How to clean your hands after touching feces

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We all know what we're supposed to do after using the toilet.  

But survey after survey (including one in which scientists secretly camped out in bathrooms) have revealed a dirty truth: people don't always wash their hands before they leave the bathroom. One study suggested that only 67% of people wash their hands after they go.

On Sunday, Fox News host Pete Hegseth said he hasn't washed his hands in a decade.

"I inoculate myself," Hegseth said, jokingly. "Germs are not a real thing. I can’t see them, therefore they’re not real." 

But Don Schaffner, a professor of food science at Rutgers, has been studying hand washing for years and says the conventional wisdom on hand hygiene shouldn't be ignored. 

"It doesn't matter whether you're peeing or you're pooping, you should wash your hands," he told Business Insider.

Here's why.

Germs can hang out in bathrooms for a long time

Each trip to the restroom is its own unique journey into germ land. So some occasions probably require more washing up than others.

"If you've got diarrhea all over your hands, it's way more important that you wash your hands than if... you didn't get any obvious poop on your fingers," Schaffner said. "My gosh, if you've got poop on your hands and you have the time, certainly, get in there, lather up real good and do a real good job." 

Compared to feces, urine can be pretty clean when we're not harboring any infections, though it's not totally sterile.

"People who use urinals probably think they don't need to wash their hands," Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, said to the New York Times. (In studies, women tend to be better about adhering to hand washing than men.)

But it's best to wash your hands after every trip to the toilet because human feces carry pathogens like E. coli, Shigella, Streptococcus, hepatitis A and E, and more. 

You can also easily catch norovirus by touching bathroom surfaces that have been contaminated with a sick person's poo or vomit, then putting your hands into your mouth. The super-contagious illness is the most common food poisoning culprit, and causes diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and stomach pain. 

A wide variety of other microbes and bacteria can be found in bathrooms, too. Some strains of Staphylococcus, or staph, are "found on almost every hand," as a team of hand washing researchers pointed out in a 2004 study. Public toilets can house many different drug-resistant strains of that bacteria.

Even if your own hands are clean and poo-free, can you say the same for the last person who touched that toilet handle, used the sink, or opened the bathroom door?

If you’re a first-time mum or a nurse you’ve likely experienced the leftover scent of poop on your hands at some point. It can feel maddening to find your hands still smelling even after washing.

Don’t stress any longer, our guide will help you keep smelling fresh despite any accidents.

Always make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after coming into contact with feces. Rinsing under cool water before applying hand soap may help prevent a lasting odor. 

If the smell of poop remains after washing, try using toothpaste, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, or salt. These odor eliminators are cheap, easy, and effective ways to rid the smell of poop from your hands for good.

Remember to clean under your nails as dirt can easily get caught under the nails. Use a nailbrush to clear out any debris when washing your hands.

To protect your hands in the future, always wear disposable gloves when assisting others with their bathroom needs.

There may be affiliate links in this article. You can read more about this in my disclosure.

How to Clean Your Hands After Touching Feces

After coming into contact with feces, the first step is to wash your hands thoroughly. If you are unable to immediately wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand gel.

If you use a hand gel, make sure to still wash your hands at the earliest opportunity. 

The NHS provides the following guidelines for effective handwashing:

1. Rinse your hands under cool water before applying hand soap. 
2. Use enough soap to cover both hands. 
3. Rub the palms of your hands together. 
4. Then use one hand to rub the back of the other hand, and rub in between the fingers. Repeat this step on the other hand. 
5. Interlock your fingers together and rub clean. 
6. Then rub the back of your fingers against your palms.
7. Rub the thumb of each hand using the other hand.
8. Rub the tips of your fingers on the palm of the other hand. Repeat with the other hand.
9. Rinse the soap from your hands thoroughly under warm water.
10. Dry your hands completely with a disposable towel.
11. Use the disposable towel to turn off the tap and then discard it.

Quick and Easy Poop Odor Eliminators

There are several safe and fast methods for getting rid of stool odor on your hands. And, best of all, the solutions are easy, cheap, and affordable!

Whether you’re at work or at home, you should be able to find at least one of the eliminators in your cleaning cupboard or kitchen.

Our favourite hand odor eliminators include:

• Rubbing your hands with salt.
• Soaking your hands in an apple cider vinegar solution.
• Using baking soda and lemon juice.
• Washing your hands with toothpaste or mouthwash.

Can Salt Remove Poop Smell?

One of the simplest methods to remove stool odor from your hands is to use salt! A pretty common staple to have at work or in the home, you’ll likely be able to find some quickly. 

Simply wet your hands under cool water and then pour some salt onto your hands. By wetting your hands first, the salt will stick better.

Rub the salt into your hands to remove any stool residue and odor. Then rinse thoroughly under warm water.

Pat your hands dry with a paper towel. Safely discard the paper towel after use.

Can Vinegar be used to Remove the Poop Smell?

Apple cider vinegar can kill harmful bacteria and is often used as a household disinfectant. It’s also safe to use on your skin to clean, disinfect and deodorize.

You can either pour vinegar directly onto your hands or soak your hands in an apple cider vinegar solution.

To make the apple cider vinegar solution you’ll need:

• ½ a cup of apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup of water

No products found.

Mix together the apple cider vinegar with the water in a basin or tub. Then soak your hands in the solution for around one minute.

Rinse your hands thoroughly and then pat dry. To prevent your hands from drying out, apply a little hand cream after soaking.

Can Baking Soda and Lemon Juice be used to Remove the Poop Smell?

Yes, baking soda and lemon juice can be used together as an effective deodorizer for your hands.

Baking soda is a non-toxic, natural antiseptic with antibacterial properties. It also doesn’t have the strong smell associated with vinegar.

To clean your hands with baking soda, first, wet your hands with cool water. Then apply a tablespoon of baking powder to your hands.

Rub the baking soda into your hands and between your fingers. Then simply rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Or, you can soak your hands for a few minutes in a baking soda and lemon juice solution. For this, you’ll need:

• ¼ cup of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 cup of lukewarm water

Mix together the baking soda, lemon juice and water in a basin or tub. Then soak your hands in the solution for around one minute.

Rinse your hands thoroughly and then pat dry. To prevent your hands from drying out, apply a little hand cream after soaking.

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Can Toothpaste or Mouthwash Remove the Poop Smell?

If you have toothpaste or mouthwash to hand, this can be a great option for deodorising your hands. Toothpaste is a mild abrasive and is usually made with salt and baking soda.

This makes it a handy weapon against stool odours. Similarly, mouthwash has antibacterial qualities and often contains alcohol. 

First, wet your hands under cool water. Next, apply a small amount of toothpaste or mouthwash to your hands.

Then rub your hands together and scrub in between your fingers. Finally, rinse your hands under warm water.

If you are using toothpaste, it may take a little longer to thoroughly rinse off the toothpaste.

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Why Do My Hands Still Smell Like Poop After Washing?

Your hands may still smell like poop even after washing simply because you have not washed thoroughly enough. Rinsing your hands under cool water before applying soap will help rid the smell.

Make sure to also clean under your nails to clear away any residue caught under them. Follow the NHS guidelines on effective handwashing to ensure your hands are completely clean of poop. 

Even after thoroughly washing your hands, you may still notice a bad smell. This is because the potent odors from feces can be absorbed into the oils of the skin.

The smell can last a while, so it’s best to use an odor eliminator as soon as possible. You can eliminate the odor by soaking your hands in a baking soda & lemon juice solution or in apple cider vinegar.

You can also try washing your hands with toothpaste or rubbing your hands with salt. 

How Do I Avoid Getting Poop Smell on My Hands?

The best way to avoid getting poop on your hands is to use disposable gloves when caring for the bathroom needs of others. Not only will it protect you from the odor but also from the harmful bacteria found in feces. 

When removing your gloves, take care. Pinch the outside of one glove, near the wrist. Carefully pull the glove off so that it turns inside out.

Keep the glove in the palm of your still-gloved hand. Then slip two fingers under the wrist of the remaining glove.

Pull off carefully until it also turns inside out. If done properly, the first glove should end up inside the second glove.

You can then safely dispose of the gloves. Once you have removed your gloves, wash your hands thoroughly. 

If you’re a nurse or carer, try the triple-glove technique. Before cleaning up an accident, pull on three pairs of gloves. After cleaning the initial mess, remove your first glove.

Apply a new diaper and then remove the next glove. Then use the final glove to dispose of the waste and replace any bed linen as needed.

So, that’s the end of our guide on eliminating stool odor from your hands!

If you accidentally come into contact with poop, rinse your hands under cool water before washing thoroughly with soap. And then try one of our favourite methods for eliminating nasty odors from your hands.

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