# Poll... wash hands before sex? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068 "2002-04-28T06:12:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/1 "2002-04-28T06:12:12Z")
(1) do you wash your hands before having sex? (2) do you consider washing ones hands before sex to be a “common courtesy” item that one would assume that one’s partner would do, even without asking? ---
**Author:** ![blur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dbc845/32.png) [@blur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blur)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/2 "2002-04-28T06:58:37Z")
It really depends on the situation. If its a spur of the moment, do it on the kitchen table moment, then no, probably not. But if its more of a pre-planned thing, then I won’t just wash my hands, I’ll take a quick shower. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/3 "2002-04-28T07:12:43Z")
Ditto. If I’m in the backseat of a car, then no. However, if I’m at home I try to at least brush my teeth, and wash my face & hands. ---
**Author:** ![ejrn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@ejrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ejrn)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/4 "2002-04-28T07:14:45Z")
Oh my God! Have I been incredibly gauche by never even thinking about this. Have my lovers been faking orgasms from hand/blow jobs while secretly being horrified because I didn’t wash my hands? Seriously, when passion strikes, I just go with it. I will admit to brushing my teeth first a time or two. I guess, if someone’s hands were really dirty it could be an issue. In that case, I would just tell them to wash up. Otherwise, I would think that someone was a tad obsessive if they couldn’t make love without both of us washing our hands. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/5 "2002-04-28T09:28:50Z")
Poll: 1: NO 2: NO…by the time I am in the mood for the hands of said partner, I don’t give a fuck where they’ve been! ---
**Author:** ![reprise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ea666f/32.png) [@reprise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/reprise)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/6 "2002-04-28T09:33:50Z")
1. Yes 2. Yes The exceptions to the above being if foreplay has included a shower, a swim, a spa etc. Have you **seen** what lives under fingernails - nothing I particualrly want in my mouth, or my hoo-ha or up **my ass**. ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/7 "2002-04-28T09:37:24Z")
Hmmm, definitely would have to say… if I have a moment to plan it, definitely wash hands… if I have more than a moment to plan it, a shower is certainly the go 😉 But that having been said… if ya gotta bonk NOW ya gotta bonk NOWWWWWWWWWWWW and to hell with clean fingers LOL Max 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/8 "2002-04-28T09:39:30Z")
Not usually, but I always wash them prior to returning to work. ---
**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/9 "2002-04-28T12:28:35Z")
I’m interested to know if there’s a breakdown between male and female with the answers here. ---
**Author:** ![alaron2002](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@alaron2002](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alaron2002)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/10 "2002-04-28T13:46:38Z")
Why bother washing your hands before sex? After sex, probably more likely. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/11 "2002-04-28T14:18:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ejrn \* > Have I been incredibly gauche by never even thinking about this. I certainly don’t think so. In married life, and with the assorted SOs in the years before I met my wife, when passion struck, we simply went with it. About the only exception is if one partner really, really needed to visit the john first. But to interrupt the flow of things just to wash hands - nuts to that. 🙂 Of course, I and the women I’ve been with have tended to keep ourselves fairly clean to begin with. For instance, if I blow my nose, I’ll go wash my hands the next time I’m on my feet, if I’m not already. And the same holds true for messier or more germ-laden activities. ---
**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/12 "2002-04-28T16:00:09Z")
_Really_ thoughtful partners will also either wash their faces, or gargle, gender depending. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Clever\_Hans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Clever\_Hans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clever_Hans)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/13 "2002-04-28T16:15:23Z")
It has never once occured to me. Truth be told, more to my embarrasment I suppose, I have had girls remind me to wash up afterwards, even in public places. Clever Hans: Taking the neat out of Neat Freak. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/14 "2002-04-28T21:53:54Z")
Wash hands, brush teeth, shower, dress appropriately, eat a light meal, go to the store for extra candles and roses, drive by the hardware store for more rope and duct tape, make the bed, take out the trash, feed the cat, wash hands again, get a good night’s sleep. wake up and try to remember the mood. How am I supposed to be spontaneous if I have to wash beforehand every time? ---
**Author:** ![popokis5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@popokis5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/popokis5)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/15 "2002-04-28T22:51:03Z")
I think it is important for men to wash their hands first because of the bacteria on their hands and the um, closeness of contact with um, well I think you get the picture. ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2002, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/16 "2002-04-28T23:53:00Z")
- - - What “bacteria on men’s hands”? What’s on mens’ hands that isn’t on womens"? -And what the hell are you people using your hands for anyway, besides holding on? - DougC ---
**Author:** ![TN\_hippie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@TN\_hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TN_hippie)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/17 "2002-04-29T00:15:09Z")
I absolutely make sure my hands are clean before …uh… _internal use._ The hygiene aspects are obvious. Besides, it’s a simple matter of respect. * * * Southern Gentleman, TN\*hippie ---
**Author:** ![sandalfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sandalfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandalfeet)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/18 "2002-04-29T00:25:24Z")
not if it’s the spur of the moment, but before i go to bed, i make a stop in the bathroom to freshen up a bit, so i guess my hands are usually washed, but not becuase i make it a point to do so ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/19 "2002-04-29T00:47:17Z")
It simply never occurred to me. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2002, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068/20 "2002-04-29T01:09:28Z")
I like to wash my whole body before sex if possible. And after. Sometimes during. But often that’s not practical or a bit contrary to the moment. Like on those long transoceanic flights, or during those long walks on the beach. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-wash-hands-before-sex/106068.md?page=2)