• Thorny_Insight@lemm.ee
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    4 months ago

    My possibly unpopular opinion is that just using water is probably more than sufficient unless you’ve been handling something that has visibly stained your hands. Some level of “dirt” on your hands is probably better for your immune system than perfectly clean ones. I’ve never been much of a hand washer myself. I use my hands a lot, I touch everything, I don’t wear gloves at work and I bite my nails. Yesterday I pulled carrots from the ground and rubbed worst of the soil away onto grass and ate them like that. I can’t help but feel that behavior like this is to thank for the fact that I’m never sick and I have zero allergies or food intolerances.

    • Justin@lemmy.jlh.name
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      4 months ago

      Water won’t prevent the spread of disease. Things like flu viruses, C diff, jock itch, antibiotic resistant bacteria, etc will spread if you don’t use soap.

      If you’re healthy and just staying at home, sure it doesn’t hurt to be eating some dirt bacteria. But you should use soap after being in public places, at hospitals, after pooping, or after touching genitals or feet.

    • shalafi@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Like you, I stick all kinds of shit in my mouth, got a real oral fixation. OTOH, I wash my hands frequently with homemade soap. And also like you, I rarely get sick.

      If you don’t give your immune system a workout, it seems to taper off.