Discussions

It is important to me...is it important to you that you and others do the same?  
 
http://thegrownetwork.com/fear-of-the-faucet/

It's one thing I'm a little obsessive about. I will soap and rinse sometimes 2 or 3 times just to be sure I'm germ free. It freaks me out a little thinking about all the people that don't. You might not think about it on a daily basis, but there is so much stuff at your work place, your home, in public places, that multiple people touch.  
 
I don't classify myself as a germophobe but if you go to the bathroom, just wash your hands. With soap. It takes 10 seconds.

Having worked in fast food and health care, washing of the hands is probably the most important thing. One place I worked at actual asked that even if we wash our hands in the bathroom to do it where customers can see so that they can be at ease. I can see men being worse at it since they don't have to wipe all the time. Gross but true

One reason it is really important to me is that I have a tendency to bite my nails. It's a bad habit I haven't been able to break, but it does make me want to have clean hands all the time, and makes me think twice about the things and people I touch with my hands. Yuck.

Yep, I am obsessive about hand washing for myself and my family. If you actually look at how people live, how they leave their vehicles, and their homes, you know they are not going to give any consideration to how they are leaving a public place like a washroom. A lot of people do not have any consideration when they come to work sick, or send their kids to school sick.  
 
I know that we all tend to have this a hurried and busy mentality, but I just will never understand how people cannot clean up after themselves or take the time to do something simple like wash their hands.

myhandleistrain said "... as I should. Always at home after using the bathroom but many times while fishing/hunting I've ate my baloney sandwiches with dried blood on my hands. Probably have gone #1 several times before the sandwich. Maybe have dipped my hands into the lake or snow. (Doesn't seem to make my sandwich taste worse!!!) "

A little different in this scenario than when you are in a public place. If you want to ingest the crap that is on your hands from fishing, and going number 1, then go ahead. You aren't harming anyone else. If you wanted to, you could just bring hand wipes with you, as finding a sink to wash up while fishing likely is not practical.  
 
However, if you went in to a public place after and started touching all kinds of things without washing, I'd probably not appreciate you too much.

Just a habit I got into. Using a public washroom I'll wash my hands then use paper towel or my sleeve to open the washroom door when I leave. Just can't help it.  

Always. Drives me nuts watching how many people use public restrooms and walk past the sink and out the door. Then minutes later see them picking through fruit and veggies in the grocery section.

Sounds like everyone washes their hands unless they are in the bush so no worries.

I hope I don't get too judged, but I get bad reactions to most soaps that are in store bathrooms... I carry hand sanitizer and just use that when out and about so I don't get a reaction. I'm one of those people that walk by the sink BUT I am still sanitizing my hands... So don't judge everyone who walks by the sinks (:

swmb said "Sounds like everyone washes their hands unless they are in the bush so no worries. "

I've been known to enjoy a good roll around in the mud and sun bathe. A good clay bath is really nice on the skin.  
 
But I'm not gonna walk around town covered in pizza sauce and snot. And if I'm gonna cook for someone, or myself no question. Hygiene is a blessing.  
 
Maybe I'm walking in the bush, and find a creek to catch a quick splash? Or, take a "mexican shower" in the ocean. In Mexico, might I add. This is nice. Noone likes to walk around with a sandy hoo ha.  
 
I don't live in a bubble, but I have been known to come into contact with some bacteria from time to time. Its not gonna eat me up inside. But come on, this thread is pretty vague and open ended.  
 
Depends on the circumstance.

My wife used to have a home daycare and at haying and harvest times we would have meals in the field. Now I don't know about other people but when I work I usually end up pretty dirty, and we would just stop for a few minutes and have lunch, and I can't remember anyone washing their hands. We did hear one comment made about eating in the field and how unsanitary it was with all the dirt and bugs, and eating while sitting on the ground. First thing that came to mind when I heard that was have you ever been on a picnic.  
When I'm working I don't wash my hands, but when I get home I do. When preparing food I do a lot of hand washing, as well as washing certain products like things that will be used in salads or will not be cooked.  
 
This thread brings to mind a little story about a little boy, who after going pee, was reminded by his father to wash his hands, the little boy replied to his father, "but dad I didn't pee on my hands".

Yes I do wash my hands in washroom. This only does you any good if you don't touch anything else after that. Too many people have become obsessed with hand cleaners , We live on the farm and I have been exposed to every germ known to man,if you have a healthy immune system you will survive. Too many people don't get exposed to nature and when they do they get sick.

I was thinking mainly of washing your hands after you have used the facilities. Obviously it can be difficult to wash hands if there is no place to do so. In today's day and age, you can still use sanitizer if you have it (I personally do not like the stuff and prefer regular soap and water), or remember to wash when you get close to a sink.  
 
Now I posed this question to a bunch of poultry folks, with the addition of do you wash your hands after dealing with your livestock? They assumed I was OCD or paranoid about washing hands when I said that I tell my kids to wash after coming inside from being out with the animals. This is not the case...but I do believe that if you are working with/around actual poop...not just soil, that you should clean up once you get into the house...if you are going to eat or prepare food for yourself or others it is even more important. It is basic hygiene that should be a habit and is not mind blowing. Years ago it was customary to wash hands before sitting down to eat...so what has changed? Myself, I prefer not to eat poop for obvious reasons & soil because its texture is awful, so I wash my hands then too when I can. Kids and some adults? Maybe they like the texture as it doesn't seem to phase most of them.  
 
I know that eating some soil will give you minerals, enzymes and such that you might not otherwise get if you super wash and/peel everything. My produce often has some soil on it. That is not a big deal and that is not what I was addressing.  
 
I get my kids to wash up when they come into the house and after using the bathroom. They enter into the kitchen, then often touch the same surfaces or utensils that I would once my hands are cleaned to prepare food. I don't see this request as excessive in light of that. NOW, if I freaked out each time they touched anything outside or inside...that would be excessive. I also require that they remove their footwear. I do not consider this to be excessive either. I do not need 5 kinds of poop spread all over the floor of the house all the time.  
 
It has been proven that farm kids have a better immune system than their city counterparts. I believe that this is due in part to exposure to a variety of organisms. But using this as a reason to not wash hands is very short sighted. There are still parasites (worms, etc) and diseases that can get spread by not following basic hygiene practices and washing hands can reduce this. This is why when there is an outbreak of any sort (human or livestock) it is highly recommended that people properly wash their hands. This is why food establishments and the medical system want this done as well.  
 
The poultry folks admitted to practicing some preventative measures as they keep their flocks separate from others'. They do not use the same footwear at their barns and at others' barns, require visitors to bring an extra pair of boots or not even go close to their flock. Some even wash hands between going from one of their own flocks to the other so as to not spread disease & parasites on their own farm. But...somehow this care and concern for cleanliness seems to relate only to their birds and not so much for family or guests...I found that interesting.  
 
I found this a very revealing topic to post here and elsewhere. It taught me a lot about people's thought patterns and reasoning.

believe the number of people that walk out of a pubic bathroom in the mall with out washing their hands. then head to the food court. gross. Older and young alike, age does not seem to matter. you go from the washroom spreading your personal germs to everything you touch and to everyone you come in contact.  
 
and for those that are sensitive to commercial soup, no excuse, as it is not the soap that does the job it is the water the scrub and the drying. besides what do you do at home?? just be germy with your family.  
 
as far as out in the bush, camping, hunting, farming, working on the land etc, you will get as good a hand cleaning by scooping up a handful of dirt and "washing" your hands then "drying" on a handful of field grass or what ever is handy. been there done that.  
 
Pathogens in the soil are killed by the sunlight and UV that occurs naturally.  
 
I'll bet you that guys or gals coming in from a day in the field without "washroom" facilities are cleaner than a lot of folks that are in town with no excuse.

Yes I wash my hands everytime I use the bathroom of course, and teach my kids to do the same. And when we are out in public we wash our hands more frequently. If you want to eat your own fecal matter/urine lol then by all means have at it, but I dont want to ingest it no matter how microscopic. Dirt from soil etc enh, i dont freak out about it.

Imagine if our forefather had worried about getting dirty and washing their hands. We would still all be at Plymoth Rock. We are raising a generation of wimps who want someone else to do their dirty jobs. Being on a farm you are hours away from clean water so you just do the best you can, haven't died yet.

If you are in the field with equipment or a vehicle of any sort, or if you are fishing, you will most likely bring water to drink or have that close by, so not washing (or at the very least, rinsing) hands is not an excuse. Why not use what is available?  
 
Hey...I grew up on a farm. I am still on one. I know soil. I know poop. I also know how to keep clean. If you have water to fish in or have some available to drink close by, you also have the means to clean your hands.

I have washed my hands in the cow watering trough, I am sure there was cow snot and spit in the water. If I am in public places, way more cautious than when I am at home.  
Ever stood behind a coughing cow that is on green grass. Sometimes stuff just cannot be avoided and I don't worry about it.

don brown said "My wife used to have a home daycare and at haying and harvest times we would have meals in the field. Now I don't know about other people but when I work I usually end up pretty dirty, and we would just stop for a few minutes and have lunch, and I can't remember anyone washing their hands. We did hear one comment made about eating in the field and how unsanitary it was with all the dirt and bugs, and eating while sitting on the ground. First thing that came to mind when I heard that was have you ever been on a picnic.   When I'm working I don't wash my hands, but when I get home I do. When preparing food I do a lot of hand washing, as well as washing certain products like things that will be used in salads or will not be cooked.     This thread brings to mind a little story about a little boy, who after going pee, was reminded by his father to wash his hands, the little boy replied to his father, "but dad I didn't pee on my hands". "

Sitting on the tailgate eating a good hot meal.  
Food somehow tastes better in the field, mom always kept it hot, fresh baking, visiting with my dad, as sometimes that was all I saw of him during harvest and visiting with my Uncles. Thanks for the memories!! The best days in the hot weather.  
 
 
Must be where I learned some colorful vocabulary I sometimes used to day, especially if something broke.  
 
 
 
Edited by Brenda, 2016-04-07 18:16:19

Milky Whey said "I have washed my hands in the cow watering trough, I am sure there was cow snot and spit in the water. If I am in public places, way more cautious than when I am at home.   Ever stood behind a coughing cow that is on green grass. Sometimes stuff just cannot be avoided and I don't worry about it. "

And my kids play in the sloughs where the cattle extras drain to.  
 
The main question is if you wash when you come in (or are in a public area), not necessarily when you are still busy outside.  
 
I bet you washed your clothes (and/or face, hair or whatever got hit) at some point too after standing behind that cow. I realize "barn clothes" can tend to get build up, but after a while they need to go in too. Been there done that.

Flutterby said "If you are in the field with equipment or a vehicle of any sort, or if you are fishing, you will most likely bring water to drink or have that close by, so not washing (or at the very least, rinsing) hands is not an excuse. Why not use what is available?     Hey...I grew up on a farm. I am still on one. I know soil. I know poop. I also know how to keep clean. If you have water to fish in or have some available to drink close by, you also have the means to clean your hands. "

I understand and agree with washing hands after using public facilities, though most pathogens that cause sickness can only survive for a few minutes on hands, a lot of people habitually touch their faces and mouths, so washing is a good habit.  
 
But I disagree with the need of washing hands while out in the field or fishing, etc.  
 
Our bodies and immune systems developed and evolved to co-exist with all these common organisms found in nature. There's evidence that our bodies even rely upon exposure to these organisms to maintain proper immune response, and that all these allergic and autoimmune disorders that plague modern urban societies are the result of a lifestyle that is too clean, overuse of sanitizers and antibiotics, purified water, pasteurized foods, etc. - no exposure to natural organisms that we evolved to have a symbiotic relationship with.  
 
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygiene_hypothesis

I do agree with you on your last paragraph. You will not find those things you mentioned in our house or lifestyle. We also drink raw milk...which is more than most folks can say they do. You may also want to note what I said previously about soil being important to our bodies.  
 
My point of the fishing and field comment was that rinsing your hands is still often a possiblity if you have water nearby. A rinse never hurt anyone and certainly would not impact your immune system negatively. It is not like it is antibacterial or anything. It might help it of all things as unless you use purified or treated water, there will be something in it. My suggestion of the possibility is not a fear of germs, pathogens or anything of the sort, but the simple statement that washing hands is still possible.