Some of us have more icks than others, and some of us are a little more icky. Where do you fall on the gross-out scale? We’re here to put your hygiene (and stomach) to the test!
Just answer these 12 nasty questions honestly, and we’ll add up your score to tell you how gross you are.
(Just remember: This is just for fun! We can’t really say for sure without meeting you in person.)
Questions Overview
- I'm more of a 20-second rule kind of person. Maybe 30. 60, even.
- Yes, the 5-second rule applies to any food.
- Yes, I believe in the 5-second rule, but only if the food isn't wet or sticky and the floor is clean.
- No. I won't eat anything that's been on the floor for any amount of time.
- Sure. But don't tell anyone.
- Only if I couldn't hold it.
- The ocean? Maybe. A pool? Nah.
- Never. That's disgusting.
- Once every couple weeks.
- Once a week.
- Multiple times a week.
- I always wear a fresh pair.
- It's been so long I can't remember.
- Last month, probably?
- In the last week, at least.
- Today. I always wash between my toes.
- It's kind of a disaster in there. I haven't cleaned it in weeks.
- It's not pretty, but it's functioning!
- It could use some tidying, but I'd let a guest use it.
- It's spotless. I clean it at least once a week.
- Always
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
- Of course! I don’t even pick out the hairs, honestly. Too much effort.
- Sure. It's not appetizing, but I can pick it out or eat around it.
- Depends on how hungry I am. I don't like to finish food that's been contaminated.
- Definitely not, and I'm probably asking for a refund.
- All the time. I’ll fart and burp at full volume—I never hold back.
- I’ll fart or burp in public, but I usually try to keep it quiet.
- I try really hard not to fart or burp in public, and if I do, I’ll excuse myself first.
- I try to never burp or fart unless I'm in the bathroom.
- They're fascinating. Maybe even kinda cute?
- They're a pest, but a fact of life I accept.
- I dislike them and avoid them, but they're not the end of the world.
- I can't stand them, and wouldn't enter a place that has them.
- Yes, and I still do it.
- Yes, but only sometimes.
- Once or twice, but it's not a habit.
- I've never done this.
- It washes dishes, probably. Idk. I don't wash my dishes.
- Dishwashers clean food off of dishes, duh. ...Right?
- Dishwashers mostly clean food off of dishes, but they tend to miss spots.
- A dishwasher just sanitizes dishes. You still have to wash the food off in the sink first. Everyone knows that!
- Never.
- Sometimes, but only if I got something on them.
- Usually.
- Always.
More Quizzes
How Does Disgust Work, Anyway?
We’ve all felt disgust at some point in our lives. We might be disgusted at the soggy takeout food we ordered, or disgusted by things that occur in nature (like vultures scavenging on dead animals), or even morally disgusted when we witness something cruel or evil. Disgust is as natural as any other emotional reaction… but what is disgust, exactly? Why do we feel it? And is there a way to become less sensitive to it?
Why do we feel disgust?
Many neuroscientists believe that disgust is an evolutionary emotion that humans developed to keep us safe. How? Well, think back to the last time you were cleaning out your fridge and found some food that was way past gone. You probably felt disgust when you saw it, smelled it, or even touched it. It’s gross! But that’s the point. Eating something like that would probably make you sick or even give you an illness or disease, so your body reacts with disgust to prevent you from doing so. Saved by disgust!
This extends to other kinds of disgust, too. You might be disgusted by blood and gore, and that’s your survival instincts kicking in as your brain tells you that you want to avoid violence or harm. When you’re disgusted by something somebody did, that’s your brain telling you that you disagree with their actions on a moral level.
Is disgust always the right response?
Disgust is natural, sure, but that doesn’t mean it’s always correct. It’s true that you probably can’t help feeling nauseous when you see something nasty, but when it comes to more complex things, like other people’s lifestyles or personal choices, disgust isn’t always helpful. Sometimes, disgust is just a reflex, but our reflexes aren’t always right. Useful, maybe, but not always correct.
That’s why it’s a good idea to question your disgust! You’d probably decide that feeling disgust while watching a gory horror movie is the right way to feel, but you’d probably want to stop and ask yourself why you feel disgust about more natural things, like scavenging animals, decaying organic matter, or someone’s personal choices.
Can you become less sensitive to disgust?
Questioning your feelings is also how you can become less sensitive to disgust. Try to see things in a new perspective. For example, maggots are a little gross, sure, but think about it: they’re just another living thing going about their business and doing their job in nature, which is to break down dead things so that they don’t clutter up the world and make things even more disgusting for the rest of us. They’re doing us a favor! When you look at it like that, they become a little less gross, don’t they?
Want to learn more?
For more information about disgust and other emotions and reactions, check out these helpful resources:
Medical Disclaimer
Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.
