# Do you wash your hands before dining at restaurants? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 29, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186 "2020-01-29T20:25:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/61 "2020-01-31T15:06:28Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > Speaking for myself, I’m a little surprised at the poll results. Because the results don’t track with my experiences. I’ve never done it, nor has anybody I’ve ever dined with has done it. Any chance you’ve seen it done plenty of times, but just thought the people doing it were really “going to the bathroom”? ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/62 "2020-01-31T15:09:04Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > I always get a straw, and will use it as a pipette to lift and drop some water on my palm. Yet another handy technique 😃 ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/63 "2020-01-31T15:22:11Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > You do realize that you are washing your hands for other people, not for you, right? I think the risk of catching something from yourself is completely negligible. It’s for you and for other people. What’s on your hands isn’t just from you; it’s from all of the things you’ve touched that isn’t part of you, including other people. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/64 "2020-01-31T18:52:54Z")
Yes. I will order then hit the head. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/65 "2020-01-31T19:04:33Z")
> [@bordelond](#): > > Any chance you’ve seen it done plenty of times, but just thought the people doing it were really “going to the bathroom”? I was only referring to people I’ve dine with sitting at my table. I suppose it’s not outside the realm of possibility that I may have forgotten one or two people. But I do know with certainty it hasn’t happened “plenty” of times. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/66 "2020-01-31T19:13:44Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I was only referring to people I’ve dine with sitting at my table. I suppose it’s not outside the realm of possibility that I may have forgotten one or two people. But I do know with certainty it hasn’t happened “plenty” of times. Hmm. It’s pretty common for my crowd to do exactly what i said. Order, then excuse to go to the restroom while waiting for the food. ---
**Author:** ![Pantastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3bc359/32.png) [@Pantastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pantastic)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/67 "2020-01-31T19:24:46Z")
Never done this, only know a few people who do. I will wash my hands if I think they might be unusually dirty for some reason, but not for the scenario described of just driving in and going to the table. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/68 "2020-01-31T19:33:02Z")
> [@x-ray\_vision](#): > > It’s for you and for other people. What’s on your hands isn’t just from you; it’s from all of the things you’ve touched that isn’t part of you, including other people. I meant to highlight parts of that post, sorry. Yeah, washing your hands before eating, or before touching your face, is for you. But washing your hands after you use the toilet (especially at home) is mostly for other people. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/69 "2020-01-31T20:42:51Z")
Quite often when I’m at a restaurant I’ve been touching public/business doors and other nasty things, so yes I will wash my hands unless they were clean when I left my house and I didn’t touch anything after that. ---
**Author:** ![MortSahlFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MortSahlFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MortSahlFan)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/70 "2020-01-31T20:45:52Z")
I can’t remember the last time I went to a restaurant, but I’m sure I took a leak and then washed my hands. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/71 "2020-01-31T20:45:54Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > I can’t think of anyone I’ve dined with that does. I can. I had a coworker who was a real germophobe. Whenever I went to lunch with him, as soon as we got to the restaurant he would head to the restroom to wash his hands before even sitting down at the table. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/72 "2020-02-01T01:38:24Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I can. I had a coworker who was a real germophobe. Whenever I went to lunch with him, as soon as we got to the restaurant he would head to the restroom to wash his hands before even sitting down at the table. The OP laid out a scenario where it was after ordering, probably to include the handling of the filthy menu. In any case, that you know one person that does this isn’t unbelievable. That I don’t know anyone that does this is also probably not unbelievable. That fully 40%+ of the poll respondents (45 to 63) claim to wash their hands after ordering is truly remarkable. Without calling out anyone in particular, I’ll go so far as to say it’s unbelievable. This thread is going to have me watching a lot of restaurant patrons this year. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/73 "2020-02-01T02:56:45Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > This thread is going to have me watching a lot of restaurant patrons this year. Just back from a local brewery where, in addition to beer, we had food-truck food (Gyros, rice, salad, baba ganoush). Food was scooped up by hand-held pita bread. I did not see one person hit the head between procuring victuals and eating. Every single person (I was person watching while my gf chatted with a friend) came in with their food and ate. Most people did go to the lavatory after eating. A fun time was had by all. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/74 "2020-02-01T03:16:41Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > The OP laid out a scenario where it was after ordering, probably to include the handling of the filthy menu. I do it this way because the interlude between ordering and receiving food is a convenient period of time in which to take care of it; that it also happens to be after handling a menu that 90 other people have handled is a nice bonus. If I wash my hands before ordering, it delays everything. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/75 "2020-02-01T04:59:02Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I do it this way because the interlude between ordering and receiving food is a convenient period of time in which to take care of it; that it also happens to be after handling a menu that 90 other people have handled is a nice bonus. If I wash my hands before ordering, it delays everything. Ditto. Washing my hands prior to ordering risks making everyone else wait. It slows down the service. It’s not convenient for anyone. Also, I’d be shocked if 40% of Americans washed their hands before eating at restaurants. I’m usually the only one at my table. But I wouldn’t be shocked if 40% of the people who found the title of this thread, “Do you wash your hands…” interesting, do wash their hands. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/76 "2020-02-01T09:24:20Z")
My friend always washes her hands before she eats or drinks anything at someone’s house, at a restaurant, and often even at her own home, when she’s been cooking. After reading this thread I am thinking I should start using hand sanitizer at work. I think my coworker who has a child in daycare, is bringing everything into work. I am on my second cold this winter and I’m not happy about it. And I don’t normally wash my hands before I eat something at a restaurant, unless I need to use the bathroom for its primary purpose. Then I definitely wash my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/77 "2020-02-01T12:36:44Z")
Semi-relevant: There was a recent study (too lazy to search for it, sorry) that showed that if your could train yourself to not touch your face/mouth you could significantly reduce your chances of contracting illness. mmm ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/78 "2020-02-01T12:49:02Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Ditto. Washing my hands prior to ordering MAKES making everyone else wait. It slows down the service. It’s not convenient for anyone. > > Also, I’d be shocked if 40% of Americans washed their hands before eating at restaurants. I’m usually the only one at my table. But I wouldn’t be shocked if 40% of the people who found the title of this thread, “Do you wash your hands…” interesting, do wash their hands. damn autocorrect. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/79 "2020-02-01T13:12:28Z")
I’d say just 5% of the time. More or less randomly, or perhaps depending on what I was doing just before the meal — Volunteering at my kid’s third-grade classroom in February? Yes. Digging post holes on a muddy day? Yes. But rarely enough that I voted “no” for this poll. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186/80 "2020-02-01T13:59:30Z")
Usually. Maybe. It depends. If the restaurant was my first stop after leaving my house, usually not - unless I need to use the restroom before the meal. I usually leave home with clean hands, as it were. But if I’ve been out and about, running errands, working…yes, always. I’ll excuse myself right after being seated and go to the restroom to wash my hands. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-wash-your-hands-before-dining-at-restaurants/847186.md?page=5)