Do you wash the lids of cans before you open them?

You are not weird! This is just basic hygiene and something they should be teaching in public school, along with all the other forgotten things like hand washing and covering when one coughs or sneezes. Many people do not know you are supposed to wash the skin of a banana before peeling it, too, as many tropical germs live on the outside of the fruit. When we handle the skin and then handle the fruit, we transfer those germs and this can weaken one's immune system. Everyone is exposed to lots of germs every day, but we can exercise good judgment and prevent many so-called diseases.

Even tho' you've had a ton of responses....have to tell you, everytime I open a can I turn it upside down......it was a superstition of my dearly departed Dad's! I really think it was his way of not wiping the top...but it's something that I do. Cheers!

Your not the only weird one on the block because I wipe and wash the tops of my canned goods and pop cans off. A few years ago Oprah had a show about what is on top of your canned goods and pop cans and why it is always good to wash them. Just cause you don't see something doesn't mean there isn't anything there.

I do it often actually so you're not the only one. I can only just imagine what's been on the tops of those lids. And personally I really don't want whatever is on those lids in my food.

I do the same thing. Not so much because of dirt though... I was on a plane once and the guy next to me asked for a can of Coke. The attendant offered him a cup but he said he'd drink it right out of the can. She said that she didn't recommend that because all of the cans are stored in a warehouse and there could be bugs crawling all over everything. That just made me ill and now I wash all cans before opening them!

I generally only wash the lids if there is visible dirt. Otherwise, I don't worry too much about it; there are plenty of things that we come into contact every day-- can lids are probably one of the lesser worries.

I always look to check if I need to wipe and if it's dusty I'll clean it and there were times when I have washed the top of any can before I opened it but now that I you mentioned it I think I'll always wash the top before I open it from now on. Thanks.

Hi there, I used to wipe them but not washing it not unless I can see some obvious dirt!

i do. i do it as a procaution to prevent spreading any germs. sometimes the top of the can falls into the can when u are opening the can. i feel its better to be safe than sorry.

I never gave it much thought until I workd a food bank and we always got to eat food there for lunch - and one day I handed out sodas in cans the driver guy that picked up the stuff at the stores and brought it back to the FB for use to orgnaize, asked me if it had been washed... well, long story, but he said he'd never drink out of one like that - the places they come from are filthy. Since then I have always washed the soda cans unless they are in a box (years ago it was in the plastic ring holder thingys - dont think they have them anymore) but canned food, I always rinse for same reason. MAkes you wonder how clean it is in the store if htey are so filthy when they are donated!

I do. Especially if I buy one from a vending machine. It makes me feel like it is cleaner. Guess it would be better to wipe them all. Including the ones purchased in the 12 pack case.Most of the time I don't think about it though.

I wash the lids by wiping them off with a wash cloth. I always do this because sometimes there dust or something on the lid and I don't want that in my food.

good day.. Yes in fact I do. I wash the lids of any can or any metal like the cap of a bottle or tin cover of a canned goods. It's best to clean them for we don't know if rodents, cockroaches swarmed on it before. So to be sure I clean them before opening it up.

No I don't do this :)

Yes I do wash my cans before opening them. Your so right you never know what kind of germ is lurking around. No your not weird at all.

Gitfiddler, I place the can under running water just for a second or two then wipe it off with a towel. It's not perfect, but it does seem more sanitary to do this. I figure that all the people that have handled the cans might have left a germ or two on it. I think it's a great habit to have.

Now your not the only one that does that. I take a damp cloth and wipe the lid before opening. So your not the only person in the world that does that. I know there are others that do the same thing too. No you are not alone on that one.

I don't wash every one, only the really dirty looking ones, but I do wipe every single one off before opening then. I saw a show on TV about rat dropping getting on can lids and causing health problems. That was all it took!

Hi my friend, I don't actually wash the lids of the cans with soap and water but I do wipe them off with my dishtowel. After reading some of the ways cans are stored and what little munchkins wander around, I probably should wash them off with soap and water!! how gross!! Have a great day! Char :-)

Yes, my mother has us well trained to use at least use a paper towel with soap and water to rigorously rub the can. She said to just think about the cans sitting on the shelves and the dust, dirt and possibly because you just never know, rodent droppings. Ewwwwwwwwwwwww!