[radio_flyer]

We all have been sick around here for the past month with all this weather changing. I'm just starting to feel good and the "new renter" which happens to be a really nice guy and is 25... well he comes downstairs a lot sometimes and well he is half picking his nose I guess. You know the half pick and then he touches the rim of the pitcher of filtered water. Then he was touching the filter and then touching everything it seemed like

Well we all know, from nose to hand to "touched surfaces" then hand to mouth is what transport the virus.. right??? How do you do that. Guess picking a nose is a private thing and guess he didn't turn far away enough for me not to see... cuz I saw it and I saw all the stuff he was touching...

Guess mentioning it to him would be too embarrassing. How do I deal with this.. Other than getting out the bleach to clean areas he touched,. Maybe I am just tired........... just ugh

[ECHOES]

You could hand him a tissue and tell him that it's a really good idea to not touch your eyes, mouth, and nose especially during flu season, because doing that transmits germs. Also tell him that you ask all of your guests to do this, to be extra careful because your family has been sick and wants to get better.

[AAAAA]

He may not even realize he's doing it. Very tough situation, I don't envy you. I would probably say something like "I notice that you touch your nose frequently, do you have allergies or is the air too dry for you? There are saline nose sprays that help keep your nose moist." That may be enough to make him be more aware of what he is doing.

[Gus1234U]

does someone who picks their nose and then touches someone else's water pitcher really understand "Polite" ?? maybe you would have better luck looking shocked and aghast~ and handing him a wet wipe while you wipe off the pitcher,, saying nothing,,, ?? just an idea,,,,, best wishes, Gus

[lynn P.]

Ewww. For me personally I would be calm but straight forward. He's not being polite by picking his nose then touching things, so why should you have to beat around the bush. I would say and this is what I've told my girls "we all have dry nose boogers that don't come out with a tissue, so if you have to dig for gold, wash your hands right away with soap". You can explain that if this was reversed, would he still drink from the water filter?

To be on the safe side, you should every so often use sanitizing wipes on common surfaces, like the kettle, fridge handle, mic. buttons, door knobs, light switches etc. That would drive me crazy and I would be very straight forward and say "hey man you just touched your nose, wash your hands please".

[Yoda]

I would hand him a box of tissues rather than one.

[Lilleth]

I'd tell him staight not to pick his nose and touch stuff its unhygenic.

[slowinmi]

Another idea is to have a large bottle of hand sanitizer sitting convenietly by your door or on the kitchen cupboard. Then tell him that you are recovering from being sick and are being careful about germs and ask him to use the sanitizer when he enters your place. If it were me, I would ask him to use it again before he touches any food, water, etc. If he forgets, keep reminding him and eventually he'll get into the habit.

I hope you are recovering and feeling well.

[Rhiannonsmoon]

I'd have the sanitzer slowinmi mentioned and I'd also have a printed notice asking people to please wash their hands before touching anything in the kitchen because germs hitchhike even when we are not aware of it.

Something cute like an ugly germ monster pic saying "Wash your hands and no one gets hurt!" type of thing.

It is a difficult situation and it does sound as if it is a compulsion rather than an unpleasant habit (he may have had something fly up his nose as a kid?), so handling it as soon as possible may help him to realise that he is not being hygenically correct.

Little hints can have a dramatic effect. If he continues without using the sanitizer then you may want to write him a little letter about group hygiene? Telling him privately would avoid any kind of embarrassment and give him the opportunity to reel the actions in of his own accord. It really is a matter of training I'm obsessive about washing my hands because my mum was obsessive about it.

[radio_flyer]

I am so sorry it had taken me so long to get back to this thread. After I posted I started cleaning the kitchen and washed the water pitcher and replaced the filter. I mixed water and bleach in a spray bottle to clean the cabinet doors, refrig, counter top and stove.. After I did all of that I noticed the floor needed cleaning so I was scrubbing the floor at 6 AM..Clean kitchen for now.......

Great ideas everyone suggested. I can say I was "freaking out" inside when he was running his fingers over everything in the kitchen. He really is a nice guy and I did not want to hurt his feelings thinking he surely doesn't know what he is doing. Being 2 AM, I think he just wanted someone to talk to and share how his day went and he maybe wasn't aware of the "nasty" thing he was doing....

So with all said this week there will be hand soap on the sink and a huge bottle of hand sanitizer will be next to the soap. Will also have kleenex to hand out. If he does it again, I will ask him to wash his hands before touching anything in the kitchen. In fact I will make a sign saying something like "wash your hands before cooking".. with a pic of an ugly germ like Rhiannonsmoom suggested. Should he continue doing it I will just say flat out remind him/tell him to wash his hands..I am "most of the time" pretty obsessive about washing my hands especially when in the kitchen, or as a matter of fact, throughout the day..
Thanks again everyone ..

OOO I forgot to mention he came downstairs again after work with pizza and donuts... So he fills his glass up with ice and I get the "filtered water pitcher" and fill start filling his glass with water.."cuz I wanted to be the one to handle the pitcher"... and he says oo I was going to get milk but that is ok I will drink the water first and then get some milk. I was a bit embarrassed .. . He offered me pizza and we chatted a bit... He wouldn't share his pizza with AJ. lol

[Princess_Obsidian]

Greetings,

Being polite is not difficult. Just use your heart and talk as nicely as you can.

Have a good one.