Surprising and Bizarre House Rules People Have Come Across
Many people establish specific guidelines for guests within their homes. Unexpectedly, some encounters with such rules might seem peculiar. Sometimes, these regulations and rules may take things a bit too far. A Reddit user prompted a discussion by asking, “What’s the most bizarre house rule you’ve encountered?” Of course, Redditors truly delivered with their responses.
Bizarre house rules people encountered at someone else’s house.
One Redditor recounted an incident during a bath at a friend’s house. They discovered the unique practice of reusing bathwater as a means of conserving money or water. The commenter noted that the household comprised five children.
Another narrative unfolded as a woman shared her experience of a sleepover at a friend’s house at the age of 14. To her surprise, her friend’s mother insisted on confiscating her phone at the door, despite the device being given to her by her father for safety reasons.
In a middle school sleepover scenario, one person found themselves reprimanded for removing their shoes upon entering the house. The family strictly adhered to a “shoes ON all the time” policy, with exceptions only during sleep.
Bizarre house rules people encountered in their own homes.
Someone shared a unique consequence for slamming doors in their childhood home. Their father made them kiss the door to “make it feel better.” A fellow Redditor found this so amusing that they responded writing, “That’s hilarious, I think I might actually make this a new rule in my house.”
A different contributor recounted a distinctive household practice related to flatulence. In this case, the rule dictated that if one needed to pass gas, they were required to venture outside and proceed all the way to the mailbox.
Interestingly, according to SOS Safety Magazine, house rules play a pivotal role in fostering trust and respect among household members. However, they caution that an exception to this is if the rules are extremely controlling. Additionally, the magazine emphasizes that establishing house rules aids in creating a sense of what is deemed acceptable or unacceptable when sharing space with others.
9 Unspoken Rules for Public Restroom Etiquette
Skip the complicated stuff
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Feel free to touch up your makeup or give your teeth a quick brush. But skip the complex routines like flossing, clipping your nails, or shaving. Keep phone calls at bay, and save emails and browsing for later. Remember, public bathrooms are riskier for hygiene. According to Health, a health and lifestyle website, illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and colds can be found on surfaces. So, minimize your time there for safety’s sake.
No touchy, touchy
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If you spot someone you know, a nod is perfectly okay. No need to shake hands! In fact, CNN reported that only 5% of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. It’s risky to assume otherwise. No one needs to guess where your hands were. Wet handshakes are bad, worse if it’s mystery liquid.
Stall chats and gossip
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Avoid engaging in conversations between stalls or near urinals. This holds particularly true within the office environment, where you can’t be certain if a colleague or supervisor is in the adjacent stall, potentially overhearing any complaints or gossip you share. A Redditor shared their frustration on the discussion board saying that talking in stalls should only be for, “Can you pass me some toilet paper? This ones out” or “Crap. Do you have a tampon?”
Hold off on phone conversations
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Staying connected is great, thanks to our trusty smartphones always being by our side. But let’s not take them to the bathroom. Besides the germs, it can get awkward. The person on your call hears bathroom noises and flushes. The nearby stall occupant gets only half the conversation, making the shared bathroom uncomfortable.
Welcoming yourself in without knocking
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You’re eyeing a solo bathroom, uncertain if it’s taken. Start with a knock on the door. No response? Next, put your hand on the doorknob and carefully turn it to one side. Did it open? If not, odds are someone’s inside, so hold on. No need to shake the handle like you’ve never met a doorknob. That’s a surefire method to give the person inside a shock. And just in case the person in the restroom forgot to lock the door, at least all your bases are covered.
Don't flush with your feet
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There are some people who think they’re maintaining hygiene by flushing toilets with their feet. In reality, this is one of the least hygienic actions. Shoes aren’t clean, particularly after navigating a public restroom, exposing them to unclean surfaces. This transfers germs where others touch. If you’re concerned about germs, consider using a piece of toilet paper to operate the flush handle.
"Be a sweetie and wipe the seatie"
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Tidy up after use. This rule covers all areas of the restroom. After you’re done, take a look at the seat and floor, and clean as needed. To put it simply, be considerate and give your seat a wipe. This also pertains to the sink. While soap is clean, leaving a large blob under the dispenser isn’t polite behavior.
Stall hogger
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According to Geisinger, a health organization, studies indicate the average time spent in the restroom is about 12 seconds. Occasionally, it might take longer, but it’s generally recommended not to exceed 10 minutes. So, if you find yourself scrolling through Instagram and Facebook during your bathroom time, you may want to reconsider. Keep in mind that others may be waiting their turn, and lingering around the restroom door isn’t the most comfortable scenario. On the other hand, if the restroom is occupied, it’s courteous to step away and return later. It’s unnecessary to wait outside the door, which could potentially be embarrassing for the occupant. However, if waiting is not feasible, forming a line is an acceptable option.
Don't peak through the stall gaps
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Making stall doors with a gap has benefits. If the door went all the way down, people couldn’t see if someone needed help. The gap helps in emergencies and lets responders assist without breaking in. Also, the gap can stop actions like sex or drug use, in stalls. But don’t make things weird by staring at people through them. That’s just uncomfortable.
