ADVERTISEMENT

Over the course of thousands of years, our hygiene habits have improved to suppress outbreaks of diseases and protect our health. However, a handful of them somehow survived and have become quite the norm, despite being pretty gross

People in the AskReddit community were discussing such examples in hopes that others would give them up. Scroll down to find them, and be sure to let us know if you agree or disagree with them!

While you're at it, don't forget to check out a conversation with redditor, who started this interesting discussion in the first place.

#1

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Billionaires. You don't get that much money without seriously ruining some lives.

xTarot , freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
El Dee
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The whole thing about 'rich men' and the 'eye of a needle'? Spot on..

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

The redditor who started this thread was inspired to spark this discussion online when their partner noticed something gross they did by accident.

"I sneezed and wiped some snot on my sleeve, my wife found it disgusting and I thought it was normal," they share.

Fortunately, the Reddit user tells us that this was the only instance that their habits were found to be gross by others.

When it comes to their own tolerance for gross things, they say that not much phases them. "I’m pretty hard to gross out."

#3

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Spitting. I feel physically ill when I witness someone hawking and spitting in public or see spit sitting on the pavement.

Melora_Rabbit , Polina Zimmerman / Pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The "hawking' thing, actually drawing snot down into your mouth, always makes me feel nauseous. Use a farking handkerchief, for dog's sake.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

No one is safe from other people’s questionable habits, especially not in the office. Online printing company Instantprint surveyed 1,000 UK employees to uncover the hidden truth about coworkers grossest habits.

It was found that more than 5% of Brits admitted to cleaning their computers or work areas yearly or never at all. Meanwhile, 1 in 10 employees never wash their mug, water bottle, or glassware when enjoying a beverage of their choice. Either they have an office cleaner who does it for them, or they feel content being surrounded by some serious crumbs, dust, stains, and bacteria.

#4

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Not washing your hands after going to the bathroom. Nasty.

NeighborhoodMothGirl Report

#5

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross The sound of people chewing.

sogajif653 , freepik Report

Only 16% of respondents revealed that they wash their hands regularly at the office, and a whopping 19% confessed to rinsing them solely after using the bathroom. It’s worth being cautious about who you shake hands with!

ADVERTISEMENT

When it comes to other gross workplace habits, almost a quarter admitted to taking off their shoes at work. And over 30% of Brits confessed to eating something from the back of the fridge that was way past its use-by date.

#7

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Employers paying new hires more than tenured employees. Having drastically different pay rates for people with similar credentials doing the same job.

BonnaroovianSky , Drazen Zigic / freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is happening to me all the time. I am senior who is paid less then juniors because I have been longest in the company. Get that logic!

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#8

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross 5 foot long eyelashes.

LazerFile , Milangel Melendez / pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not gross. But super-long nails on the other hand... How do you even keep them clean?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT

It seems that not everyone learned the pandemic lesson, as 39% of employees said that they would still come to work if they had a cold. However, it’s not all that bad, with almost 60% of respondents having tissues on hand, 41% always having sanitizer, and 30% bringing deodorant or perfume to work.

ADVERTISEMENT
#10

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross People. Seriously, we are gross.

RandomNameGenFai1 , freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
CD King
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I wish I could up vote this a million times. The longer I live the more I realize how gross and stupid a vast portion of the population really is

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#11

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Maybe not “normal” but I am repulsed by the smell created by clothing not properly drying. The smell is on clothing that sat in the washer machine too long. Or dish towels and bathroom towels that dried without being spread out.

I smell it on people from down the isle in stores. And don’t get me started on drying my hands in someone’s bathroom and finding out the smell is lingering on my hands now.

heinz570001 , freepik Report

#12

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Long nails.

carrotwhirl , freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
Maryland
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pet peeve. If you keep long nails please scrub underneath. They are bacteria beds.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

Lip fillers.

Strange_Shadows-45 Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#14

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Spitting, coughing without covering mouth. I have multiple sclerosis. Get sick really easy.

OkRickySpinach Report

Add photo comments
POST
Sedona
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only people with MS get sick easy, the whole healing process takes ages and is much harder on the body, to the point when simple cold might land you in hospital.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#15

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross When someone else 'washes' my dishes for me and I drink from a 'clean' glass and it smells of rotting food and I look at my sponge and it's covered in food because someone thought that smearing food around my dishes with a sponge somehow made them clean you're all fired I never want to see you again.

cajaye3260 , Racool_studio / freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use one of those net-ball-scrubby things (I think they're made of nylon?) and I literally wash it after I finish washing the dishes with it XD It gets a regular soak in vinegar as well, and I switch to a new one every other week. I cannot STAND when I look at a scrubby or a sponge and SEE bits of food stuck to it. I use a regular scrubbing-side dish sponge for washing my pets' dishes and bowls, but that bad boy ALSO gets washed and rinsed after use, and I microwave it to sanitize it every day. And I replace it every other week. I can handle a lot of gross things (I have four pets, and they produce a variety of bodily substances from every orifice) but food residue on sponges/dish-cleaning tools just squicks me out. I'm with OP on this one.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#16

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross On colder days when my dad walks the dog he’ll sometimes hold the dog poop bag in his hands to warm his hands.

Agreeable-Abalone328 , Lisa Parker / flickr Report

#17

Smacking gum. I hate it. And loud chewing/swallowing noises.

solg5 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God, I hate that sound. When I am in the bus and someone is puckering the damn gum, I just want to yell them to stop! I have misophonia so I can't stand that sound.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#18

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Not washing hands before a meal. You have been in filth and you are going to touch your food with those hands? Yuk.

Linamoon22 , freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
The Other Guest
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wash before eating, wash before cooking, wash during cooking if you've handled raw meat (especially pork or poultry) with your bare hands.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

Sitting on a warm toilet seat.

ForeignEggplant2119 Report

#20

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Washing dishes in a tub of soapy water and not rinsing off the soap suds. Or not scrubbing the outsides of pots and pans as well. Makes me want to vomit. I'd rather not taste stale soap and bacteria in my cup of tea or food thanks. I can always tell as well.

Holy s**t thanks for the 1000 upvotes. I've never had a post get this many upvotes.

Rare-Park-6490 , gpointstudio / freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
Dimp1961
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We wash with washing up liquid in the UK and leave to dry in a dish rack. Can't say I've ever tasted soap.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Leaving the toilet seat up when flushing.

freakerbell , https://www.flickr.com/photos/gtzecosan/3110646027 / flickr Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#22

Talking while eating. You get to see the inside of their mouth, and its disgusting

Just eat and swallow the food and then talk 🙄.

anon Report

#23

Spitting, especially loogies. I literally almost throw up when I see someone doing it.

Greyattimes Report

#24

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Childbirth.

We're all here because of it, and it's currently my day job to catch a baby or two per day, but goddamn is it like watching a woman's genitals go through Vietnam each time.

sogajif653 , wavebreakmedia_micro / freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
Tamra
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I suppose it could be considered gross by some, but it still seems pretty miraculous to me.

El Dee
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It just seems funny how childbirth is as painful today as it was for my mother's generation 60 years ago. Would it be this way if men gave birth??

LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's our gigantic brains' fault XD For some reason, our pelvises did not evolve to be larger/more flexible on par with our brains/skulls getting larger. If our skulls weren't so huge to accommodate our huge (compared to our distant ancestors like Homo erectus) brains, we'd give birth easier and with a lot less pain. (Though, in reality, evolution prioritized upright stance/bipedal locomotion, which requires a narrower pelvis to accomplish more efficiently. So, while wider pelvises would be WAY better for us in regards to childbirth, they'd make it more difficult for us to walk upright. So I guess it's less our brains' fault than it's our dang bipedalism's fault XD )

Load More Replies...
dollh h
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the last thing anyone going through childbirth needs to hear. Get another job.

Vera Diblikova
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It is insane to expect your husband to see it without a serious impact on his sexual feelings.

Tamra
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guarantee any woman in active labor doesn't give two $hits about her partner's future sexual feelings. If a man is happy to get a woman pregnant, then he can put on his big boy pants for the aftermath.

Load More Replies...
Almost sunny
Community Member
4 weeks ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Don't worry, I'm sure a pretty stalk bird will bring yours all neatly wrapped.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Licking their fingers to turn a page. Turns my stomach!

lanurk , RDNE Stock project / pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
Alexis Pandas
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I once stopped by a combined bakery/butcher shop (should have been a red flag) in a rural area on my way to a gig. There was an elderly lady in queue before me who asked the clerk about a larger order of meat. The clerk took out her ledger and licked all over her middle three fingers before turning every single page. She didn't find the order immediately so there was a lot of licking and flipping. Used that hand to take and bag my croissant. I was too perplexed to react properly, paid, and left. Didn't have breakfast that day.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Wearing those big a*s engagement rings and never properly cleaning them. Especially in a hospital, nobody should be wearing anything below the elbow for good hand hygiene. I can’t imagine how many germs live between all those diamonds that now are spreading to my patients. Just take it all off, leave them at home!

LaAndala , [deleted] Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some TV chefs that are always so keen to get their hands in, like when dressing a salad or just mixing stuff, rather than just using a spoon like a normal person, but then leave all their jewellery on, make me cringe every time.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#27

I see so many videos of people letting their cats walk all over their kitchen counters and I want to vomit. Do these people think their cats are washing their paws and butts after they use the litter box?

Late_Again68 Report

Add photo comments
POST
LakotaWolf (she/her)
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How do you propose I STOP my cats from getting onto the countertops? XD I gave up on that decades - and three cats - ago (and I tried EVERY method.) Now I just, you know, WIPE OFF THE COUNTERTOPS before I cook/prep. And it's not like I'm putting food directly ON the countertop itself anyway.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#28

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Blowing out birthday cake candles. Here let me blow my spit all over this cake, then cut it up and expect everyone to eat it.

Instead we should do a sheet cake for all and a cupcake with candle for the blower.

rodstroker , freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
Mrs Irish Mom
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Never thought about this one before, was just at aunts birthday last week and she took her teeth out to blow properly 🤢

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Perhaps not gross, but I am repulsed by holding chalk and writing on a chalkboard. The touch, the feel, the sound, everything.

cajaye3260 , Diana ✨ / pexels Report

#30

Not gross but the sound of a dentist drill. Makes me shiver at the sound.

anon Report

Continue reading with Bored Panda Premium
Unlimited content
Ad-free browsing
Dark mode
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#31

Expecting their older kids care for the younger siblings without consideration of the older kids desires and wants.

I_pinchyou Report

Add photo comments
POST
iseefractals
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's called preparation for adulthood. Life is filled with $hit you don't want to do, and people you don't want to be around. Your job as a parent is raise functional adults, capable of understanding and accepting responsibility. Not because they want to, but because it's required to be able to survive on their own. If that doesn't happen, you get adults who post video's on tiktok crying about not getting a job because they asked their potential employer what allowances would be made for their "time blindness"

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

Heat/fan hand dryers in public bathrooms. Yuck.

Queasy_Caramel5435 Report

#33

When people don't wear underwear under their gym clothes. I don't care who you are, you better be wiping the seats of the equipment off because you know you got your liquids on it.

Bartok_and_croutons Report

Add photo comments
POST
leendadll
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I knew a guy doing a study of germs found on gym equipment. The seats of stationary bikes were the worst.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

Kissing pets in their mouth.

anon Report

Add photo comments
POST
Susie Elle
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People letting their dogs lick their faces or sometimes even inside their mouths. YUCCCKKK

View more commentsArrow down menu
#35

30 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Very Gross Posting uncensored pictures,videos or text messages of other people online to make fun of them.

anon , freepik Report

Add photo comments
POST
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#36

Biting your nails as an adult, I get that it can be self-soothing behavior, but it still grosses me out. Was in a meeting yesterday, in person, 75 people. The lady next to me was playing with her nose and biting her nails non-stop and I was repulsed.

Writer10 Report

Add photo comments
POST
That_One_Harry_Potter_Nerd
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't chew my nails, but I do pick at my lips, which I understand is gross, but when I get anxious, I have to find something to do with my hands, and if i'm not wearing a necklace or bracelets to play with, that's unfortunately my go-to. I try not to do it in public though, because I know how gross it is. and harmful to my lips, which are already often chapped.

#37

Pregnancy

Like how can women be OK with this?
I just don't understand.

some_Wopf Report

#38

I wouldn’t say everyone finds this normal bc more and more ppl are starting to side eye it but using words like “baby” or “daddy” or “mommy” in a sexual context.

LinaValentina Report

Add photo comments
POST
Ace
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Mommy and daddy are a specific and very odd thing, but 'baby' has long been a normal affectionate term between couples, as evident in popular music for at least the last seventy years or so.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

Going to the toilet in front of your partner. What the hell is up with that? So gross.

AuContraireRodders Report

Add photo comments
POST
Val
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean...pee is fine. I've been with my husband for almost 20 years. Poo is a 'shut the door' for sure.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#40

Wearing sneakers without socks. Ugh! The sweat, stink.

Murky_Claim3135 Report

#41

Kids with food on their faces. Then making it worse, snot in front of you.

sweetcherryjones Report

Add photo comments
POST
Andy Pandy
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Saw a kid with the green train tracks down the nose to the mouth and the parent straight up just wiped it off bare handed and wiped it on their trousers, I was sick in my mouth a little

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#42

Shoes inside UK houses with carpet

At least on hardwood you can mop???

beneathethewillow Report

#43

Using your phone in the bathroom seems very common and I don't get it at all. I have never once felt the need to use my phone there, and it never even comes into a bathroom with me (unless I use a public washroom and have my purse, but then the phone stays in my purse).

QuelynD Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#44

Dog licks.

NecessaryWater75 Report

#45

Long nails. Acrylic nails are fine imo but naturally long nails that are yellow, crusty and not filed are not okay.

Background_Can_7085 Report

#46

Touching the toilet seat to bring it up or down. I need to wash my hands immediately or I convulse in disgust lol.

corncaked Report

Add photo comments
POST
Geoffrey Scott
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Could someone in this community please explain why restrooms don't have sanitizer AND soap in mens public baths? If I use the urinal, I would prefer sanitizing over washing. I mean, I KNOW where my junk has been.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#48

Family/friends talking about their poop. When they poop, or that they can’t poop, or their stomach aches and they need to poop. I don’t want to know about it.

Low_Conversation_417 Report

Add photo comments
POST
Gourdeous
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is one I disagree with. We'd all be healthier and less likely to literally die of embarrassment from bowel cancer if we just talked about a totally normal thing.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#49

People older than like 25 dating an 18/19 year old.

anon Report

#50

Shoes in house. Like wtf??

stepdumb Report

#51

Washing other peoples dishes. No idea why but I hate touching them.

HauntedBeluga Report

Add photo comments
POST
featherytoad
Community Member
4 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think it's disgusting when I get food floaties in the dish water. I just can't until I find it and throw it out.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu