Do you wash your hands after putting something into the trash?

United States
August 24, 2007 4:10pm CST
Maybe I'm overly compulsive, but everytime I throw something into the kitchen trash, I feel the need to wash my hands. And, I feel that way especially if I'm about to eat food. I just don't want those germs to go into my mouth. The way our trash can works, I have to touch the lid when I want to open it. It doesn't open automatically. And, even if it did, I am pretty sure I would feel the same way. Maybe I feel the need to wash my hands, because they've been so close to trash. And, I'm pretty sure there are germs after handling the trash can. I don't think it's my imagination. Or, perhaps it's a habit that I picked up as a kid. Who knows why people do these things? Either way, the minute I get done putting something in the trash, off to the sink I go to sanitize my hands. Does anyone else do that? Do you find yourself washing your hands after doing the most common household tasks? Do you think it actually makes you healthier?
3 people like this
19 responses
• United States
24 Aug 07
Yes, always. Also....when away from home....you never know, especially if it is a garbage can in a public space, who has touched it last and with what kind of garbage. When I'm out I have wipes or hand sanitizer with me.
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
24 Aug 07
I think it does make you a little healthier. It lowers your risk of getting those specific germs, especially salmonella. People may say that's compulsive, but truly it's not. If I touch the trashcan, I'm going to wash my hands, no doubt. And I think that is just common sense.
@AmbiePam (85496)
• United States
24 Aug 07
I didn't know you had had salmonella. I became your friend fairly recently. Man, no wonder you are careful! I would be too!
• United States
24 Aug 07
You know my story, I've been sick with salmonella before. I've talked about that in my other discussions. Got that illness several times when I was a kid. Only in more recent years have people learned the dangers of dealing with kitchen germs. Could explain my cleaning compulsion.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
3 Sep 07
I wash my hands a lot. Especially before I eat- so yes I wash them when I throw something out- My trash can does not have a lid- so I don’t have to touch the can at all- I still wash my hands- I have got my daughter washing hers also- I’m not obsessive about it- but they say to wash your hands throughout the day – will help preventing sickness.
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
24 Aug 07
I do it all the time. I have a habit of rinsing my hands using dish washing soap or even a wet wipe after putting items into our trash can. I wipe our trash can down and clean it almost everyday but I still wash my hands afterwards. It's like washing your hands everytime you go to the bathroom. Its a habit for me nowadays.
1 person likes this
• United States
24 Aug 07
If I don't wash my hands immediately, I don't feel like they are clean. Even if I've only tossed the trash at the top of the can. I guess it's a habit that is paying off. I'm rarely sick from kitchen germs.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
25 Aug 07
If its something minor like paper then not really. Domestically yea. All the time. Especially if I'm the one cooking that day. I also find myself washing my hands several times a day. It does help prevent some infections but its not flawless.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Aug 07
Yes, but hand washing is what we have! Sometimes that is all we have. So, I do use the anti-bacterial soaps some when I can.
@trickomm (309)
• Hungary
24 Aug 07
I never wash my hands after I use the thrash... the windows xp trash i mean :):) ha-ha i think "everybody laughed with me" :) nevermind :) So yes, of course, hygiene is very important in our life. I'm sorry lot of people don't know - or don't wanna know - that, somebody is lazy, somebody think it's nevermind... but you get a lot of kinds of ill from bacterical to viruses if you don't wash your hand. We must change the thinking about that, huh?
@trickomm (309)
• Hungary
24 Aug 07
I'm happy to make you smile... :)
@lermski (55)
• United States
25 Aug 07
Hell yeah i wash my hands. Germs can give your body the grief it doesn't need.
@Calais (10893)
• Australia
25 Aug 07
I am constantly washing hands...But I have found that I dont need to after putting rubbish in the bin..I got a pedal bin that way i dont have to touch it at all..
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
28 Aug 07
Oh yes!! I can't stand not too. I'm definately overly compulsive and find myself getting more so all the time. Have a great day!! AT PEACE WITHIN
• United States
25 Aug 07
nothing wrong with being clean i find myself washing my hands very often and its fine nothing wrong with cleaning yourself
@tuffy999 (794)
• Philippines
25 Aug 07
it's a habit really on my part, throwing trash or entering the house after being out the whole day the first thing i do is wash my hands.
• India
25 Aug 07
hi i feel you are 200 % right. as the saying goes "if there is health, there is wealth". Your safety and your family's safety depends on these small practices like washing hands after putting something into the trash. its like when you are in habit of doing the household work you intend to forget few things like trash thing. So its always better to follow these good practices. Keep it up.
@laurika (4532)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I don't have a lid on my trash can, but still I am washing my hands.But not only if I throw something to kitchen trsh, also when I am touching anything and after that I go eat.You never know, where germs can hide :)
@kennedee (156)
• Philippines
25 Aug 07
yup! I do wash my hand everytime I touch something that I think has a living bacteria on it. I think that's not bad. Washing our hands everytime we touches something dirty is a very good hygene. I wash my hands reegularly that's before and after eating and going to the bathroom. I also do feel like washing my hands everytime I touches something wet or has a very bad odor.
@jimotman (633)
• Indonesia
25 Aug 07
for me, it depends on what I throw away. If it's dry trash I don't wash my hands, but if it's wet trash, especially when the trash get to my hands, of course I will wash my hands. Also, if I have to touch the lid to open the trash can, I will wash my hands.
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
25 Aug 07
mostly after handling trash, not necessarily throwing something into kitchen trash. but before eating anything I always wash my hands, even if there is no hand soap I will still use water. Sometimes after a long day of cleaning the house I will need a shower before I can eat anything
@raychill (6525)
• United States
24 Aug 07
Yes. I'm weird about germs in general. I actually carry around hand sanitizer for those moments you can't get to a sink. I have dry hands due to the numerous times I wash my hands a day. recently I did the smartest thing anyone can do though... I bought a new trash can that has the step button to open it. So you never have to touch the trash can! well your foot touches the button but that's it. Depending on what it was that i put in the trash can, I still sometimes have to wash my hands though, but it saves you from the constant hand washing!
@Buggheart (445)
• United States
24 Aug 07
Generally not as we have a trashcan where you step on the little pedal thingie and the lid flips wide open. I am generally a clean freak in the kitchen though and am obsessive about washing my hands, counters, everything a hundred times a day, especially when I'm working with raw meat.
• China
25 Aug 07
yes,definitely yes.I think it is necessary to wash hands when you touch something especially you touch trash .As the saying goes,a close mouth catches no flies.The more you wash hands, the less germs you infect,the less likely ill you are .The health is very important for us . With health ,we can do we want to do .As for me ,i usually wash hands as long as i touch dirty things .Wash before i eat. i think it is a good habit,and i will keep the good habit.