Are you germophobic?

[LBAK]

Definitely not. I'm a pre-k teacher and lots of icky things touch me and I can't always go wash right away. I've had more noses wiped on my arms and legs then I can count.

 

[denisem]

Definitely NOT. My 86 year old Mom use to say, you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die. We lie on the bedspeads, touch the rides at Disney, etc. Absolutely no antibiotic soaps, etc in our house. All those chemicals are much worse for you than the germs.

And, no, I have had a cold or the flu in years. Like somebody else said, what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger.

This totally made me smile My 90 y.o. mom (died in her sleep in January, God rest her soul) always said the same thing. Outside of what USED to be considered the "normal" things (washing your hands WELL after bathroom use and blowin' your nose; stepping up care in food preparation; avoiding nose/eye contact with hands after exposure to questionable surfaces) I've lived to be almost...55 years old!

I've been around ages w/o a tag & I'll make a suggestion: I'm tired of wiping up after hoverers and I won't take it anymore!!!

Had to add this as it struck me funny: had dinner this week with friends and noticed the wife would drink from her husband's drink from the glass, NOT his straw. He also finished his entree first (thus relinquishing his fork) and wife only allowed him to finish her entree (with HER fork) AFTER she was done.

DH & I decided they have never had sex.

 

[Pin Wizard]

LOL, don't you hate when someone is a close talker and they spray??? I was at staples and the guy was helping me, and he was a close talker, i kept backing up, i just knew i was getting hit, and yep, it hit right below my eye..........ewwwwwwwwwwww..........i could feel it as i stood there thinking how i could get away from him and rub alcohol gel on my face!!!!!!!!!

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!

I know what you mean. You back up, they move closer. You want to turn around and run!

 

[MichelleVW]

:Had to add this as it struck me funny: had dinner this week with friends and noticed the wife would drink from her husband's drink from the glass, NOT his straw. He also finished his entree first (thus relinquishing his fork) and wife only allowed him to finish her entree (with HER fork) AFTER she was done.

DH & I decided they have never had sex.

Omg how weird....DH and I occasionally forget what toothbrush belongs to who. I know he uses mine all the time......grosses the kids out, but whatever.... not like I don't get his germs other ways!

I would prefer him to stick to his own toothbrush, but I'm not going to flip out if he doesn't!

 

[traviesojmt]

Apart from the basic hygene things, not mixing raw meat with anything, keeping them seperate in the fridge. Washing hands after using the toilet and handling raw food no germs don't bother me. I use the comforter in hotel rooms walk round bare foot in the room (walked through the coloured canyon in Egypt bare foot stubbed a toe but the sand stopped the bleading) don't cary any anti bacterial stuff, don't use it in the home I would rather build up immunities than leave myself exposed to everything because my body hasn't met it. Just go through life and enjoy it.

This is exactly what I planned on saying (except the Egypt part, never been there). Germs do not freak me out. My kids (DD4 and DS10) are rarely ever sick. As a matter of fact, my son is the only child in his 5th grade class who still has perfect attendance this year. Shoot, when my son was in preschool, I had to call poison control because someone dared my son to eat potting soil. It had miracle grow so I called to check. Turns out that it was safer for him to eat that than dirt in the yard. LOL I tend to notice that those I know who freak out easily regarding germs and use wipes for everything seem to be sick quite a bit more than us. I like being stress free.

 

[denisem]

I tend to notice that those I know who freak out easily regarding germs and use wipes for everything seem to be sick quite a bit more than us. I like being stress free.

THAT'S what's so bizarre to me!!!! Flame me if you will...but DH & I took on the care of my 80ish mother (who formerly smoked and lived to be 90) and I had a nephew & wife who refused to visit at our home because *I* smoked cigarettes at the time (mostly in the basement and outside). This was before they had children.

Now one child is diagnosed autistic, and the other is allergic to everything under the sun...I'm certainly NOT claiming underexposure to second-hand smoke leads to such conditions, but I DO question...is putting kids in a bubble in regards in immunity-building a good idea?!?

 

[tonilea]

I think there was a study that said children born to homes with pets were less likely to develop allergies/asthma.

 

[JessicaR]

I think there was a study that said children born to homes with pets were less likely to develop allergies/asthma.

Yep you are right. This was just in the news a few days ago.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/30/2231304.htm
Dogs are 'allergy-busters for children'
six-year study of 9,000 children in Germany has found they run less risk of being sensitive to allergens if they share their home with a dog.

 

[shortbun]

I admit that I am. In my job, I encounter loads of viruses. I use hand sanitizer mid run and wash my hands pre and post potty breaks. I wash them again pre food and during and after grocery shopping. I wash them during and after the movies and during and after inside sporting events-those handrails are nasty!! I take my chances with my coffee cup however unless I notice that the barrista is sick.

 

[ICF]

Not at all.....when I see the crazies out there not wanting to touch any "public" things and wiping everything down I have to laugh......

Granted if something looks gross don't use it or clean it, but in general most things out there are perfectly fine to touch, even if someone else has used it before.

I'm never sick so the germs must be too afraid of me to come around!

 

[MushyMushy]

No! And there's nothing that DH and I find funnier than when you see an entire family in a restaurant whipping out the antibacterial gel and rubbing down before they eat (especially when it's a group of adults). The bathroom is just a few steps away -- why not just go wash your hands?

I do believe in hand washing, but that's it.

I wonder why it's gotten so out of hand? I don't EVER remember people doing things like that when I was a kid.

 

[Huggles]

http://www.bath-and-body.com/weblog/AWordAboutAntibacterialSoaps.aspx

I also read another article about testing of anti-bacterial gels and the germ count before and after. I am trying to find it , but basically it said that the great reduction in germs lasted ther merest of minutes before it shot up to the previous level once again. So, best eat quick in the minute your hands are clean! I'll keep trying to find the article.

 

[shortbun]

http://www.bath-and-body.com/weblog/AWordAboutAntibacterialSoaps.aspx

I also read another article about testing of anti-bacterial gels and the germ count before and after. I am trying to find it , but basically it said that the great reduction in germs lasted ther merest of minutes before it shot up to the previous level once again. So, best eat quick in the minute your hands are clean! I'll keep trying to find the article.

My friend works in a lab and says the rubbing is the thing. He also said their bacterial count stayed low for over 1/2 hour and the virus load was low for longer.

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Unless one has a lowered immune system, I cannot see a reason for all this "disinfecting".

I have never purchased lysol, I own no antibacterial anything.

Do the germaphobes french kiss their partners?
Do you make love .... or do you have to dip your partner in bleach beforehand?

I wash my hands but that is it.

I sit on toilet seats - those who do not scare me. What exactly are you going to catch. I do not know about you, but I do NOT have open sores on my butt. Urine is also sterile - so why it may be disgusting - it is not going to kill you.

I cannot imagine spending $400 a night on a hotel room and having to re-clean it. We walk barefoot, use the comforters. Once I even took a bath!

Guess I am doomed.

 

[Nancy]

I live dangerously.

I walk barefoot in hotel rooms and also in the hallways. I don't take off the comforters and I do not wipe down surfaces, phones, toilets, etc.

Never bought sanitizer for personal use (I did have to buy it when the girls were in school because it was on the required list). I also do not use Lysol spray or antibacterial cleaners at home. I use good old hot water and soap, so do the rest of the family. We do not get sick other than a mild cold every so often.

Heck, I live so dangerously that I sit on toilets in public restrooms, and flush the toilets with my hand! Now if the toilet is gross looking and has the hover spray all over it, nope I'm not using it...common sense there. But if it looks clean then I'm fine with it.

 

[Pin Wizard]

No! And there's nothing that DH and I find funnier than when you see an entire family in a restaurant whipping out the antibacterial gel and rubbing down before they eat (especially when it's a group of adults). The bathroom is just a few steps away -- why not just go wash your hands?

I do believe in hand washing, but that's it.

I wonder why it's gotten so out of hand? I don't EVER remember people doing things like that when I was a kid.

I don't use the anti-bacterial gels or foams. The hospital has "stations" around with foam. ICK! They also inform you that you really do need to use soap and water and it's the chosen method over foam. I would rather not use anti-bacterial soap on hands. I do remember a few years back...while working at the hospital in FL...that they said your body does need some of these germs to build up your immunity. If you kill them all...

DS is another with perfect attendance at school.

 

[disney1990]

I think there was a study that said children born to homes with pets were less likely to develop allergies/asthma.

Yes, and children that live in houses that are super clean, are also sick more often. No problem here - bless the little dust bunnies under the bed.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Yes, and children that live in houses that are super clean, are also sick more often. No problem here - bless the little dust bunnies under the bed.

Imagine the bunnies from:

 

[LisaR]

I hate pot lucks. I hate the fact that I don't know how neat and clean the person that made it is. Did they lick the spoon and stick it back in the pot? Did they let raw meat touch the veggies? Did the food sit out too long? Did they wash their hands before they made it?

I was at a pot luck recently where one of the moms was talking about her son having diarrhea for the past two days. She was talking about changing his diaper and the mess it made and all I could think about was the food she brought to this event. Yuck!

I am a certified germaphobe for something like this but not so much with the other things mentioned. Public bathrooms do gross me out but I can usually avoid them on most days so it isn't an issue.

 

[Papa Deuce]