Topic: Hygiene Standards

Just to be controversial here urine when it leaves the body is sterile. However we know it is important to wash our hands before leaving the bathroom as there will be germs all over the surfaces we touch especially the flush handle and the door handles. On Balmoral they had a box of tissues attached to the back of the doors so you could use one to open the door and an information channel on the TV which covered hand washing. Hand dryers can be a breeding ground for bacteria unless they are regularly serviced, personally I avoid them and use disposable towels. Soap and water with the right technique of washing is the best and the gels are better than nothing. I have seen people shaking their heads and refusing the gels and I don't know what the staff are supposed to do then, one lady said they dried out her skin and she didn't like them. We just have to be vigilant as much as we can... Carol

Not strictly relevant to cruising, but this thread reminded me of a building I worked at for two or three weeks a couple of years ago. The toilets contained detailed descriptions as to how to wash and dry your hands, but no soap for the whole time I was there.

Oh yes, and they were the offices of a Primary Care Trust!

The alcohol based anti-bacterial gels DO remove the oils from skin; however there are other gels which are considerably kinder to the skin and do offer the same (or better) level of protection. ALL THAT IT NEEDS IS SOME RESEARCH INTO WHAT IS AVAILABLE and THEN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ALWAYS USED!!!!!
Skin Sure is one such product and recently Aldi had a similar product for sale.