Germaphobe: why do I care about this so much?
Shopping cart handles, bathroom doorknobs. I've made considerable effort to avoid each. I use the sanitary wipes provided at my local grocery store to wipe the funk off the shopping cart and I pull my sleeve over my hand before using the doorknob to exit the bathroom (anyone else see a huge market opportunity in manufacturing kick-buttons that open bathroom doors?). I know, my sleeve is all funky now...what can I do?
For some reason, when I travel, it all goes out the window in the interest of being flexible. But still, right now? Shopping cart handle? Ew.
via Darren...he's barefoot and Canadian. I wouldn't recommend the barefoot part...see above. Edit: I just found out that Barefoot is Darren's last name (I just thought it was just part of a cool blog title). I still don't recommend that people go barefoot in the bathroom ; )
Comments
Anonymous
February 15, 2006
Heh, it's okay, the frost up here kills all the germs.
Incidentally, I'm not sure to what degree you were playing on this, but my actual last name is Barefoot (I know, a blessing and a curse). Ever since I started blogging, a bunch of people have concluded that my URL et al is like 'Darren, barefoot'. Sadly, my URL is dreadfully boring, and just my full name.Anonymous
February 15, 2006
Glad you at least use your sleeve leaving the bathroom. Huge pet peeve are people who use a paper towel and then just throw it on the floor behind them. I find this incredibly rude and inconsiderate.
That said, unless you use your sleeve on every door handle and public surface you touch I can't imagine that you are saving yourself that much exposure to the little nasties...Anonymous
February 16, 2006
Ok, but did you read the first comment by kyrsten? A very well presented rebuttal/explanation to the article.
And yes, I open bathroom doors with a paper towel. :)Anonymous
February 16, 2006
How about the keypads to get into office buildings.
I have to swipe my card then enter a code to get into my office, the really bad part is that this door is just down the hall from the bathrooms.
I just look at the keypad and cringe so I have resolved to sacrificing one of my knuckles for entering the code. I agree with the kick buttons in bathrooms that is a great idea.
You've forgotten the worst of all, kids. How is it possible for kids to generate so much runny, gooey, disgusting snot and not dehydrate. I love the comment it is just a little cold. What? What is coming out of the kids nose makes Niagara Falls look like a trickle.
It gets on everything and sticks better than super glue.
Luckily, I'm the aunt (8 times over, my brothers need to stop) and can send them home at the end of the day and resort to hours of spraying Lysol Antibacterial spray on everything.Anonymous
February 16, 2006
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February 16, 2006
The paper towel ALWAYS goes into the trash. Even if I have to do a special maneuver like open latch with paper towel, push the door open, jump back to throw away the towel and then catch the door with my foot as it's swinging shut. Now that I type it out it sounds kinda weird. :-Anonymous
February 16, 2006
Tod-I'm envisioning a behind-the-back maneuver and nothing but net. ; )Anonymous
February 16, 2006
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February 16, 2006
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February 16, 2006
And the keypad (at the grocery store) when you use your debit card!
The handle on the gas pump!
Gloves, gloves and more gloves.
Hand sanitizer in your car--don't touch your face until you've used it.Anonymous
February 16, 2006
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February 16, 2006
Funky sponge solution--wet, pop in microwave, sponge and microwave (steamed in the process) are clean and
safe.Anonymous
February 16, 2006
And it still smells funky. I prefer to keep it from getting funky in the first place. I hate touching it because that smell gets on your hands and it's rank.Anonymous
February 16, 2006
Hi Heather's mom! I think we've just figured out the "why"...Anonymous
February 16, 2006
Not why I am a germaphobe. This apple fell off the other tree. My mom left my sponge all stinky on her recent visit and looked at me like I was defective when I practically dove into the sink to wring it out and place it on the sink board at a nice 90 degree angle to the faucet (let's just say that the microwave theory was already discussed). She's much more laid back than I am about house-cleaning stuff. I threw away the sponge when she left ; )Anonymous
February 16, 2006
Boring! I had this image of a young Heather, playing where she shouldn't (in the cupboard under the sink) and becoming trapped with a funky sponge. In the dark, microbes transmorgify into fanged creatures which can swallow you in one gulp.Anonymous
February 17, 2006
I guess the song 'Germs' by "Weird Al" Yankovic strikes a chord with you, then? [url for lyrics: http://www.com-www.com/weirdal/germs.html]Anonymous
February 17, 2006
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February 17, 2006
Stay tuned . . .I think I have that picture of her under the sink!Anonymous
February 17, 2006
Gross.
Luckily, you can't post pictures in comments! Whew!Anonymous
February 17, 2006
There seems to be a common thread here having to do with the fear of germy sponges. I think that going to Sam's Club and buying the 20 pack of identical sponges would be the perfect work aournd. Just think you can throw the funky sponge away, replace it with a new one and mom would never know.
Either that or hours of talking about your childhood, parents and why you feel the need to put that sponge at a 90 degree angle, especially when everyone knows it should be parallel to the faucet with the scrunge side up, would cure this problem.Anonymous
February 17, 2006
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February 17, 2006
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February 17, 2006
You can try, but then I'll get the photo album out of the closet and we'll all have some fun! Don't worry, fashion-wise, I don't think the 60s were good to anyone.Anonymous
February 17, 2006
Will do gladly Mrs. H! rich [at] rjdudley [dot] com. Can you scan a daugerrotype? ;)
This is no longr about spongs. This is all about Heathr. And having the perfect name to mutate Web 2.0-style.Anonymous
February 20, 2006
Settle down Dudley, nobody's scanning anything. ; ) And I will not be Web 2.0-ized!Anonymous
February 21, 2006
Sorry Dudley--she's got me on eternal maternal photo- probation.Anonymous
February 21, 2006
: )Anonymous
February 21, 2006
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February 21, 2006
grandpa (someone's, not mine, of course...we are past the runny nose age in our family)- have you tried Emrgen-C or Airborne? I use them when I have close contact with folks or fly and they work great. You dissolve them in water (kind of like Tang...remember Tang?) and they are packed with vitamin c and electrolytes.
It's cool to know that someone's grandpa is reading my blog ; )Anonymous
March 11, 2006
Here is how being a germophobe cost me a lot of money.
This elderly man, Victor, called me by mistake. From tjhat phone call, we developed a friendship and I would visit him occasionly and phoned often. A ten year non-paying tenant on his property provided him some limited care as well as cleaning up after Victor's many dogs and cats. Victor always told me that he would leave his money and property to whoever would take care of his animals. He did not like this woman very much and always wanted me to visit him more often and to help provide more care for him.
However he was very dirty and his property was cluttered and filthy. I could not stand to go into his house, touch him, touch his money or gifts, etc. He died recently and this woman gave him a fancy funeral; much more attention than she gave him while he was alive. So she got the over 2 million dollars in money and property as well as the animals.
I've been interested in animal rescue for years so I would have provided much better care for his much loved cats and dogs and I could have done more for him while he was alive as well. But I couldn't stand his filth nor could most other people.
Therefore I lost all of that money and he lost out on care and company he really wanted because I am a germophobe.Anonymous
August 19, 2006
OK, I just deleted all the comments from people that work for a company that has a "great new product" that kills germs. This isn't the place for free advertising.Anonymous
January 11, 2007
my friend percy has a phobia of sponges he says he just hates the feeling of them he screams if you try to touch him with one its so weird well ok byeAnonymous
February 21, 2007
Hey fellow germaphobes, check this gadget out at www.hysonow.com It actually kills germs on public restroom doorknobs! I love this thing! A restaurant where I live has them installed, I take people there just to show them the thing.Anonymous
March 11, 2007
Ew! I would never wipe my sleeve on the door handle!! I ALWAYS use a paper towel. There is a trash can somewhere nearby so I take it with if I have to. SICK. If there aren't paper towels in the bathroom I am stuck. I wait for people to open the door!! They should just not have doors on bathrooms.Anonymous
March 18, 2007
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March 19, 2007
pringle_sam, good luck! I heard someone on TV say not to bother using toilet seat covers because they do no good. Maybe they are there for our peace of mind. Perhaps you could work that into your paper : ) GOod luck with it!Anonymous
June 05, 2007
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January 30, 2008
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April 12, 2008
Here's a great option, StepNpull. It's a simple bracket that attaches to the bottom corner of any commercial latch less door and allows the user to open the door with their foot instead of their hand. There is a short demo video on the website. www.stepnpull.comAnonymous
April 25, 2008
You shouldn't by embarrassed about being a germaphobe or what we preferred to be called: GermAware. With the horrible effectiveness of the flu shot this year and Avian flu still threatening to make the jump to humans, it is only common sense to make every effort to protect yourself and your family. Check out this site for the latest info for the GermAware: <a href="http://www.germaware.com">www.germaware.com</a>Anonymous
January 08, 2009
Here's another good bathroom trick. If there's an overhead door closer, just push the connecting linkage to the right. The door pops open just enough to grab it from the outside. Nobody else seems to know about this and it has very little human contact. Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone!!Anonymous
January 08, 2009
I won't tell because I am 5'3". I can't reach that thing!Anonymous
December 03, 2009
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