# Why should I wash my hands after I pee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 1, 2003, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898 "2003-10-01T12:06:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/61 "2003-10-04T17:06:16Z")
On further review of the thread, I really, really missed that. What was being asked and asserted went by me completely. I really, really regret that. And I do apologize. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/62 "2003-10-04T17:59:10Z")
Upon further review I was being a bit of an asshole to you **QtM** and would like to apologise likewise. ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/63 "2003-10-04T18:01:52Z")
_gasps in disbelief_ _You mean there’s a human on the other side of this thing?!?!_ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/64 "2003-10-04T18:32:42Z")
Umm…yes? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/65 "2003-10-04T19:17:53Z")
Whichever side of this **debate** one is on, that ceremonial pause at the sink is fooling no one. Besides, your wasting paper. Peace, mangeorge (Who wants hugs too) ---
**Author:** ![alterego](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@alterego](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alterego)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/66 "2003-10-04T20:33:25Z")
**mangeorge** I would then assume that you use a bidet and do not waste paper by wiping your ass no? =) ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2003, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/67 "2003-10-04T23:10:54Z")
I’ll describe “Ceremonial pause at the sink” for you, wiseass. 😉 You go to the urinal (or toilet, if you’re one of those), pull it out, piss, close up, go to the sink, turn on the water briefly but don’t wash, then use paper towels to dry your already dry hands. Hence the “waste”. They don’t let us have bidets over here. They’re french, you know. ---
**Author:** ![ronbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ba9def/32.png) [@ronbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ronbo)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/68 "2003-10-05T00:54:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > **First Pull Up Then Pull Down** My favorite MAD magazine Don Martin cartoon: The big dumb guy reads the instruction on the towel dispenser: “Pull Down Tear Up” He then proceeds to do just that. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/69 "2003-10-05T00:56:20Z")
I _like_ bidets. They’re just so damn civilized. Especially the ones with the warm air dryers. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/70 "2003-10-05T01:08:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Qadgop the Mercotan \* > \*\*I _like_ bidets. They’re just so damn civilized. > > Especially the ones with the warm air dryers. \*\* Yeah, but every time an american uses one Bill O’Reilly gets a ringing sound in his ears. ---
**Author:** ![Fishhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@Fishhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fishhead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/71 "2003-10-05T01:30:37Z")
I’m probably not going to be able to find the cite I want, but I heard recently (within a year, I think on NPR) of a study wherein they looked for germs on hard surfaces in public bathrooms. They found surprisingly few. Restroom door handles were very clean. Here is one cite (not a great one I grant) that apparently read the same study. > [@](#): > > Myth #5 > Covering the door knob avoids germs. — FALSE > > There are fewer germs on the door knob than any place in the bathroom. — TRUE > **[Watch The View TV Show - ABC.com](https://abc.com/shows/the-view)** > > Watch the official The View online at ABC.com. Get exclusive videos, blogs, photos, cast bios, free episodes ---
**Author:** ![Fishhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@Fishhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fishhead)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/72 "2003-10-05T01:59:57Z")
Here is another article that is apparently based on the same study I heard on NPR (or wherever). > [@](#): > > If employees are eating lunch at their desks, you may want them to be more conscientious about keeping it clean. A study at the University of Arizona released this spring found that the workplace desk averages 400 times more germs than does the average toilet seat! Your own germs are most commonly found on your telephone, desktop, and computer keyboard. Other people’s germs reside on the fax machine, where the germ levels is three times higher than that of the bathroom door, the handles on water fountains, and microwaves. And what about those toilet seats your mother warned you about? Of twelve types of surfaces studied, toilets seats ranked lowest in germ volume. \*Human Resources Report, BNA, Vol. 20, No. 17, April 29, 2002 \* Here is a dissenting study, which apparently placed telephones and paper money in the same boat. (and does anybody pull those bills out of your wallet with a paper towel?? Ok, I imagine somebody does) > [@](#): > > DR TIMOTHY JOHNSON (VO) Many of the germs found were not dangerous, but in several places-the telephone mouthpiece and keypad, the computer terminal, the bathroom door and on paper money-they did find disease-producing forms of staph, which can cause anything from food poisoning to acne to boils. [http://www.lindachae.com/news\_alert\_abc.htm](http://www.lindachae.com/news_alert_abc.htm) ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/73 "2003-10-05T04:18:18Z")
**alterego** - Consider this: exposure to a potentially pathogenic bacterial strain does not automatically create a sickness. Sickness occurs when, due to some factor or combination of factors, a pathogen or its products manages to temporarily overcome or bypass _incredibly elaborate systems of physical, immunological and cellular defensive mechanisms designed to prevent illness._ Considering the sophistication of these systems, sickness due to bugs that might be normal or tolerated by others happens “all the time” - many times a year in most people. It’s so common that it often passes unremarked. Some people are more seriously affected, some are mildly but chronically afflicted. Some rarely affected, but many people who believe they are unaffected don’t realize that they could be feeling much better until a change of habits or situation brings about a sudden improvement - which is often misattributed. In any case, it’s hardly polite to play Russian Roulette with the health of others. You never know when the next guy or gal might be vulnerable, even temporarily. Ideally, we’d all return the favor. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/74 "2003-10-05T04:21:12Z")
Sorry… didn’t see the “page 2” indicator until after I hit “send”. My remark seems out of place. I apologize ---
**Author:** ![krilli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c0e974/32.png) [@krilli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/krilli)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2003, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/75 "2003-10-05T11:11:03Z")
“Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” This is the reason why I wash my hands. I do not like to touch things that have touched genitals. Therefore, I assume that other people do not like it either. At least a sufficiently large portion of them for it to be valid reasoning. There are other reasons, too, such as the fact that - like most animals with fingers - I usually insert my fingers into my nose and mouth several times during the day. I do not want to have my crotch flavors in my mouth and my nose. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2003, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/76 "2003-10-07T00:38:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mangeorge \* > \*\*They don’t let us have bidets over here. They’re french, you know. \*\* You are entirely correct, my little muffin. We call them \*\* Freedom Fountains\*\* around these parts. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/77 "2003-10-10T22:27:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cartooniverse \* > \*\*You are entirely correct, my little muffin. > > We call them \*\* Freedom Fountains\*\* around these parts. > 😛 \*\* The beret is also of french origin. Ironic, isn’t it, that they’re worn _proudly_ by troops of the US Army? :o Guess we better start calling them “Freedom Caps”. 😛 BTW; pardon me ma’am if I talk kinda funny. I’ve been in Dallas for a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/78 "2003-10-13T11:19:16Z")
**Touché**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2003, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/79 "2003-10-13T12:47:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by alterego \* > \*\*But maybe your right, I should come up with the answers to all my questions. If thats the new policy this forum needs to get shut down! > > \*\*[Why are men supposed to wash their hands after urination? Plus: urine therapy!](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_220.html) \*\* \*\* Um this colum was cited on page one in the 4th reply post. Most of the questions raised were covered there and I spent a lot of my reading here seriously confused by why no one seemed to notice that link. Also QtM had some good reading! Just wash your hands 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2003, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898/80 "2003-10-28T18:50:45Z")
Lemme just get this straight, ok? \*\*Q.T.M. \*\* DOES think we should wash our hands??? Ok. Thanks. Whew. Sometimes the truth is SO muddled. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-should-i-wash-my-hands-after-i-pee/204898.md?page=5)