# Men: Do you wash your hands if nobody else is in the room? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 2, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941 "2003-04-02T12:50:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/41 "2003-04-03T00:38:25Z")
I always wash my hands with soap after any use of the toilet. Read Cecil’s column linked above for the icky details. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Surreal \* > **For those of you who are so adamant about sterilizing your hands everytime you pee or scratch yourself, how do you manage to get out of the restroom?** I have a co-worker who uses the paper towel from his hand-washing to grasp the door handle to let himself out. I’m not that, uh, anal, but I see his point. ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/42 "2003-04-03T00:43:14Z")
I’ve heard that Brits wash their hands _before_ peeing, most American men wash their hands _after_ peeing, and guys from West Virginia wash their hands _while_ they’re peeing . . . Hope there isn’t anyone from West Virginia in the audience! Thanks for the applause, I’ll be here all week! Don’t forget to tip your waitress. ::d&r:: ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/43 "2003-04-03T04:05:13Z")
> [@](#): > > I have a co-worker who uses the paper towel from his hand-washing to grasp the door handle to let himself out. I’m not that, uh, anal, but I see his point. That is how we were taught- per hospital procedure- to exit the bathroom during orientation. I always do this, because so many people don’t wash their hands. ---
**Author:** ![ITR\_champion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c67d28/32.png) [@ITR\_champion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ITR_champion)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/44 "2003-04-03T05:15:44Z")
In response to the OP, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/45 "2003-04-03T05:39:37Z")
Most of the time, yeah. ---
**Author:** ![robgruver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@robgruver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robgruver)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/46 "2003-04-03T06:19:39Z")
Due to the type of work I do (very Blue Collar) I get awfully dirty hands. If I go at work, I wash up before, and usually don’t worry about it afterwards. My hands are just going to be filthy in a few minutes anyway. I rarely wash up at home unless I feel something hit my hand or miss with the TP. I do shower twice a day though. ---
**Author:** ![Jervoise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jervoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jervoise)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/47 "2003-04-03T06:32:52Z")
I’d encourage all of you who insist it’s better to wash before urinating because your hands are dirtier than your penis to read the above linked article. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jammers \* > \*\*If I’m at home, or work, then yes, I always wash. If i’m at the pub, or in a club, then no, because I am convinced that my undercarriage is far cleaner than most, if not all public toilets \*\* I’m the same. There’s not much point washing my hands at a pub or club because the doors and handles I can’t avoid touching are most likely filthy. I usually don’t eat anything (not with my fingers anyway) or have reason to touch my face or mouth at the pub anyway. Also, having a few beers helps me accept that a few germs aren’t quite so bad afterall. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/48 "2003-04-03T08:29:35Z")
Hey women, when you find out a guy doesn’t wash his hands, or does so only before urinating, which of the following best describes your reaction? A: He’s so daring. Challenging societal mores. B: He’s so smart. He realizes how things should be done. C: He’s so mature. Doesn’t pee on his hands. D: EEEEWWWW!!! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/49 "2003-04-03T10:58:53Z")
yep. more so after having a baby around. not a scrupulous as when she was a new born but pretty good. With SARS going around, I’m back to scrubbing my hands like there is a newborn around. ---
**Author:** ![NardoPolo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecae2f/32.png) [@NardoPolo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NardoPolo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/50 "2003-04-03T11:31:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zette \* > I have a co-worker who uses the paper towel from his hand-washing to grasp the door handle to let himself out. This is why it is much preferable to have bathroom doors that open out. Just push them with your foot and keep your hands away. Otherwise, yes, I’ll use a paper towel if there’s a trash can closeby. Also chalk me up as a foot-flusher. As for washing hands after taking a leak: **always**. Occasionally pop into the bathroom just to wash hands without peeing anyway. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/51 "2003-04-03T13:36:19Z")
Um, guys? According to the article by Cecil referenced above, the reason we should all wash with soap after urinating is NOT because we could get sick if we don’t. It’s because we can infect OTHER people with our bacteria if we don’t. So feel free to wash your hands as much as you want BEFORE urinating, but for the love of all that is holy please don’t shake my hands or touch anything that I might come in contact with if you don’t also wash your hands AFTER urinating! Barry ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941/52 "2003-04-03T13:38:58Z")
Yes, after every time, no matter if I’m alone or not. Not because I’m saving myself from all the germs ( I think we worry just a tad much about that myself), but out of courtesy to others. Just because I don’t have a problem with a few germs, doesn’t give me the right to inflict that on others. \*On preview…what godzillatemple said 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-do-you-wash-your-hands-if-nobody-else-is-in-the-room/165941.md?page=2)