in and after a short wait up front we were seated.

The entire time at the museum I was thinking I need to wash my hands real well before I eat. With the fiasco of the wrong restaurant our group was sort of sequestered in a corner. I ordered a hamburger and ate it with my hands. Then I remembered I wanted to wash my hands. Whoops, too late. My immune system worked just fine and I did not get even a little bit sick.

So yea, I wash my hands after taking dump 100% of the time. I don't get bent out of shape about the handles or the door. I do have a good immune system.

[Tobra]

What about washing their junk in a pubic restroom?

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

...

So yea, I wash my hands after taking dump 100% of the time....

Agreed...I mean if the shower is already running...why would you not...just common sense imo .

I do avoid the handles, knobs, etc. though...Poppie might have just left before me.

[Holger]

Yes, always washing my hands after.
It is amazing how many leave the work bathroom without washing their hands, even after pooping!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

I wash my hands thoroughly with hot water (or whatever water is available if there’s no hot) and soap for 15-20 seconds every single time. This is what I teach the kids to do too - home or out. We are all very healthy and I think good hygiene has a lot to do with it (well that and a vegetarian diet that specifically avoids processed / mass-produced “food”...)

The standing rule for public bathrooms is “touch nothing” other than what’s absolutely necessary. I suppose I’m a bit of a germophobe but mostly am just grossed out by what I've seen a lot of people do and I value my health and that of those for whom I’m responsible. I’m not (I think) obsessive about it but I just don’t want to take unnecessary risks. Touching stuff and then not washing up in public bathrooms is like exposing yourself to someone else’s blood or other fluids. No thanks.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Holger

Yes, always washing my hands after.
It is amazing how many leave the work bathroom without washing their hands, even after pooping!

Used to work in this studio way back in the day.

At lunch I'd grab a huge bag of popcorn and just leave it open on my desk.

Anyone who wanted some was free to help themselves.

Every day Billy was the first one there digging in with both hands like some rabid raccoon.

One afternoon I head to the bathroom to take a leak.

Someone is in the stall pinching a loaf.

He finishes, flushes, comes out, says "Hi Scott", walks straight past the sink and out of the bathroom.

I'll give you one guess who.

Went straight to my desk, tossed the popcorn, never bought any ever again.