We all have habits we know aren't exactly clean but some are downright shocking when you stop and think about them. So, what’s one of the most unhygienic things people keep doing anyway?

#1

Not washing hands after using the bathroom, particularly a public one.

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Alexia
Community Member
3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One of the reasons I went no contact with my narcissist brother was his personal hygiene (or lack of). He never washed hands after coming in from outside or after using the bathroom. I told him this and the result was that he "washed" his hand very quickly and superficially. I found traces of black dirt on the towel 🙄

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    #2

    Sneezing without covering. Sure, a sneeze can really sneak up on you, but you can almost always get the crook of your elbow up to your face in time. Ewww, you say, sneeze goo all over my sleeve or bare skin. Well, at least it's NOT all over the air other people have to breathe. Your bare skin you can then wipe off and sanitize, and your sleeve you can wash later. But you are not privileged to just blow your sneezes any darn where you want.

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    Glen Ellyn
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If I can't get to a tissue before a sneeze, I pull on my shirt neckline and cover my mouth to contain the sneeze. If there's any spray, no one will see it on me.

    #3

    Men that pee, and then just give it a shake, and tuck it back in. My husband does this, and it's like cleaning up after a potty training toddler.I don't know, for the life of me why parents aren't teaching their sons to dab it with a bit of tp. It only takes a second.

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    B
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Middle aged male here. I've sat down to pee for the past 3 decades. Why? Well I always thought my stream was going straight down into the bowl (the side, right next to the water, so no splashing) but one day a ray of sunshine through the window highlighted just how much 'invisible' spray was decorating the rim, the floor, my shoes, even the walls. Sat down every since then, and we ask all our guests to do it too - none of them have ever complained, some even said they do it in their homes. No idea why all men can't do this.

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    #4

    Double-dipping your chips.

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    MalayDragon
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    "You just double dipped your chip, You don't double dip. That's like putting your whole mouth in the Dip"

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    #5

    Paying for your McDonalds with cash, then eating right away without washing your hands. You don't know where that money has been and what germs it has picked up.

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    Glen Ellyn
    Community Member
    Premium
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I've read that cash often has d-rug residue on it.

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    #6

    Almost everything you do. After you hear about how much bacteria and germs are on EVERYTHING you touch you you first go through the ultra-clean phase followed by the inevitable acceptance that everything you touch is filthy and it's basically unavoidable. Maintain good hygiene standards, you'll be fine.

    But definitely going to have agree with the salad-tossing post. I know that bacteria is on everything, that's not the problem here.

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    The Other Guest
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Then what IS the problem? I'm definitely missing something here.

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    #7

    Not washing hands before eating and touching their faces.

    Licking their fingers to flip a page. (I see this mainly with older people and this habit may be dying out.)

    Dropping food on the floor then eating it.

    Walking through the house with outdoor shoes on.

    Not washing sheets often enough.

    Brushing their hair in the lunch room. Clipping nails in the lunch room.

    Not bathing often enough then covering up their stench with deodorants and chemical sprays.

    Picking butts off the ground and reusing the tobacco.

    Picking their ears, noses, scratching the sleep out of their eyes without washing their hands.

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    Seadog
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stench - this one. I worked with a guy that I honestly believe anly took a bath once a week. We worked for AutoZone and he'd buy those car airfreshner sprays that are supposed to smell like name brand colognes and use those for cologne. And if this isn't bad enough, his wife was even dirtier than he was....way dirtier.

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    #8

    Walking in the ocean or a pond with an open cut.

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Ocean is very different than a pond. Salt water is great for cuts.

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    #9

    Others have mentioned not washing hands. I'll go a step further. Biting your nails. Whether you chew on it, or spit it out, there's a ton of c**p under them that is gross. On a side note, picking your nose. Sometimes a tissue just won't do, but jeez don't eat it.

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    #10

    Sharing makeup products - nope nope nope

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    #11

    Tossing Salad.

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    The Other Guest
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Either this is a euphamism (sp?) for something else, or this person is unfamiliar with salad tongs.

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    #12

    Physical intimacy.

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    Lyone Fein
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So true. People should wash themselves before and after being intimate with others. If you care about your own health and the health of your partner.

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    #13

    Letting dogs on the bed without washing their paws after they walked through who knows what all day.

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    BeesEelsAndPups
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lol, my dog sleeps under the covers with me. That's why I have a mattress protector, and I wash the linens every week at least.

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    #14

    Touching their own phones without having it cleaned. I forget to, but your fingers have a lot of bacteria. Imagine what colonies are living on it now if you have not wiped it down.

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    Seadog
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    exactly why hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial soaps are actlly bad for you. They k**l the good bacteria as well and that's our first line defense against everything we touch.

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    #15

    the "5 second rule" for food dropped on the ground

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    Sacred Panda
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It used to be 3 seconds back in my days adjusted for inflation

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    #16

    Dog "kisses". Don't let you dog lick your face ffs.

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    KatSaidWhat
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I am absolutely letting dogs lick my face. I have for 50 years, why stop now? (RHETORICAL)

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    #17

    I have seen people in the candy near the ice cream machine just take a handful of candy. I have seen them use the buffet without gloves after many people have touched the same serving utensil

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    #18

    Owning dogs! Sure, they're cute and sweet, but they're honestly disgusting when you think about it. They rub their a**l glands all over the floor, they drool bacteria everywhere, their oily fur sheds all over the place, their paws are never cleaned despite them walking in all kinds of mud and muck all day, they roll in and even eat poop and grime when they get the chance, yet people still let them get on the couch or bed.

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    Greengrass
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Easier to catch something from another human than from a dog.

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    #19

    Buffets and potlucks. You never know who was the last person to touch the spoon or fork, and if they have washed their hands. Potlucks, you don't know how clean their home/kitchen is.

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    #20

    Not removing your shoes when entering a house. You've been outside and stepped on all sorts of nasty germs - mud, urine, animal poop, other bacteria, etc.
    It's also respectful for other's cultural practices as well.

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    BeesEelsAndPups
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have my outside flip-flops and my inside flip-flops for a reason. I don't like to walk around barefoot in my home anymore because of lego pieces.

    #21

    Letting kids sit in the shopping cart with their gross shoes and snot. A shopping card is for food, not your lazy child.

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    Papa
    Community Member
    3 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    So how do you propose parents with small children do their shopping? You saying a shopping cart is not for a lazy child sounds like you've never heard of toddlers.

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