Hand washing at public toilets in the UK

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Oct 27, 08, 05:21 #1

Er... I finally made up my mind to start my own thread about something which mystifies me every time I see it here in the UK.
When at a public toilet, I tend to wash my hands in copious amounts of soap and hot water, if there is soap and/or hot water available, of course. Anyway, I do wash my hands thoroughly, as mother taught me to all those years ago. British ladies, on the other hand, breeze out of a cabin, turn the water on for a virtual split-second, sort of wet their fingertips, turn the water off, and hurry out of the toilet. I have never seen anyone wash their hands and then dry them. Sometimes they do wet them and then dry them, but soap is never used. My bf tells me the same approach is visible in the men's toilets... What the heck? Can anyone please explain? Do British people not wash their hands?

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 05:42 #2
personally i always wash them.perhaps your boyfriend standing around watching people in the toilets is a little off putting to some people lol.

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Edited by: ShelleyS Oct 27, 08, 05:51 #3

Magdalena:

Do British people not wash their hands?

You have observed that most British women do wash their hands after a fashion...better than nothing?

Some of us prefer to be a little bit more thorough than others, I've seen this lackluster approach all over the world not just in the UK. Im probably the wrong person to answer this topic because Im quite anal and avoid public loos where possible and dont even touch the surfaces if possible without using toilet tissue. Im more disturbed when I see some scank walk out of a toilet and not wash their hands at all !!!

Can I recommend you purchase one of the handy little anticeptic sprays for your hands - I never leave the house without one :)

Mags, when we are children in the UK we are tought to wash our hands after using the toilet and always before dinner (or any meal time) no matter what...unfortunately there are families out there who don't teach the basics to their kids :(((

MagdalenaThreads: 5 Posts: 1,389 Joined: Aug 15, 07 ♀	Oct 27, 08, 05:53 #4
time means: standing around watching people "thoroughly washing his hands" would be more appropriate ;-)

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 05:54 #5
I always TRY to wash mine thoroughly. There are times when it is imperative to get out of the loo quickly. This is usually when there is a drunken thug or crazy person present. Sometimes it is because the state of the loo is so awful it's better to leave and use the antiseptic hand wash that I tend to have with me. This avoids MRSA too.

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 05:58 #6
Magdalena: "thoroughly washing his hands" would be more appropriate ;-) maybe he is using all the soap :-)

espanaThreads: 40 Posts: 2,233 Joined: Feb 28, 07 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 06:01 #7
Magdalena: Do British people not wash their hands? i dont know if they do but they dont sleep in toilet :( http://www.polishforums.com/poles_uk_sleeping_toilets-31_17455_0.html URL

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 06:07 #8
ShelleyS: dont even touch the surfaces if possible without using toilet tissue i belive this is known as scumping. ShelleyS: Im quite anal and avoid public loos lol no pun (or poo) intended

ShelleySThreads: 18 Posts: 3,647 Joined: Jun 26, 07 ♀	Oct 27, 08, 06:18 #9
time means: i belive this is known as scumping. Really? I've been a scumper for a long time and my mother was one too ;-) time means: lol no pun (or poo) intended lol

time meansThreads: 9 Posts: 2,306 Joined: Apr 21, 08 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 06:20 #10
ShelleyS: Really? I've been a scumper for a long time and my mother was one too ;-) im not sure if you are familiar with the viz (?) they have something called a profanosaurus at the back and the word scumping can be found there. i am a scumper also.

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Oct 27, 08, 07:05 #11

Magdalena:

I tend to wash my hands in copious amounts of soap and hot water,

So do I. I wouldn't have it otherwise. Part of my job involves Infection Control and it's er...interesting what kinds of bugs live in these public toilets. Wetting the fingertips does absolutely nothing, they'd be as well not washing their hands (considering they probably picked up even more germs by simply touching the tap).

I do know what you mean though Magdalena, I see it often too and mothers telling their kids just to "rinse their hands under the water". I'm not sure why people don't wash their hands properly. Sometimes the handsoap in these toilets can be a bit harsh on skin but it's better than not washing at all.

szarlotka:

use the antiseptic hand wash that I tend to have with me. This avoids MRSA too.

A good alternative back-up but shouldn't replace handwashing overall. Battles MRSA but doesn't touch C-Diff. Luckily you shouldn't find too much C-Diff lurking in public toilets. :)

szarlotkaThreads: 14 Posts: 3,349 Joined: Feb 20, 07 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 07:08 #12
PolskaDoll: but doesn't touch C-Diff OMG, something else to worry about. All in all I'm amazed I'm still alive.

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Oct 27, 08, 07:20 #13

time means:

im not sure if you are familiar with the viz

I used to read it quite a lot, but haven't bothered in recent years.

PolskaDoll:

Sometimes the handsoap in these toilets can be a bit harsh on skin but it's better than not washing at all.

And sometimes the soap dispensers look that disgusting I would rather just rinse and spray some anitceptic spray on my hands - I would say it's cleaner considering what could be lurking and festering in clogged up dirty dispensers and I would never ever use a bar of soap in a public toilet - that's just wrong! It's not that my hygiene standards are low, it's just I don't want to touch something dirty and get more germs on my hands than necessary.

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Oct 27, 08, 07:27 #14

szarlotka:

OMG, something else to worry about. All in all I'm amazed I'm still alive.

Yeah you're doing well so far - keep it up. :)

ShelleyS:

And sometimes the soap dispensers look that disgusting I would rather just rinse and spray some anitceptic spray on my hands - I would say it's cleaner considering what could be lurking and festering in clogged up dirty dispensers and I would never ever use a bar of soap in a public toilet - that's just wrong! It's not that my hygiene standards are low, it's just I don't want to touch something dirty and get more germs on my hands than necessary.

You're right. Though it's better to just use the gel/spray without using the water at all because you need to touch the tap to turn it on and then off (so when you're turning it off with clean hands you're picking up the germs you put there when your hands were dirty). Bar soap is disgusting in public places and if you see it there don't use it - believe it or not it harbours a lot of bugs!

However, people can become obsessed with bugs and superbugs but the superbugs are mostly present in hospitals/nursing homes so don't panic if you can't wash your hands in a public toilet as thoroughly as you would at home or at work.

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Oct 27, 08, 07:34 #15

Magdalena:

Er... I finally made up my mind to start my own thread about something which mystifies me every time I see it here in the UK.
When at a public toilet, I tend to wash my hands in copious amounts of soap and hot water, if there is soap and/or hot water available, of course. Anyway, I do wash my hands thoroughly, as mother taught me to all those years ago. British ladies, on the other hand, breeze out of a cabin, turn the water on for a virtual split-second, sort of wet their fingertips, turn the water off, and hurry out of the toilet. I have never seen anyone wash their hands and then dry them. Sometimes they do wet them and then dry them, but soap is never used. My bf tells me the same approach is visible in the men's toilets... What the heck? Can anyone please explain? Do British people not wash their hands?

Gosh I wouldnt wash my hands in a public toilet anywhere if you paid me to, its very dangerous, any dr will tell you that :| Have you any idea how many germs and how unhealthy public toilet taps are ? I may sound like I have a case of OCD but I dont, its just logical and what I have always been told. I just carry sanitary wipes with me. By the way, you do know that when you then dry your hands under the dryer that you are blowing recycled air and bacteria from other peoples poo etc onto your hands again . . its not filtered :| So trust me, its safer to do what you have to do, and not wash or dry your hands in a public toilet. Just use those nice smelling wipes you can buy, easy !

BubbaWooThreads: 46 Posts: 4,438 Joined: Sep 26, 06 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 07:48 #16
theblueenigma: Gosh I wouldnt wash my hands in a public toilet anywhere if you paid me to, its very dangerous, any dr will tell you that :\| Have you any idea how many germs and how unhealthy public toilet taps are ? damn tootin great uncle bulgaria said to me boy keep the wowee clean and never p!ss on your hands and if you gotsta take a leak, find a quiet door way

sledzThreads: 29 Posts: 3,202 Joined: Sep 19, 06 ♂	Oct 27, 08, 08:41 #17
theblueenigma: Gosh I wouldnt wash my hands in a public toilet anywhere if you paid me to, its very dangerous Are you related to Howard Hughes? theblueenigma: I just carry sanitary wipes with me I`m suprised you leave your house at all, The germs are coming for you!...Hahahaha

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Edited by: Moderator Oct 27, 08, 09:03 #18

sledz:

Are you related to Howard Hughes?

Not at all, most of my friends, family and almost everyone I know are the same. You would have to be pretty dumb to wash or dry your hands in a public toilet. Basic common sense and hygeine. . . . unless your the type that washes your ass with your hands ? I suspect you are so in that case, go for it :)

sledz:

I`m suprised you leave your house at all, The germs are coming for you!...Hahahaha

Your right, its so good to meet intelligent people like you on forums Sledz :) The next time you are in a public toilet put your dumb head under the dryer and deeply inhale the bacteria from other peoples poo and sh*t ok ? That way you can excuse yourself and why you talk so much idiotic sh*t ;)

um 'hahahahaha'

This is a thread about handwashing not insulting people.

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Oct 27, 08, 09:08 #19

theblueenigma:

Your right, its so good to meet intelligent people like you on forums Sledz :) The next time you are in a public toilet put your dumb head under the dryer and deeply inhale the bacteria from other peoples poo and **** ok ? That way you can excuse yourself and why you talk so much idiotic ********

I`m not the the freak germophob on here now am I..??

theblueenigma:

You would have to be pretty dumb to wash or dry your hands in a public toilet.

So what do you do if you ever go out in public and dont have your precious sanitary napkins???

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Edited by: theblueenigma Oct 27, 08, 09:09 #20

theblueenigma:

This is a thread about handwashing not insulting people.

Good point, I was'nt insuting the chap though :) Ok, well maybe I shouldnt have said 'dumb head'

"I`m not the the freak germophob on here now am I..??"

Hm, ok so by your measurement I am a freak because I have a shi* and a pis*, and wipe my hands with a sanitary wipe (precious and a luxury in your world I guess) But you arent a freak because you then want to inhale my shi* and pis* after me lol ok little man

"So what do you do if you ever go out in public and dont have your precious sanitary napkins???"

I rarely take a dump in a public toilet, and if i do its usually only in airports. I think I mentioned using them when Im in a public toilet, not going out in public ;) How old are you by the way ?

A germophob lol ? nah, i would gladly **** all over you and not wipe my hands :D...although you would probably enjoy that :|

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Oct 27, 08, 09:38 #21

theblueenigma:

I am a freak because I have a shi* and a pis*, and wipe my hands with a sanitary wipe

First of all I dont shi and piz on my hands, maybe someday you will be able to
accomplish this with practice?

theblueenigma:

But you arent a freak because you then want to inhale my shi* and pee* after me lol ok little man

OK Big Man,I dont blame you for not wanting to be in a English toilet
but to go to such extremes and to be so defensive is hysterical..lol

theblueenigma:

A germophob lol ? nah, i would gladly pee all over you and not wipe my hands :

I figured you as a queer and I was right again:)

theblueenigma:

although you would probably enjoy that :|

You thought of it, you sick pervert

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Edited by: theblueenigma Oct 27, 08, 09:46 #22

sledz:

I figured you as a queer and I was right again:)

sledz:

[quote=sledz]
You thought of it, you sick pervert

I pis* against walls also occassionaly, so Im more or less comparing you to concrete. lol Ive just seen from your profile that you are American and you posted a thread titled "Do Polish People Steal More" ..... need I say more, what a toss**

"First of all I dont shi and piz on my hands, maybe someday you will be able to
accomplish this with practice?"

You talk like somebody that does, but then again I suspect you have the brain of a bluebottle fly . . they eat their own shi* also.

"OK Big Man,I dont blame you for not wanting to be in a English toilet
but to go to such extremes and to be so defensive is hysterical..lol"

Im bigger than you ;) I dont use any public toilets, why do you mention english toilets ? Not that I avoid public toilets, but I generally shi* before I leave the house if I have to. Unless Im in a pub and Im pis*ed (no pun intended) then I wash my hands and use the dryer just like dopes like you do. Im not being defensive, you just seem to be simple

Oh and nope, very hetrosexual with a beautiful polish gf. Although if you have a thing about gay people, and think me pi**ing on you is gay, perhaps you know more about it than I. I was merely demonstrating how low my oppinion of you is.

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Oct 27, 08, 09:53 #23

theblueenigma:

I pis* against walls also occassionaly, so Im more or less comparing you to concrete

and you wonder why it smells like S*** over there it because of slobs like you
defecating all over the place. Didnt your parents teach you any manners?

theblueenigma:

Im bigger than you ;)

and how old are you...12 ??

theblueenigma:

you just seem to be simple

I was making a joke and you are the one that felt the need to attack
thats the first sign of a simple mind...you win:)

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Edited by: theblueenigma Oct 27, 08, 10:06 #24

sledz:

and you wonder why it smells like S*** over there it because of slobs like you
defecating all over the place. Didnt your parents teach you any manners?

Smells like shi* where, In Poland ?

English lesson : I think you will find that defecating = shi**ing, pis*ing = urinating. I said I urinated occassionaly against walls, that would be 'urinating' and its usually very late at night when inebriated. Your parents obviously didnt invest much in your education judging by your grasp of the english language. Then again they also taught you that putting your head under public hand dryers and inhaling other peoples shi* and pis* was cool. They say the apple doesnt fall far from the tree, thats what you get with parents that conceive in public toilets I guess !

sledz:

and how old are you...12 ??

I suspect a lot older than you. then again your i.q doesnt seem to surpass double digits so Im going to go for you being a 17 / 18 yr old kid.

sledz:

I was making a joke and you are the one that felt the need to attack
thats the first sign of a simple mind...you win:)

You did'nt seem funny. Although you did laugh hysterically at yourself, so that is usually the first sign of a simple mind, and also someone very insecure I might add ;)

McCoyThreads: 46 Posts: 1,756 Joined: Jul 3, 08 ♂	Edited by: McCoy Oct 27, 08, 10:08 #25
remember british friends:

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,238 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER ♂	Oct 27, 08, 10:23 #26
Sorry shelleyS being a Northern lass and all that, but has anyone seen this LINK seems those Northerners are a dirty bunch ;0) And just before you start jumping on me... ok so I am a Southern jessy lol

Wroclaw Boy	Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Oct 27, 08, 10:35 #27
People who wash there hands after taking a p1ss must have dirty genitals.

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Oct 27, 08, 10:36 #28

ukpolska:

Sorry shelleyS being a Northern lass and all that, but has anyone seen this LINK seems those Northerners are a dirty bunch ;0)

Cheeky moneky! This is the reason I carry my hand spray every where!! If i have to stand on the bus and I have to hold on to something I spray it first :)

Thank goodness Im from Manchester ;0)

"In the other three cities - London, Cardiff and Birmingham - the women's hands were dirtier". [i][/i]

ukpolska:

ok so I am a Southern jessy lol

That'll explain it then :)

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,238 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER ♂	Oct 27, 08, 10:41 #29
ShelleyS: Thank goodness Im from Manchester ;0) Anything pass the Watford gap is Northern for us Southerners ;0)

MagdalenaThreads: 5 Posts: 1,389 Joined: Aug 15, 07 ♀	Oct 27, 08, 10:42 #30
Oh me oh my... I really seem to have opened a can of worms with this one... ;-)

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