Laundromats... Ick...

[The Mystery Machine]

FWIW, where I live it is UNTHINKABLE for anybody to wear their regular shoes inside a house. It simply isn't done and would be considered horrible manners to not take them off at the door so that doesn't sound weird to me at all. Also, when I read your original post I thought it was hyperbole in a joking tone - not something that's become a real issue for you. Sorry if I sounded flippant.

I recently moved to a city, and while I've never been one for no-shoes-in-the-house, the dog crap and filth we walk past every day has made me become that way. No shoes past the front hallway.

However, I think OP has a problem, and it isn't a dirty comforter. Get some therapy for that.

I have to wear my reg. shoes in the house. So does my sister, mother, and father.

I have Morton's neuroma and I wear orthotics, my sister has had ankle reconstruction and needs her shoes to be stable on her feet, my mother has neuropathy of the feet and my father has serious balance issues.

Hopefully as the people around you have issues regarding their feet and aging you won't force shoes off of their feet.

Back to OP....

OP, you are dealing with a phobia, which is essentially a form of OCD with some serious rumination.

Here is the bottom line with that. The more you "give in" to the phobia, the more it increases your OCD, which in turn begins to creep into other stuff and so on. Basically you are building a "wall".

If it is seriously disrupting your life you can seek therapy and get yourself some help.

 

[disney1990]

FWIW, where I live it is UNTHINKABLE for anybody to wear their regular shoes inside a house. It simply isn't done and would be considered horrible manners to not take them off at the door so that doesn't sound weird to me at all. Also, when I read your original post I thought it was hyperbole in a joking tone - not something that's become a real issue for you. Sorry if I sounded flippant.

I have some friends that automatically take their shoes off when they come into our house. I don't. I am a fully dressed kind of person. As soon as I get up, I get fully dressed - shoes and all. My house is too cold to run around with no shoes on. Do you supply slippers for everybody that comes to your house?

 

[ronandannette]

I have to wear my reg. shoes in the house. So does my sister, mother, and father.

I have Morton's neuroma and I wear orthotics, my sister has had ankle reconstruction and needs her shoes to be stable on her feet, my mother has neuropathy of the feet and my father has serious balance issues.

Hopefully as the people around you have issues regarding their feet and aging you won't force shoes off of their feet. ;)
Back to OP....

OP, you are dealing with a phobia, which is essentially a form of OCD with some serious rumination.

Here is the bottom line with that. The more you "give in" to the phobia, the more it increases your OCD, which in turn begins to creep into other stuff and so on. Basically you are building a "wall".

If it is seriously disrupting your life you can seek therapy and get yourself some help.

This isn't a "me" thing...we live in northern Canada and are in snow/slush/mud at least 7 months of the year. I don't personally know anyone who wears "medical" shoes but I doubt very many people would be comfortable tracking a mess all over the floor (their own or a host's) regardless.

I have some friends that automatically take their shoes off when they come into our house. I don't. I am a fully dressed kind of person. As soon as I get up, I get fully dressed - shoes and all. My house is too cold to run around with no shoes on. Do you supply slippers for everybody that comes to your house?

No, and neither does anyone I've ever met. Who would want to wear random "guest-slippers"? Certainly not the OP...her issue is germaphobia, remember?

 

[phamton]

OK, let me see if I understand this correctly. You are worried about germs you might get from others who used the washer. Aren't you the least bit concerned about the people who are going to use the washer after you used it? They are now using a washer that had dog vomit in it.

 

[AustinTink]

Well, I finally went to bed around 3am. And, I'm not dead yet. SO I guess I'll be alright.

Thanks for the responses. While I was half-kidding, I truly am a germaphobe. Googling laundromat horror stories before I tried to hit the hay probably wasn't the smartest thing I ever did.

I know my germaphobia is over the top, but at this point my family still finds it "cute". If it worsens, I will take it more seriously. Yes, Clorox wipes are my best friends and I take them with me everywhere. But there could be much worse obsessions.

 

[AustinTink]

I have to wear my reg. shoes in the house. So does my sister, mother, and father.

I have Morton's neuroma and I wear orthotics, my sister has had ankle reconstruction and needs her shoes to be stable on her feet, my mother has neuropathy of the feet and my father has serious balance issues.

Hopefully as the people around you have issues regarding their feet and aging you won't force shoes off of their feet.
Back to OP....

OP, you are dealing with a phobia, which is essentially a form of OCD with some serious rumination.

Here is the bottom line with that. The more you "give in" to the phobia, the more it increases your OCD, which in turn begins to creep into other stuff and so on. Basically you are building a "wall".

If it is seriously disrupting your life you can seek therapy and get yourself some help.

I'm a germaphobe, but not a jerk. I never make my elderly mom and others who need to keep their footwear on take them off in my home. Mostly it's just the disgusting teenagers who like to track mud/gum/dog poop in all over my house. They take their shoes off at my house and most of my friends as well.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Three cycles on high is definitely enough to kill any germs on it.

So feel free to sleep under it tonight.

 

[AustinTink]

OK, let me see if I understand this correctly. You are worried about germs you might get from others who used the washer. Aren't you the least bit concerned about the people who are going to use the washer after you used it? They are now using a washer that had dog vomit in it.

I thoroughly cleaned the dog yack off the comforter with Clorox wipes before heading to the laundromat.

 

[luvmyfam444]

ha ha ha. I'm guessing you never stay in a hotel then.

My mom has been using a Laundromat for about 3 yrs now. They have been redoing her laundry area @ home when they had the cash to pay for it - so it has taken literally FOREVER. They have had no problems getting sick or anything.

 

[firecracker725]

I have to wear my reg. shoes in the house. So does my sister, mother, and father.

I have Morton's neuroma and I wear orthotics, my sister has had ankle reconstruction and needs her shoes to be stable on her feet, my mother has neuropathy of the feet and my father has serious balance issues.

Hopefully as the people around you have issues regarding their feet and aging you won't force shoes off of their feet.

Back to OP....

OP, you are dealing with a phobia, which is essentially a form of OCD with some serious rumination.

Here is the bottom line with that. The more you "give in" to the phobia, the more it increases your OCD, which in turn begins to creep into other stuff and so on. Basically you are building a "wall".

If it is seriously disrupting your life you can seek therapy and get yourself some help.

I wouldn't force anyone to take off their shoes if they were a guest in my home. I would, however, mop my floors after they left.

My infant daughter crawls around my house. If you walked down my street, you'd be dodging dog excrement and God only knows what else.

 

[Ponygirl]

OK, let me see if I understand this correctly. You are worried about germs you might get from others who used the washer. Aren't you the least bit concerned about the people who are going to use the washer after you used it? They are now using a washer that had dog vomit in it.

Thank you! I thought I was the only one that caught that bit of irony.

 

[AustinTink]

Thank you! I thought I was the only one that caught that bit of irony.

Guess you didn't catch my response though.

 

[verleniahall]

due to our rental house being so old, it does not even have washer/dryer hookups FOR our washer and dryer; for three years now, we have used a laundry mat or washed at my parents.

we have not had any problems, and it is NOT always kept up, but we really dont have a choice.

 

[Minnesota!]

I never really thought about laundry mats being nasty or picking up germs there. Then I read on the internet about a woman washing her comforter which was covered in dog vomit and it gave me the willies.

FWIW, where I live it is UNTHINKABLE for anybody to wear their regular shoes inside a house. It simply isn't done and would be considered horrible manners to not take them off at the door so that doesn't sound weird to me at all. Also, when I read your original post I thought it was hyperbole in a joking tone - not something that's become a real issue for you. Sorry if I sounded flippant.

Same in MN..

Embrace the germs. They are good for you. Your immune system needs the exercise.

I so agree!

OP - I know OCD is a very tough thing to live with - I have it (not in relation to germs...I embrace them most times)...and the stuff I do struggle with does make day to day living difficult at times. I am not trying to make fun of that aspect.

You will be ok with the comforter, though, as is, washed in a laundromat. The chances of germs being on it after the washing/drying you did are very slim. And any that did remain - are good for your immune system.

 

[SydSim]

Any chance you can invest in a duvet cover for it?

 

[ronandannette]

Any chance you can invest in a duvet cover for it?

Ding, ding, ding....I think we have a winner!!

 

[mombrontrent]

Off topic but I never knew people wore shoes in the house? Canadian here but it doesn't matter what season it is I have never and have never seen anyone wear shoes in someone's house. Why? I can't see how it can be comfortable or sanitary. I wear socks in the winter and bare feet or "indoor flip-flops" in the summer. Shoes/boots do not go past the front entry way here or at any house I have ever been to. I can see if you had a medical problem and needed to wear shoes but they would not be same shoes that would be worn outdoors.

 

[MINNIEsotanice]

Off topic but I never knew people wore shoes in the house? Canadian here but it doesn't matter what season it is I have never and have never seen anyone wear shoes in someone's house. Why? I can't see how it can be comfortable or sanitary. I wear socks in the winter and bare feet or "indoor flip-flops" in the summer. Shoes/boots do not go past the front entry way here or at any house I have ever been to. I can see if you had a medical problem and needed to wear shoes but they would not be same shoes that would be worn outdoors.

I'm in Minnesota and have never heard of anyone wearing shoes in their house. Especially if I'm a visitor to someone else's house. When I go to someones house I bring my own fuzzy socks or slippers to keep my feet warm.

 

[Minnesota!]

I'm in Minnesota and have never heard of anyone wearing shoes in their house. Especially if I'm a visitor to someone else's house. When I go to someones house I bring my own fuzzy socks or slippers to keep my feet warm.

Just a warning - this topic gets VERY heated on the DIS!

 

[AustinTink]

Any chance you can invest in a duvet cover for it?

Had them in the past. I still washed the comforter though, just not as often.