Wash Your Hands!

It's worth noting that Norovirus (winter vomiting bug) is not killed by wipes or gels. It is however, seen off effectively by soap and water. So in hospital for instance, soap and water washing plus antibacterial gel is necessary to protect people with depressed immune systems etc.

I used to work in a hospital and still use the hand washing technique learned there same as Tinglydancer's husband . I do it to 2 mental sings of Happy Birthday . I avoid public toilets everywhere unless desperate , then it's exiting with my sleeve cuff !

Presumably overuse of anti-bacterial wipes & gel will have the same impact as over use of anti-biotics. Bacteria will become immune and therefor more of a health worry. Stick to soap and water unless you have a virulent stomach bug etc. and stop stressing out about handrails etc!

I do have a reduced immune system so I am keen that antibiotics do remain a useful tool for fighting infection. Please use sparingly!

I have a question, which is probably going to earn me Numpty of the Century award, but here goes .....

We're told/advised to use soap and hot water. What difference does it make whether the water is hot or cold (apart from being more pleasant!)? Aren't most germs resistant unless the water is boiling?

Good point MiniMouse - I don't know the answer other than too hot or too cold and you don't keep your hands underneath the water so long. Just for the record I'm not OCD about hygiene - I agree that we all need to build up an immunity to germs and grew up in a terraced house with a toilet in the backyard with no sink in it for hand washing so had to do that in the kitchen. I realise that we are surrounded by bugs every day but would prefer to avoid those that I can. I am a bit OCD about food poisoning - as I have no sense of smell or taste I can no longer tell if food is 'off' so try to buy everything with long sell by dates or bin stuff that is past it - but that's another story

I'm a hand washer . I was in a public toilet and the female who was driving the ice cream van parked outside came straight out of a cubicle back into the van.

My late Mum often commented about a friend who on leaving the cubicle would just rinse two fingers under the tap - Mum could never work out what that was all about.... Personally, my hands 'feel' unwashed until I apply soap and water - I really don't understand how people can leave a toilet without washing. Re. the doors, yes I'm an 'elbower' when possible or failing that I use the top of the handle rather than the middle bit which everyone grabs. And while we're on the subject of things lavatorial, do you actually sit on the loo seat? I don't, but hasten to add that I never leave splashes!

Well, I've just Googled my own question and the general consensus seems to be very confused!

Germs are not killed by using hot water

Soaps work better in warm water

Hot water can dry the skin because it removes more of the natural oils, causing cracks to form, which can lead to infection. This in turn can lead to people not washing their hands at all in order to avoid dry/cracked skin

Cold water is just as effective as using hot water

I'm now even more

Hottish water is more pleasant to use, so more chance of more people taking more time to wash off more germs.

I love an optimist Elegran

f77ms - know just how you feel! I work in retail and caught flu a couple of years ago and was SO ILL. I lost half a stone and really cannot remember ever feeling so ill. I now wash my hands all the time at work and we have hand sanitisers behind the counter, especially if we spot a "sniffy"! Apparently the optimum hand wash time is the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday through! Really don't know how I know that but yes it takes me into the realms of OCD when I am in the ladies.

Although I am ancient, I try not to touch an escalator bannister, unless I am wearing
gloves!!!

Right, I think we all ought to start a new fashion for wearing gloves! I remember when I was a child we sometimes wore little white gloves in the summer.

Sorry, to play devil's advocate, why do you need to wash your hands if you don't actually get wee on them?

Women don't do a shake, they wipe off the drips with a tissue, unless they are happy to pull up their knickers onto a wet vulva. Absorbent paper lets through some moisture and germs. Try smelling your hands after wiping - you will detect eau de fanny.

I agree with zanith. We always wash our hands as soon as we arrive home from anywhere. I think that is more important then even after using facilities. You will never know what people have touched (don't like to imagine) before they touch handles, bannisters and countless other things. I am surprised that I haven't seen a campaign on tv or other media.

That was funny Elegran.

I wear gloves a lot when out, handling shopping trolleys, and I only take them off when I am shut in the toilet cubicle and they get put on before I press the flush or open the door!

I think hot water makes the soap more slippy slidey on the skin. So the germs wash off better. And/or it could be to do with the molecules in the water being affected by being hot.

"Esau de fanny" indeed!

I hope you wash your gloves regularly, holcott48! They must be crawling with germs...

Ah, Grannycupcake, I used to love a good old fashioned campaign. All those public information films - turn off your lights, use your handkerchief, pick up your litter. One of them was about washing your hands as well. Bring 'em all back, I say!

Elegran - that made me laugh out loud ! I'm going to try out your theory !

I think if you can just thoroughly wash your hands, most toilets I use now there is rarely soap or hot water (in case it is too hot and scalds I have been told), then dry my hands on some loo paper if there isn't paper towels, I use this to open the door, then put it a bin. The first thing I do when I get in the house from shopping is wash my hands. It as drummed into me when young to do this also never let your bottom touch the seat. Gels and wipes are not enough on their own. I am constantly surprised the amount of young people who don't was their hands, we have to touch the door handle they touch. I do sound fussy.

We live in environments where there are billions of bacteria. You can never get rid of them all. Getting too worried about it can increase anxiety levels and lead to compulsive behaviour maybe, or dermatitis. Washing hands in Milton for instance (i.e. in weak bleach) is OTT and unnecessary.
(i knew a psychiatrist once who was unable to touch a patient of a doorhandle in his office!)
The problem can come when faecal bacteria or viruses get into your mouth either directly or via food. Some of these micro-organisms have to be present in large quantities e.g. cholera bacterium has to be ingested in high numbers to make you ill (they did the experiments!). Stomach acid kills a good % of bacteria.
Food poisoning bacteria may have to increase in numbers on food before reaching dangerous levels.
Taking stomach acid blocking medicine may reduce your ability to destroy any dangerous bacteria that you swallow.
The bug that can most easily cause illness is norovirus (winter vomiting virus), which can infect with just a few viral particles.
I think sensible precautions, at this time of year in particular, are to wash hands properly when you come home and also before and after preparing food. Or if eating out, make sure your hands are clean before touching your food.
Not really a lot else you can do.