[Dog Gone]

Simply rinsing one's hands under running water for a few seconds without soap, as some people do, is not effective at all. The way to ensure maximum standards of hygiene is to lather your palms, the back of your hands, in between fingers, and under fingernails for 20-30 seconds with soap and hot water; the friction will kill off the bathroom bacteria (6).

Okay, now that you've unnerved us with the Fecal Fountain Factor, how do you turn off the water without touching something that has been contaminated? Do we all need to become like Howard Hughes?

[Lijahsbubbe]

You use your elbow to hit the paper towel lever, use the paper towel to shut the faucet off if it's not automatic, and use a paper towel to open the door.

And wash your hands as soon as you get home!

[Lijahsbubbe]

P.S., if you think about it long enough, you will want to stay in just like Howard Hughes!

[Nita Nupress]

Okay, now that you've unnerved us with the Fecal Fountain Factor, how do you turn off the water without touching something that has been contaminated? Do we all need to become like Howard Hughes?

No, but you need to be aware of what you're touching.  Turn off the water with a paper towel, or better yet, carry one of those tiny alcohol gel containers.  They make them pocket-size now.

And about opening the door to leave:  If you're really smart, you'll piddle around until some ignorant sap opens the door for you so you won't have to touch the handle.  Think of all the E.coli on that handle from ignorant saps who just wiped and then didn't wash.  Yuck.