I visited a friend's place recently and they just flopped onto their bed wearing the same jeans they had been wearing on the bus and sitting in a public cafe all day. I was honestly horrified.
To me, the bed is a sacred, clean space. "Outside clothes" have touched public benches, subway seats, and who knows what else. As soon as I get home, I have to change into "inside clothes" or pajamas before I even think about sitting on my sheets.
My friend thinks I’m a total germaphobe, but I think they’re sleeping in a pile of city grime. Am I overreacting, or is the no outside clothes on the bed rule a standard thing for most people? Where do you draw the line?
I change when I get home too, but mostly for comfort. I don’t wear shoes in the house either. Everyone’s different. I don’t think wearing outside clothes inside is usually a big risk. If you were sitting in a hospital waiting room or around someone who’s clearly sick, then yeah, changing when you get home makes sense. Otherwise it just seems like normal everyday exposure to germs. Do you and let them do them.
214
rachelltranshotApr 1, 2026
+61
"do you and let them do them" is honestly the best take here
61
TypePuzzleheaded6228Apr 1, 2026
+9
yes..live and let live..
9
slkwontApr 1, 2026
+46
Policing other people's habits is gross, and I don't understand how other people do it. Participating in the hygiene Olympics is stupid. We are teeming with germs and mites. You walk around every day with roughly 39 trillion bacteria in and on your body. You are composed of roughly the same number of microbes as you are human cells with a slightly higher level of microbes than your own cells. Nasty city grime and shit particles are hitchhiking on your body regardless of how clean you think you are.
46
fart-sparklesApr 1, 2026
+29
Yeah, I don't like posts like these. It's just an ego trip.
I don't care what other people do in homes I never go to or beds I never sleep in.
29
Ok_Bluejay_6408Apr 1, 2026
+6
These posters out themselves as people you do not want to spend time with or energy on.
6
Yellow_Vespa_Is_BackApr 1, 2026
+26
Idk why people are up in arms about this. Removing shoes and changing clothes help keep your house cleaner. I never have to vacuum dirt or mud off my carpets because outside shoes do not get worn in my house. Less cleaning for me.
26
life-is-satireApr 1, 2026
+14
You don’t vacuum your carpets or do you mean piles of dirt that get tracked into the house?
14
Yellow_Vespa_Is_BackApr 1, 2026
+10
No outside dirt ends up on my carpets. Any vacuuming that I do is for pet hair, dust, or random bits of paper. Keeping shoes off in my house means less mess.
10
AnxietyWitch66Apr 1, 2026
+7
Are your pets dogs? Im curious what you do about the dirt on their feet?
7
Yellow_Vespa_Is_BackApr 1, 2026
+2
I have house cats that never go outside. They track litter which can be gross so they have mats outside the litter box. I make my bed to make sure that if they are in my bedroom, their paws never touch the bedsheets that touch my body (they don't like sleeping in the bed with us because we move too much).
But I also have friends (two specifically)who wash their dogs paws before they come in the house. The dogs are trained to accept wipes or to stay still while they get their paws hosed off. Its extra work, but they don't have to worry about their dogs accidentally tracking their poop or piss in the house.
2
AnxietyWitch66Apr 1, 2026
+4
Ah cats are much easier when you wanna keep the floors clean. I have a friend who has a tube thing with bristles inside she washes her dogs feet in when they come inside. But then they leave little wet prints everywhere 😂
4
Yellow_Vespa_Is_BackApr 1, 2026
+3
Dogs are much harder in some ways! But at least dogs can be trained. My cats somehow get everywhere. I've had to clean cat hair out of the space above my cabinets. They somehow keep managing to get in the tiniest of spaces, and they are so difficult to keep off of counters.
3
pickledsnackApr 1, 2026
+2
I had to disassemble my vacuum the other day because so much cat hair had gotten clogged up in it. They shed so much yet stay so fluffy!
2
SweatyChanchoApr 1, 2026
+10
Personally I think wearing shoes in the house is gross. I’ve never done it, and I’m way more comfortable without them. I also agree about the less cleaning part. If your clothes or shoes are dirty, why track that all over your house and make extra mess you’ll just have to clean up later? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
10
Yellow_Vespa_Is_BackApr 1, 2026
+7
Me neither. I think this thread is definitely a cultural butting of heads. Many Americans are not from shoes off indoors or have the concept of outside clothes. Meanwhile, this is the norm for many cultures. I dont think its the end of the world either way, but definitely, culture influences what you think is clean/unclean.
7
7GrenciaMarsApr 1, 2026
+3
Here's one for you: I broke my left femur 5 years ago. I broke my left hip 2 months ago. My left leg is now an inch shorter than my right leg. I wear a shoe from one pair of shoes on my right and one from a different pair on my left to make up the height difference. And yes, I do it around the house as well as outdoors because I'm in enough pain from the broken hip. My back doesn't need the strain of making up for the height difference.
So, I guess this is "gross"...? As much as I would like to be able to afford more pairs of shoes with the height difference that these two shoes happen to have, but hospital bills, lost wages because of time off for recovery...guess how that's going.
So, while I don't feel judged by your perspective because you're someone I don't know on Listnook, maybe you might consider that your circumstances are not everyone else's circumstances, and how wearing shoes indoors might not be all that bad.
3
Itchy-Yesterday3784Apr 1, 2026
+4
My in-laws always makes us take off our shoes when we enter their home. I have plantar fasciitis and it is SO hard on my feet walking on their hardwood floors without shoes. I have started to carry my slippers to their homes - but find this weird too
4
Only-Top-3655Apr 1, 2026
+2
There are many gross things:
\- flushing the toilet without covering the bowl with the lid
\- cooking and touching ingredients with bare hands
\- letting pets lick your face after they licked their nether regions
\- holding on to hand railings
\- eating which touching their phone
We just choose which gross things we can deal with and which we can't.
2
No-Counter-116Apr 1, 2026
+131
I work from home so my inside clothes and outside clothes have basically merged into one category of clothes that never leave the apartment. But I get it — when I was commuting daily I had the same instinct. Something about public transit seats specifically makes me want to burn my jeans after every ride.
131
Disastrous-Panda5530Apr 1, 2026
+18
I mostly work from home and I have my homeless clothes I wear at home and lounge around in and my real world clothes. I change back into my comfy homeless clothes once I get back home
18
sfinebymeApr 1, 2026
+4
lol same here
then, shortly before covid I retired and moved to a dumpy little beach town where everybody always looks kinda homeless so it's gym shorts and sleeveless t-shirt and flip flops 365 days a year now. its glorious.
4
FruitDownloa944Apr 1, 2026
+8
Public transit seats carry secrets that I never want on my pillowcases.
8
AccomplishedPain2305Apr 1, 2026
+133
“Sleeping in a pile of city grime” is wild but also… not entirely wrong 😂
133
elshyayanApr 1, 2026
+10
Street pants stay on the floor where they belong.
10
InterHajrah078Apr 1, 2026
+11
Imagine all the people who sat in that cafe chair before them.
11
flatfootbeastApr 1, 2026
+12
Yeah you never know how much the last person has farted. The horror!
12
bottlesnthrottlesApr 1, 2026
+87
It will bother you, like *not at all*, if you just mind your own bed and don't worry about others that you're not sleeping in.
Also, beds are contaminated with skin cells, dander, and secretions once you've slept in it, freshly showered or not. You do not remain a pristine specimen throughout your stay in the bed.
87
Pink-socksApr 1, 2026
+197
I've got an immune system and dogs.
It's all good.
197
michigan2345Apr 1, 2026
+63
Right. Obviously not going to sit or lay about with dirty clothes but if I go for groceries or a lunch and come home then am I really "dirty"? My dog sleeps with her beautiful furry self all under the sheets as comfy and cuddled and safe as she wants. And I love her. I do wash sheets 2 times weeks. Big deal. Life is messy.
63
PoetdebraApr 1, 2026
+8
Your good. Lol
8
RoseAlmaApr 1, 2026
+3
that's always the conundrum for me, too ! I'm absolutely horrified just thinking about sleeping in clothes I wore out in public (in fact, I usually change into other clothes to hang around the house in, too) and I'm definitely a "no shoes in house" person... But my Dogs / Cat ? No worries and absolutely they can sleep in my bed !
3
eastwardartsApr 1, 2026
+38
Right? Humans evolved living in barnyards and not infrequently literally sleeping with their livestock. This kind of germ phobia is borderline OCD.
38
Yellow_Vespa_Is_BackApr 1, 2026
+4
Sleeping with livestock is why plagues and poxes evolved and spread between animals and humans. Not sure if that's the best example.
Disease was inevitable, but sanitary practices of modern culture did a lot to reduce the spread and emergence of new diseases.
4
Oozlum-BirdApr 1, 2026
+18
Exposure to pathogens also promotes development of your immune system though. There is a balance.
18
eastwardartsApr 1, 2026
+11
You are correct, and it also evolved resistance to those diseases. Hence why indigenous people on the North American continent were decimated by diseases that European colonizers brought with them from overseas.
Editing to add, I’m well aware that control of infectious diseases through sanitation practices and vaccination is the #1 reason that life expectancy has increased so dramatically over the last century. Still, human beings are and need to be microbial ecosystems unto ourselves. Some really quite gross elements of our evolution are embedded in our biology (fun fact: the bacteria that make Vitamin K live further down in the digestive tract than the site of Vitamin K absorption.) See also the “hygeine hypothesis” about asthma: https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/consumers-biologics/asthma-hygiene-hypothesis
The level of germ phobia in the OP is extreme and unwarranted.
11
RogerClyneIsAGod2Apr 1, 2026
+2
I have been a cat slave since I was kid. Sometimes those cats were outdoor cats though my current cats aren't outdoor kitties. I'm pretty sure I've consumed several cat's worth of cat hair in the last 50+ years.
I'm good too.
2
Sensitive-Use-6891Apr 1, 2026
+93
I mean it’s not like it‘ll get you sick or anything if you aren’t super dirty. It won’t hurt you.
Germs are all around us, your house isn’t necessarily more clean that outside spaces. It’s just different germs.
I change my bedsheets regularly and as long as I‘m not dragging in dirt I don’t care.
Shoes come off inside the house tho. That’s actively dragging in dirt and I don’t want to clean more than I have to
93
RoseAlmaApr 1, 2026
+4
What about those extra long pants some people wear... flared bellbottom types ? Dragging on the floor, ground - I watched someone go into a very used port-a-potty wearing them !! *barf*
They're essentially just mopping up the filth of the World !
4
_KAZ-2YG_Apr 1, 2026
+69
You don't have to understand it. There's nothing grim or gross about it. Your bed is already teeming with dead skin cells and bacteria. And most people sweat a little when they sleep, too. So unless you're changing your entire bedding every morning when you get up, then yeah, it's not the sterile place you seem to think it is.
Not everyone travels on public transport, so you're just making assumptions based on your own daily habits there. And even if they do, so what? Dogs sleep on people's bed, so do cats, and I know someone whose rabbit sleeps on theirs.
69
AliceCodeApr 1, 2026
+116
Homie, I used to sleep under bridges with rats crawling over my head. I literally do not give a shit anymore. Cooties aren't going to hurt you.
116
crispybacononsaladApr 1, 2026
+40
OP definitely comes from a privileged place to have this opinion
It reminds me of those cartoons that portray rich people that don't wear the same outfit everyday. They just get rid of it and buy a new outfit.
40
xanadri22Apr 1, 2026
+4
i’ve been homeless twice. i share op’s opinion. it’s not coming from a place of privilege. for me, it comes from something i can’t control, OCD.
4
life-is-satireApr 1, 2026
+6
It’s giving play clothes
6
PirateKing0000Apr 1, 2026
+164
I don't know about your friend, but when you work your ass off and are too tired to even move a muscle or use your brain, then nobody cares about what they are wearing ..hitting the bed and instantly falling asleep is what matters most.
164
AlostsoulwithcatearsApr 1, 2026
+26
I feel the same way because I work 12-18 hour shifts somedays and don't want to shower or change at all before sleeping. I feel bad when I wake up dirty but usually I'm not too far from an off day so I just wash my sheets then and shower every morning instead of at night until then.
26
AncientDamage7674Apr 1, 2026
+17
I hear ya but I can usually manage to take my pants & jumper off. Gotta pee & grab my water bottle &/ or snack so seems easy enough
17
AlostsoulwithcatearsApr 1, 2026
+6
Depends on the weather; if it's cold inside during the winter I may just keep my clothes on but at least where I live in America right now it's getting to be warm at the moment so I would take my clothes off before hitting the bed or at the very least my pants.
6
life-is-satireApr 1, 2026
+2
Some folks have “light labor” privilege
2
whatevertoadApr 1, 2026
+176
As someone who grew up neglected and actually lived in filth, I can't comprehend how people are this paranoid. How about you do you and stop being so judgmental to your friends. They're fine.
176
Connect_Rhubarb395Apr 1, 2026
+18
I don't care about inside and outside clothes. I sweat a lot when I sleep, so I don't consider my sheets a temple of cleanliness.
I shower in the morning to get the night sweat off and become clean. I wash my sheets often. I change my pillow cover every two days.
18
PickMeUpB4YouGoGoApr 1, 2026
+41
I think a lot of this is about where you live. If youre in a city surrounded by people I could see it but I hardly ever have my clothes interact with the world around me
41
East-Garden-4557Apr 1, 2026
+4
This. I'm not going on the subway, I'm not sitting in cafes. I barely sit down anywhere unless I am at home or in my car, I am too busy and constantly moving.
4
PunkCPAApr 1, 2026
+21
I guess I've made bigger messes in beds without wearing clothing.
21
ZoroeArcApr 1, 2026
+67
That is ridiculously germophobic. That makes such a small difference hygienically that it's not even worth considering. It's not going to stop you from getting sick.
67
MissAcediaApr 1, 2026
+5
I think this every time I see one of these posts here or on IG. There are no true completely sterile environments and the goal has never been to come home to a sterile environment. Wash your hands, regularly change and wash your bedding and youll be fine.
5
Ok-Class-3635Apr 1, 2026
+2
Reminds me of my ex. He would bring special socks if we stayed at a hotel. And if he forgot the socks, he would just keep his shoes on the whole time. He would also bring his own blanket and pillow because "hotels are dirty." Which I agree to a certain extent, but some of these places were 5 star. Anything that touched the floor might as well have had the bubonic plague on it.
2
Difficult_Clerk_1273Apr 1, 2026
+19
I mean this kindly: OP, this is a you problem.
I find this such a bizarre thing to worry about. I mean, I change clothes too, but it’s for *comfort,* not fear of germs. If I worked in a particularly germy or dirty environment, I guess I would care more just for the practicality of not wanting that soil to get everywhere.
This topic gets posted a lot in r/hygiene, often by people with what appears to be undiagnosed OCD. They claim it’s about “dirt” but you can tell it’s really about “contamination.”
Germs are everywhere and that’s normal. No matter what you do, your home/clothes/body will not and SHOULD not be sterile. Being super concerned about that does not mean other people are “gross.” It means *you* need to speak to your doctor about your mental health.
19
ailishApr 1, 2026
+11
I change my clothes as soon as I get home just for comfort, not for germs, lol. You can obviously be a germ conscious in your own house as you want, but you're being really judgemental about your friend.
11
Zealousideal_Tax4878Apr 1, 2026
+18
As long as it’s not my bed and we are not sharing it
18
itsVenusclubApr 1, 2026
+2
:D
2
Final-Experience2552Apr 1, 2026
+24
I have a mate that puts on his fresh washed work clothes and goes to bed in them. In the morning, he Steps out of bed into his boots and walks out the door to work!
24
Low_Recommendation85Apr 1, 2026
+14
I did that when I was working 90 hour weeks.
14
NimyronApr 1, 2026
+23
That would probably be right if they were never washing their bedsheets but other than that it's fine. The problem isn't simple contact, it's the accumulation of many contacts without any cleaning.
Also some people shower in the morning and sleep naked so it can always be worse.
23
Fiona-evaApr 1, 2026
+10
I absolutely do the same, I have home clothes and outside clothes, the two never intersect. Not for the fear of germs or getting sick, but I find it disgusting. I live in a city with 12 mln people, I have seen people and animals spread all kinds of body liquids all around 🤢, I wash my hands straight away and change clothes instantly. I’m fine with my hair and skin cells lying around, but have no interest in other people’s artifacts around my home
10
Middle_Aged_MayhemApr 1, 2026
+9
Life is too short to worry about shit like this.
9
ExcessiveSize9Apr 1, 2026
+8
I do the same. Once I come home it’s time for my inside clothes. This time of year sweats and a hoodie do the trick. I also wear my inside shoes with socks.
8
No_Gur1113Apr 1, 2026
+4
I simply do not understand the shoes in the house thing. I don’t know of anywhere in Canda where this is common practice. Probably because there are months of the year where we’re wearing warm boots everywhere, and you don’t expect to go into someone’s home wearing snow covered sorels.
Had an American friend visit and we went to a house party. She wore her shoes into the house and felt very uncomfortable when she realized she’d walked through the house in wet shoes and everyone else was in socks.
We just don’t do that here.
4
Embarrassed_Quail910Apr 1, 2026
+10
I sleep with 3 dogs a cat and a man. My immune system is fine, I change my bedding often. But to each his own. I wouldn't judge anyone either way.
10
MrBeanDaddy86Apr 1, 2026
+36
Got news for you about how gross your bed is, regardless of if you change your clothes or not.
All your dead skin, hair, pet dander (if you have them) goes into your mattress forever unless you have one of those hypoallergenic mattress covers with a gap of less than 6 microns.
Any sheets sold to you claiming to prevent allergies that doesn't note this probably is still letting a lot of that stuff through the fabric.
Outside grime if you've been around smokers is yucky. But it probably doesn't make much of a difference if you haven't been near a lot of pollutants, ultimately.
36
One_Courage_865Apr 1, 2026
-6
There is a difference between bacteria generated from your dead skin cells vs foreign bacteria
The former your body have developed some immunities to. The latter is more likely to make you sick
And fear of gross things is subconsciously caused by fear of getting sick
-6
MrBeanDaddy86Apr 1, 2026
+20
That's a gross oversimplification of how disease vectors work, and it would be too long for a Listnook post to lay out why only some of that logic makes sense, but most of it doesn't.
20
CrapsIockApr 1, 2026
+34
I really feel like wearing outside clothes on the bed is fairly low on the list of things that can make you sick
34
MuchConnection5541Apr 1, 2026
+14
Some people may not understand some things you do in life no need to judge anyone just get on and do your thing dont worry about anyone else also your more rooting that you didn’t get to see them change maybe they not into getting undressed infront of their friends
14
Physical_Fan_1245Apr 1, 2026
+14
>sacred clean place
I'm pretty sure most of your farts take place in the bed. Also drool. And if you have a partner you share the bed with let's just say sometimes other things can happen as well.
14
michigan2345Apr 1, 2026
+8
How about those little bugs mating on the eyelids and laying eggs in the pores of our skin? I believe they are, in fact, n***.
8
Low_Recommendation85Apr 1, 2026
+7
I change pants constantly. Get up, put on PJ pants and have my coffee and feed the dogs. Switch to track or sweat pants to take them outside or check for packages or mail. If I have to leave the house, it's always blue jeans. On really hot days where I have to be in the yard I *may* wear shorts. Whenever it's time to chill back in the house, PJ pants are back on. If it's just me and my partners, all clothing is optional.
7
antonellapadronApr 1, 2026
+7
Yo llego inmediatamente a quitármela no soporto ropa sucia
7
Laxit00Apr 1, 2026
+3
As soon as I get home shoes off, clothes in the washer, bath or a shower and clean clothes on. The only time I may wear outdoor clothing in is if I'm going to a quick apt.
3
Dangerous-Bat1253Apr 1, 2026
+3
Their bed,not mine.
3
archives2024Apr 1, 2026
+3
This post would have had way different answers in 2020.
3
fartprincess-Apr 1, 2026
+3
NOT overreacting. It's super gross
3
TizzyBumblefluffApr 1, 2026
+11
I don’t wear outside clothes on any inside furniture either. As soon as I come home, I change my clothes, wash my hands, put on house clothes. Don’t wear outside shoes inside either.
11
holyvegetablesApr 1, 2026
+10
I 100% agree. I didn’t used to be like that, but after starting to work in a hospital I made the distinction between outdoor and indoor clothes. And since the pandemic I also consider my entire body “contaminated” if I’ve been out in a public place. Meaning I don’t go to bed unless I’ve showered first. I do have a daybed that I use occasionally if I’m too exhausted when I get home from work and have to sleep, or am taking a nap in between outings for the day.
10
CaseroRubicalApr 1, 2026
+6
I wash my sheets so its fine
6
rainbow__orchidApr 1, 2026
+6
100% agree. Even worse as someone who works in the hospital
6
Bec-o-BecApr 1, 2026
+6
I think you’re a germaphobe. People exist in their “outside clothes” literally everywhere without it affecting them. Why would sleeping be any different ?
Are there probably more germs on your friends bed? Sure. So you’re right.
Are those germs affecting anything ? Probably not. So your friend is right.
You’re both free to exist however you like and to ask your visitors to do as you ask in your home.
But acceptance tends to drive friendships more than being “right” does.
6
[deleted]Apr 1, 2026
+6
[deleted]
6
existential-inquiryApr 1, 2026
+8
Not overreacting because I do the same thing! I change to my home clothes and also take off my shoes when entering my house! I feel more comfortable that way, not bringing the outside dirt/germs inside.
8
ruinrunnerApr 1, 2026
+4
I’m sorry but this shows a lack of understanding of how germs work.
4
Pretty_Helicopter341Apr 1, 2026
+7
well same… i can’t relax if i’m on my bed with outside clothes on. it just feels dirty in a way i can’t ignore, even if other people don’t mind it..
7
GrinningPariahApr 1, 2026
+6
No joke, this is why I make the bed soon as I get up. That way I can sit on the bed in my regular clothes and I've still got layers between me and where I sleep.
6
Blujay12Apr 1, 2026
+2
I can just clean the bed, you should be more often (than most people do) anyways. I'm usually exhausted at that point so it's just, that or the floor.
2
cherrytartsApr 1, 2026
+2
My bed has a cover and I make the bed every day. So it doesn't matter whether I'm wearing my outside clothes or not
2
2fast4u1006Apr 1, 2026
+2
I wouldn't sit on someone else's bed in street clothes without them inviting me to. For my own bed, I don't care.
2
VelmaSchmelmaApr 1, 2026
+2
Ew, David. No! City grime!!!
2
Sufficient-Wolf-1818Apr 1, 2026
+2
My dog never changes her doggy suit when she jumps into the human beds. That’s fine, we’re not eating off or licking the sheets
2
a-beebApr 1, 2026
+2
I used to somewhat feel this way, then I became physically disabled and a lot of stuff that bothered me had to stop bothering me really quickly because I suddenly had way less control than I used to.
2
PunchBeardApr 1, 2026
+2
When I come home from work the first thing I do is change into sweats and a hoodie and I almost never go out of my house wearing them. But sometimes, especially if it's early morning on the weekend or I'm taking the dog for his nightly walk, I won't bother changing. I also normally sleep in my sweats and a t-shirt and if I went outside, even if all I did was walk around the block, I can't bring myself to wear those clothes to bed.
So yeah, I ger where OP is coming from.
2
Old_Girl60Apr 1, 2026
+2
Yeah, I agree with you. Unless you are living in a one room studio then you can avoid contaminating your bedroom. I do not believe in putting anything on the bed that has been outside. I am always taking a back when I see people throw their dirty clothes on the bed. Like ewwwwww.
2
JimDixonApr 1, 2026
+2
This attitude seems very strange to me. I have never thought of my "outside clothes" as particularly dirty (I have always has office jobs; I am not a farmer or sewer cleaner) nor my bed as needing to be exceptionally clean (I am not going to be doing surgery there).
2
ohfaaaakApr 1, 2026
+2
Don’t bring them streets to the sheets!
2
Ill-Canary-6683Apr 1, 2026
+2
Insulting to the immune system we've evolved, and a huge regression of the durability we've as a species we've conditioned, poodle.
2
Stigger32Apr 1, 2026
+2
Haha! Ok.
For me the 'clean' part of my bed begins under the covers. Oh and the mattress sheet.
On top I have slept fully clothed, packed suitcases for travel, bagged weed for sale, had sex, drunk alcohol, eaten breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Read books, played board games, watched TV, movies, etc....
My old queen size bed used to be a popular hangout place for me and my friends while living with my parents.
2
transitransitransitApr 1, 2026
+2
90% of the time my clothes have only touched the seat of my car.
Not a problem.
2
AntFirm4593Apr 1, 2026
+2
your keyboard your touching everyday then touching your face and everything else has more bacteria and germs then your clothes in your bed
2
Major_Enthusiasm1099Apr 1, 2026
+2
Just wait til you find out all the dirty skin cells that your body sheds at night in your bed while you're sleeping.........even if you do shower.
2
Criticism-LazyApr 1, 2026
+2
I think it’s very very strange to care about this at all.
2
Riva_l33Apr 1, 2026
+2
Finally someone understands lol I’ve been told that I’m a germaphobe as well but I can’t help it I have to change clothes as soon as I get inside, sanitize my phone and everything else I touch
2
Just-Guarantee1986Apr 1, 2026
+2
You are overreacting or have OCD.
2
ElistarielApr 1, 2026
+2
If I'm able to be sleepy enough to actually SLEEP, I do not have the energy to give two shits what I'm wearing.
2
angry_squidwardApr 1, 2026
+2
I just follow the logic, what's the worst case of getting outside clothes on my bed? what would happen to me? what would go wrong? And the answer is basically nothing of tangible material value and I exercise my free will and do it.
2
AlcoholitronApr 1, 2026
+2
You shouldn’t go anywhere.
2
AverageJoeThoughtsApr 1, 2026
+4
Guess i'm a germaphobe too then because idc how tired I am I will NOT lay in bed in my outdoor clothes! And i'll take a quick bird bath if I have time to take a real shower later on in the day..Otherwise its full shower,home clothes on n outdoor clothes straight into the basket
4
pingwingApr 1, 2026
+2
On top of the bed, not a huge deal.
2
understated_vibesApr 1, 2026
+2
wearing outside clothes around the house period. I was raised to always change as soon as I get home.
2
slkwontApr 1, 2026
+2
Policing other people's habits is gross, and I don't understand how other people do it. Participating in the hygiene Olympics is stupid. We are teeming with germs and mites. You walk around every day with roughly 39 trillion bacteria in and on your body. You have roughly the same number of microbes as you do human cells. Nasty city grime and shit particles are hitchhiking on your body regardless of how clean you think you are.
2
PastAdditionalApr 1, 2026
+2
I also think you're a total germaphobe.
2
BlindOwlAcademyFarsiApr 1, 2026
+2
I agree with you, the outdoor environment is contaminated with many viruses and bacteria, and when we come from outside, going to bed in the same clothes is actually transferring the contaminants from outside into the house. But this is not a right or wrong debate, it's a cultural debate about lifestyle. This kind of life is closer to the original nature. Like when people were unaware of diseases and sources of disease.
2
saltwatersunsetsApr 1, 2026
+2
Those contaminants are so microscopic that you transfer them from outside to inside no matter what. The vast majority that run any risk of harming you, if they are going to harm you, have already been transferred from their original source to your hands/face/high touch items.
Unless you’re stripping off and showering at the door and then laundering your clothes with a no-touch technique along with sanitising every object you bring into the house and all the surfaces you touch in the process, you’re not meaningfully going to reduce transference.
The world, indoor and out, is covered with trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, spores and fomites. If you have a functional immune system, that takes care of 99% of your exposure without you even being aware that you’ve mounted a successful immune response. Your own nose and gut contain pathogens that can kill you.
Cleaning your hands regularly but particularly after using the bathroom & before eating, avoiding crowded poorly ventilated spaces, practicing safe sex, and taking up eligible vaccinations for transmissible diseases are the only practicable behavioural measures that will make a difference.
The trend toward germ phobia as a hobby is a fascinating post-Covid social contagion and one that’s causing people to move through the world with unnecessary levels of anxiety.
2
Practical-Prompt9152Apr 1, 2026
+3
I literally cannot deal with street clothes on my bed. It’s a huge hard no for me. The first time my boyfriend came over, I made him scoot his pants down halfway just to sit on the bed. He looked so ridiculous. Literally like he was sitting on the toilet
3
Most_Emergency6049Apr 1, 2026
I take it even further, when I get home, the first place I go is the bathroom, where a change of clothes is waiting. After COVID, I thought people would be a bit more like me but they forgot.
0
MuchConnection5541Apr 1, 2026
+4
Why not get changed in your room plus all those particles from shit all floating about getting on your clothes lol
4
tiiiiii_85Apr 1, 2026
+2
Close your toilet before flushing.
2
MrsClaire07Apr 1, 2026
+4
COVID doesn’t sit on your clothes, though; you do realize that, yes?
4
forgoodpurpose212Apr 1, 2026
+1
That can be disgusting… but i have jeans so comfortable that i literally fall asleep havin it on
1
kanyediditbetterApr 1, 2026
+1
I don’t even wear shoes outside of the weathers nice
1
GaryTurboApr 1, 2026
+1
It doesn't really bother me, but I have different pants I only wear when riding the bus.
1
datdododoughApr 1, 2026
+1
I grew up in a posh family. My parents would be horrified if they saw this; they too, would act just like OP. Neither of my parents will get into a bed without a shower or bath first, and the bed is made to pristine every morning. I, however, couldn't give a shit and I work 12hr shifts overnight as a CNA. I'm getting Into bed as soon as I get home, with all my animals. Both perspectives survive just fine and I think judgement on this is silly and subjective..to each their own.
1
Free-Effect-509Apr 1, 2026
+1
Most likely you wouldn’t have sat down on any surface that was visibly moist, and so i don’t think that many living germs would be transferred into the dry fabric of clothes, and then for those dry clothes to grind against the dry fabric of a bed, how is any living microbe going to stay alive? Especially if it’s some kind of germ that thrives on getting inside the warm wet environment inside a body, it wouldn’t be able to survive on cloth, nor would it be able to transfer over to another fabric and then crawl
Into a mucas lining
1
Kiko7210Apr 1, 2026
+1
people be licking eachothers buttholes all the time lol your level of gross is too low
1
tres-vipApr 1, 2026
+1
I live in NYC and have a set of "lounge clothes" that I immediately change into when I get home, lol
1
BlackSwanMarmotApr 1, 2026
+1
Wait until you hear about food contaminates.
1
Ethereal_CouthApr 1, 2026
+1
I think this is pretty common in western culture. I even noticed a lot of westerners wearing shoes inside the house as well eeeww
1
Life-Education-8030Apr 1, 2026
+1
I agree with you and also change my shoes at the door and wash my hands as soon as I get home and before I eat and cook. I think I get less sick less often with something as simple as washing your hands and think of everything your hands have touched during the day!
1
LeFreekeApr 1, 2026
+1
I have a coverlet on my bed that I remove before getting in bed for the night.
I have zero qualms lying on top of during the day in any clothes to lounge or read.
I don’t feel like the rest of the world is particularly grime-y. Buses get cleaned everyday, and it’s not like I’m rolling around in the aisles. Although there are those people who put their feet up on the seats…
Do you have a lot of issues with germs? Some level of exposure is good so you build immunity. And our skin is designed to protect us from the outside world.
1
OldScene6147Apr 1, 2026
+1
POLLEN!!
I don’t like my own day clothes on my bed before I go to sleep otherwise my face will be all swollen and I’ll feel like I’m about to pop or gouge my eyes out due to itch.
1
[deleted]Apr 1, 2026
+1
Even if I wanted to do this (which I don’t) I wouldn’t be able to because of my allergies. Allergies suck.
1
clockworkedpieceApr 1, 2026
+1
For some its trauma. I got evacuated from my home due to a fire, and had to spend the whole day sitting in a gas station in the gown my parents were making deal with at the time. (Mostly only allowed cause mom worked there too.) I've always worn clothes clothes for sleeping since then.
1
GreeneyednerdApr 1, 2026
+1
Ok so do you put on a fresh pair of pyjamas clean from the washer every time you sit on your bed and then never leave it? If not, theoretically if you put on pyjamas that you've been using for the past few days, you would have been sitting around the house on areas presumably also have been sat on by others and also yourself while you were wearing "city clothes". So really, it defeats the purpose. You go around the house just the same as you would any other day
1
discobby96Apr 1, 2026
+1
i’m bewildered by the amount of people in the comments that think this a snobby, privileged opinion when it’s the default teaching of asian parents and many ethnic parents in general 😭
my parents drilled the inside/outside clothes and inside slippers/outside shoes thing into me at a young age. i definitely think there can be a cultural component to someone’s opinion on this.
1
SafeConcept4591Apr 1, 2026
+1
Nah I’m with you on this 😭 the thought of sitting on the bed with “outside clothes” just feels wrong. Like you don’t even know what you’ve sat on all day. I don’t think it’s being a germaphobe, it’s just wanting your bed to feel clean and comfortable.
1
3bears123Apr 1, 2026
+1
No, you are not overreacting. I would never let outside clothes touch my bed. I also don’t wear shoes in the house. And I never allow my purse to touch the bed or kitchtn counter or anything like that. I don’t understand how more people do not take cross-contamination seriously.
1
MobileOrdinary6827Apr 1, 2026
+1
American movies depict people wearing shoes on coffee tables, couches, and beds. I can confirm that was quite common with me throughout my childhood and life. Moved to the UK in 2017 and my husband hates when I wear shoes in the house.
1
Hopeful_Shape3723Apr 1, 2026
+1
Im the same - no outside clothes or bags on my bed - the number of friends that think that dumping a dirty bag thats been on the tube floor is ok - It’s not - I sleep there !!!!!!
1
mrs___holmesApr 1, 2026
+1
Oh you'd hate me. I don't shower every day so I frequently get in bed unshowered with the "grime" of the whole day on me.
1
SpringtimeLilies7Apr 1, 2026
+1
Are they sitting on top of the bedspread like that, or sleeping IN the bed like that? Because I see nothing wrong with the first one.
1
chuckaholicApr 1, 2026
+1
I live in Houston, where the humidity is so high that you can never be totally dry. Mold is everywhere the sunlight doesn't touch. If you leave an object long enough, even covered, it will eventually rot. A car sitting in a field will slowly sink into the earth, rust, and turn to sludge in a decade.
I've worked jobs where, no matter how thoroughly you shower, you can never be totally clean. And you work so hard that you are lucky if you don't pass out from exhaustion on the commute home.
Given all of this, yes, I have collapsed into bed upon arriving home, slept 12 hours, and awoke in the same clothing and position.
In my current reality, where I work in an office and click a mouse all day, it's different. I change into shorts and t-shirt, sometimes shoes, and make a snack. I will sometimes lay in bed with these clothes on. Mostly not. Shower before bed. Once completely clean and shaved, I lay down with the least clothing possible into silky bamboo sheets. HVAC and de-humidifier keeping the air cold and dry. I sleep like the dead, and it is wonderful.
1
pm_me_your_amphibianApr 1, 2026
+1
We’re all way too clean these days.
1
silky_tearsApr 1, 2026
+1
Maybe she usually does but didn’t want to change clothes in front of you? Maybe since she had a guest?
1
Late_Big_2913Apr 1, 2026
+1
I totally agree with you. I normally put on my old comfortable clothes as soon as I walk in the door.
I think the last time I laid on the bed fully dressed with my street clothes was that a mattress store.
1
ALDUDApr 1, 2026
+1
I have outside clothes, inside lounging clothes, and bedtime clothes.
1
luvs2meowApr 1, 2026
+1
I am in agreeance with you but I think I have a psychological thing from a chaotic childhood. My family wore shoes in the house, they’d put shoes on the BREAKFAST TABLE, they didn’t wash their hands between things. As an adult when I got my own space I do no shoes in house, no outside clothes on bed, no leaving toilet lid open, wash hands as soon as you get home and definitely before putting groceries away, between cleaning supplies, etc. I’m very lucky my husband has agreed to all these things. It’s been so blissful. Now I’m pregnant and about to pop this baby out any day, and my family wants to come over to help. I hate their help though. They always forget I don’t like shoes in the house, they don’t wash their hands when they come in the door, when they’ve helped me mop and vacuum they miss things and leave the dirty mop just sitting in the bucket. And don’t even get me started on how they cook with raw meat. I feel like I have to babysit them or they get their germs all over.
And you know what? My parents claim, “You’ll never build your immune system” and “germs are good” but they are sick 3x as much as me and I teach first grade which is inherently germy, so I think maybe my methods work.
1
Ronnoc527Apr 1, 2026
+1
I sit on top of the comforter to put on or take off socks. I would never get under the covers though.
1
Prestigious_Snow3309Apr 1, 2026
+1
No street clothes on the bed!
The is how I grew up
1
BluemonogiApr 1, 2026
+1
I did not grow up in a big grimy city riding public transportation so I would not think about it much. I don’t change just to sit on my bed but I also don’t bring guests into my bedroom unless they will sleep there. Usually we would be sitting in the living room and the guest would never go in our bedrooms bringing their germs and judgement.
I think you are too concerned about it. Were you just planning to hover in their bedroom or were you stripping off when you saw them flop on the bed? When you go to someone else’s home do you bring clothes to change into before sitting on their furniture? Do you expect your guests to change clothes when they come to your home? Is it just the bed that is sacred?
1
PastySasquatchApr 1, 2026
+1
That’s a definite gross no no. I generally change in to house pants when I get home for this very reason. My ex used to put her purse on the bed, not even the comforter, like right on the sheets. Ew.
1
PasgettiMonsterApr 1, 2026
+1
My washer and dryer are halfway between my front door and my bedroom in a hall closet. My laundry hamper is in the hallway between the washer and dryer and my bedroom. Those clothes get tossed either directly into the washer or into the hamper before I even enter my bedroom. My hamper used to be in the bedroom and I realized I was leaving my clothes sitting on the floor outside the bedroom before I even went in so I moved my hamper to where I was leaving my clothes. I live alone so I can do stuff like this without having to worry about if other people think it's odd. My mother came to visit and almost had a fit because my hamper was in her way and my bras were hanging on a hook fully visible too anyone who walked by them. But what the heck, I live alone and even of anyone comes over, unless I'm inviting them to the back of the house at the end of a hallway that makes a 90 degree turn they're not seeing any of this.
I also don't wear outside shoes past the tiled entryway area of my house. And I make anyone who comes to visit take their shoes off too.
1
Fun_Branch_9614Apr 1, 2026
+1
I don’t sleep in the clothes I work in, I also don’t sleep in the clothes I change into when I get home🤣
I typically wear scrubs at work, I change when I get home into sweats or something comfy. But I sleep in shorts and a tank top.
1
Illustrious-Coat3532Apr 1, 2026
+1
That’s why they call it laundry.
1
QaleidoscopesApr 1, 2026
+1
I don't like to wear my shoes in the house as many have mentioned. However, as a disabled person, if I'm working around the house, anything that involves being on my feet, I legit NEED the support of shoes. I do not have "inside shoes", ha. Point being, there's not going to be one rule that works for everyone - there's always exceptions and preferences.
1
PizzasgoodApr 1, 2026
+1
For starters, it sounds like you're talking about the outer surface of the bed. That's silly. While sleeping you are in contact with the *inner* surface of the sheets, not the outer surface, and there's even more distance involved if the bed has blankets on it. If you're going to stress about germs transferring from the outer surface of your clothing to the outer surface of your bed and then burrowing down through the blankets and sheet to your skin... why aren't you stressing out about them having already burrowed through your clothes to your skin in the time it took you to get home?
If you were talking about them sitting on their *pillow*, then I would agree with you. That's not only the same surface they'll be making skin contact with later, but a surface they're likely to make *face* contact with. But the number of germs you'll pick up by sleeping in a bed that you previously sat upon is insignificant compared to the number of germs you were exposed to while actually outside your home.
As for "sleeping in a pile of city grime," just how gross is your city? Are you coming home with mud and dogshit dripping off your pants or something? Because sure, if I have *actual grime* on my clothes because I slipped and fell in a muddy puddle or sat on some ketchup then I'm not going to be letting those clothes come into contact with any of my furniture... but that is not typically the case. My shoes *might* have a little dirt on them depending where I walked, but I usually take those off as soon as I'm through the door. Assuming it was a normal day, the rest of me is clean.
1
ThaProphetJApr 1, 2026
+1
I couldn't agree more. This is exactly how I feel
1
lonelycranberryApr 1, 2026
+1
I think you’re a little intense about it but I also don’t usually sit in my bed in outside clothes. I put on pj’s almost as soon as the front door shuts. That being said, I would absolutely wear shorts and a tshirt and crawl into bed later with that on. Whatever. The germs don’t bother me. The sensation does.
1
SeaSaltSequenceApr 1, 2026
+1
I am the same. What other people choose to do with their beds is their business but for me? You don't get on my bed with outside clothes.
Just the same way there is piss and shit on public transit floors and grocery store tiles, there is piss and shit on public transit seats and raised garden beds and anywhere else people put their asses. Parents don't think twice about hoisting their toddler up to stand on a seat, people take their dogs EVERYWHERE now and they don't pay attention to what they're stepping in let alone tell them not to get on a seat, people vomit in public spaces and sometimes it never really gets cleaned properly.
So yeah, I prefer not sleeping in piss and shit particles and god knows what else.
1
Same-Drag-9160Apr 1, 2026
+1
I don’t really care cause I’m sleeping in my bed, not in my bed. So even if I sit on my bed with jeans, inside my bed is untouched by them.
Also I don’t wash my hair everyday so whatever germs that got in my hair that day will be on my pillowcase. I just don’t care, I care about hand washing and do it constantly, but like I’ve never gotten sick from wearing jeans in my bed
1
Stunning_Shirt8530Apr 1, 2026
+1
i have a designated 'outside blanket' on my couch for when i sit down before changing. my friends think i'm insane but my bed is a sacred space and outside clothes are not invited
1
nemmalurApr 1, 2026
+1
On top of the bed is fine (no shoes though).
1
Lana_bbApr 1, 2026
+1
My MIL wears her boots in bed 😭
1
SheslikeamomApr 1, 2026
+1
Yeah, people say this and then let their animals on their bed so I doubt the truly feel what they feel about outside clothes in the bed.
1
MethodAdmirable4220Apr 1, 2026
+1
If we look at the facts, yes 100% it's gross. Take a micrscope and compare the beds. Tho listnook will not like that answer
1
TangeloVast3129Apr 1, 2026
+1
That actually made me smile, thank you for sharing
1
PPLavagnaApr 1, 2026
+1
Do you not have a comforter on top?
1
Asleep_Protection293Apr 1, 2026
+1
Shall I put a reaaaally disgusting idea in your head? 😁 Every time you eat out, how many mouths do you think the spoons and forks have been in? Being a germaphobe is no way to go through life…
1
wOBAwRCApr 1, 2026
+1
This is all purely an aesthetic preference. There is no actual danger or sanitary reason for your preference. It just seems gross to you which is fine of course but hopefully you can also understand that it’s not based on any real problem.
1
No-Will-4393Apr 1, 2026
+1
Maybe they haven't seen someone without a tissue on the bus and then wiping it all over the seat 😩
1
NeolithicOrkneyApr 1, 2026
+1
I draw the line at not worrying or caring if other people do this with their beds. As long as it's not my bed I don't care.
1
techaaronApr 1, 2026
+1
Wait til OP grows up and hears what else happens in beds.
1
ExpensiveCup1518Apr 1, 2026
+1
Ooh I’m the same way. I’m a no shoes in the house person and ask others to follow this in my home. I think I’m a little (okay, a lot) more particular than most people, but I’m okay with that.
1
VinceP312Apr 1, 2026
+1
I strip naked when I get home
1
A_plus_USAApr 1, 2026
+1
OP, there's more bugs on your eyelashes than there are on your friends bed, and showering doesn't get rid of those. You sleep in bacteria that can't be washed off every night.
1
SubcooledBoilingApr 1, 2026
+1
I agree. I won’t even get on the bed until i’ve showered.
1
RixhephtosApr 1, 2026
+1
I change out of my work clothes when I get home, but that's mostly so my cat doesn't make bread on my pants and make pulls in the fabric. He can do that with my comfy clothes all he likes :)
1
Frost-WzrdApr 1, 2026
+1
seems pretty extreme to me but you do you. I've never really been worried about germs or even think about them most the time. I work in the trades and I'm always holding screws and pencils in my mouth lol. haven't been sick in years
1
Final-Lie78Apr 1, 2026
+1
This is an objective opinion and you are objectively right.
1
Illustrious_Try5910Apr 1, 2026
+1
No, you're not exaggerating. I'm not from the US, but the idea of going to bed in clothes I came in from outside drives me crazy. The bed just has to be clean and smell good and not with other people's bacteria.
1
SuitableElephant6346Apr 1, 2026
+1
Are you my girlfriend?? She's the exact same way haha
"Don't go on the bed you sat on the outside chair, change your clothes#
1
smr120Apr 1, 2026
+1
on bed? eh, clothes are fine but shoes are kinda weird. in bed, like under the blankets? absolutely not, that is a space for clean things only
1
Jumpy-Jello-Apr 1, 2026
+1
When you're narcoleptic, the outside world is bed too.
1
Longjumping-Stay-597Apr 1, 2026
+1
If you ain’t sitting on the train or the bus, who gives a f*** tbh
1
Nadia_MinxApr 1, 2026
+1
Totally agree. Usually I won't even sit in my chair without changing clothes if I know they touched public seats etc.
Imo it's just good hygiene to think about things like that
And it definitely is far from being germaphobe
But also, in my country we don't wear shoes at home! like in the US, that's disgusting for us
1
fauxlibra2525Apr 1, 2026
+1
Not only clothes but shoes… why are you in bed with shoes???
1
sashanight23Apr 1, 2026
+1
My boyfriend used to hate the idea of changing but understood when I told him people pee on the bus and train. Now he makes sure he changes before we lay in bed. It’s honestly really sweet he took it into consideration. The bed is definitely a clean sacred space to me too.
193 Comments