How can I politely decline shaking hands with people so I can avoid contacting their germs?

Pretend you have the flu yourself and don’t want to infect them.

Read Hand Shaking Is So Medieval. Let’s End It.

Wear gloves?

I like @Fyrius’ suggestion. I’d go with that.

Give them a kiss.

Their germ-ridden paws? Why would you think that you’re any better than them? Did you know that it’s perhaps their exposure to more germs that has given them a better immune system than yours?

Did you know that even if you were able to hold off shaking peoples’ hands, you would probably get the same amount of germs from other sources, unless you go around wearing a latex body glove.

Personally dear, I think you’re just being paranoid.

I that case, why not just say you don’t shake hands, and why if they ask. Seems a shame to lie, the first thing you do meeting people.

I would shake hands though. Germs don’t go through the skin. I don’t think you should worry, just wash your hands.

bow like the japanese

@pdworkin
a french kiss

@Saturated_Brain I have to agree with you here!

Instead of refusing to shake peoples hands why don’t you just keep a little bottle of hand santizer with you so that when you do have to shake someones hand then you can wash yours after (although, probably best not to do this straight away, it may look a tad on the rude side!!!).

@Leanne1986: Or she can pull it out and offer it to them before using it herself. That would be truly considerate!

Carry a little bottle of Purell® with you and apply after shaking those nasty hands. Just try and be discreet.

@AstroChuck – as I said in my comment to @Leanne1986, a truly conscientious person would offer the sanitizer to the others before using it themselves.

As every “public” thing that you touch has very likely been touched dozens or hundreds of times by others, how is avoiding shaking hands going to make a difference? How about money – will you refuse change. (They call it “filthy lucre” for a reason.)

You need to wash your hands before eating or touching anything that might transfer the inevitable germs that you are carrying into your mouth, nose etc., not try to avoid touching anything that is not sterile.

what does not kill you makes you stronger. lick your hands after every handshake

I agree with @DarkScribe Germs are everywhere. Just don’t touch your face and wash your hands often… or eat your boogers

Keep your hands down your pants. Then nobody will want to shake your hand!

You’re catching and gathering more germs via your nose and mouth than you ever will by your hands touching someone elses.

To protect yourself you should do the following: wash your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, eyes, mouth, etc, get plenty of rest and plenty of fluids.

Also, there is some school of thought that the physical touch of another human, even through a handshake, can increase resistance to germs.

@SarasWhimsy
How is that supposed to work?

I just don’t get people who are germaphobic about things like shaking hands and flushing public toilets. If you had no exposure to germs, your immune system would be weak and you would die from minor infections.

With that said, germs cannot enter your body through your hands (unless you have an open wound). Get out of your damn bubble, make some physical contact with your fellow human beings and just wash your hands before you touch your face. It’s simple and effective, and you don’t lose your humanity in the process.

Aaaa-choooooo!

Sorry, guys. I meant to put my hand in front of my mouth. Too late.

you know what? go ahead and shake a hand with somebody. this world is getting to germaphobic. when i was a kid, we’d play outside all day in dirt and mud and run in to eat dinner and i’m still here. the more smut you’re exposed to, the greater the immune system.

don’t get me wrong, by all means, wash your hands. it’s just the order of the day, but the more we are “clean,” the more we are unable to fight off thet “germ.” we get vaccinated with a virus so the body can fight it and live with it, right?

@drdoombot I’m so glad you mentioned the immune system. I thought about that after I had answered this question.

Group hug everyone, it’ll build our immune systems :)

Thinking about what you fear all the time can bring that fear into fruition. However, the plank scale is fascinating.