I’m the first to admit to being a germaphobe. My dislike of germs has made some companies downright rich by creating products like this:
Lots of people use hand sanitizers these days, though, right? I dare say my desire to have germ-free digits puts me just past midway on the germaphobe scale:
I’m guessing someone like Howie Mandel might fall to the far right on the chart:
Unlike Howie, I enjoy physical contact. I’m perfectly comfortable hugging, touching (possibly groping if it’s Ryan Reynolds I’m greeting), or shaking hands with people. Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t occasionally be thinking this after a hearty handshake with a man I’ve just met:
Because we all know how much men love to touch their parts.
I’m just not a fan of the germs. So, natch, when someone in this abode gets sick, there’s a whole lot of sanitizing going on over here. The Girly tested positive for strep earlier this week and was soon the proud occupant of her very own bathroom. Mister Man used ours.
After 48 hours on meds, the police tape was ceremoniously removed, I strapped on the gloves and went all germ buster on surfaces she’d touched. Everyone was able to move freely about the premises again. Things were good.
Then I found myself wondering the same thing I always do when someone in the house has a contagious illness–how long do these germs live on surfaces? Did I miss some? Will the remaining cooties just die off on their own?
Like any good detective, I turned to Dr. Interwebs for the answers.
And answers I got.
My favorite was from a woman who makes me look as if I enjoy snacking from a petrie dish or cleaning terlits with mah bare hands. Much like Howie, she makes me feel like I’m not as big a germ freak as my sister thinks I am I thought I was. Following are excerpts from her post-strep cleanup:
“The best idea is to start by emptying garbage bins of any tissues you or your family used when they were sick. Toss toothbrushes and remove sheets from beds (put them in the washer and dryer immediately on a hot water cycle to kill bacteria). Put any dishes that were used over the sick period in the dishwasher (on an extra-hot cycle).”
This all seems perfectly logical to me. Then it starts to get a bit intense (I’m picturing her suiting up and crawling army style through her home):
“Now it’s time to move from room to room, disinfecting as you go.”
I get it–clean all the things! Some of this made sense as well:
“The first thing you should do is to wipe down any and all surfaces you or your ill family member could have touched. This includes light switches, door handles, doors, walls, crown molding, art, chairs, countertops, remote controls, computer keyboards, etc. Use your antibacterial wipes to clean all of these surfaces. For anything like garbage cans or sinks, rinse them with an antibacterial liquid. For longer, flatter surfaces, like countertops, use a disinfectant spray.”
Somehow I’m thinking if your kid is contaminating walls, art, and CROWN MOLDING, you have some bigger issues on your hands. You also must have a 7′ 2″ child who enjoys running their goobery hands along the fancy woodwork where the wall meets the CEILING.
[Sidebar: After reading that, I've reminded myself yet again that The Girly used this computer while contagious and I have yet to wipe down the keys. Also, I eat here a lot, so I've definitely eaten those germs. Awesome.]
The next thing she mentions is cleaning the floors. Considering the fact that my floors are already barely recognizable, now might be a good time to jump on that bandwagon.
For the most part, the tasks she prescribed up to this point are pretty sensible things (in my germophoby opinion) to do after someone has had strep in your home.
Then she went all streptococcalcrazy:
“Once you’ve fully cleaned a room from top to bottom, seal it from human activity; shut the door. Better yet, if you’re home cleaning and other family members are with you, ask them to take a shower before entering any room that’s been completely disinfected (this will ensure that if germs are still present on their bodies that they don’t recontaminate the space).”
Thanks, lady. I totally feel normal now.
From bonnie:
I find that the older I get the more I am aware of germs. Not as bad as you, but still aware.
bonnie recently posted..Random Thoughts Again
From Wombat Central:
Me too. I’ve definitely become more germ phobe-y as I’ve gotten older. I’ll probaboy be in Howie’s bubble by the time I’m 80. Either that or I just won’t give a rip about germs anymore.
From karynclimans:
Did you see the “America’s Got Talent” episode when Howie Mandel freaked out when a contestant tried to hug him. I didn’t realize how germaphobic he was until then.
karynclimans recently posted..Truly Inspiring 20-Year-Old
From Wombat Central:
No, I missed that, but I’ve heard him talk about it before.
From statia:
I would go as far as to lick Ryan Reynolds ALL OVER, if I were to see him in public. This is probably bad for germs, though.
I am so far on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to germs. I let my kids wipe their poo hands over everything.
Ok, not really, but, aside of washing our hands with plain ol’ soap and water, and doing the regular type cleaning, I don’t use any type of hand sanitizer (I’ll use a natural sanitizer, or most likely, just a baby wipe, if we’re out somewhere particularly germy, like a New York City subway, or some sort of event where there are a lot of people). However, in our daily lives, I’m less vigilant, because I think that this anti-bacterial movement does more harm than good. I so rarely get sick. Our daughter is the only one who gets sick more frequently, but that’s due to asthma and allergies, not lack of sanitizing on my part. I figure, if I let her lick a doorknob in the house, it’ll strengthen her immune system.
statia recently posted..I smell leather
From Wombat Central:
I’m pretty sure all of Ryan’s germs are totally safe for licking.
You’re probably right on the building immunity front. Although, my kids use hand sanitizer and still get colds and strep. Go figure.
Wombat Central recently posted..The Germaphobe Scale
From Missy | Literal Mom:
Methinks she has issues.
And my house if probably always a germy hotbed. You probably won’t want to ever visit. But I will wash my hands before we hug each other when we finally meet in person!
Missy | Literal Mom recently posted..Random Friday Fun and Games
From Wombat Central:
For you? I’d skip the sanitizer.
From Jen {at} take2mommy:
Just can’t picture myself saying, sorry husband, I just cleaned that room. Can you please shower before you enter it?
That woman is kookoo.
I have a brother in law who would register “hazmat suit” on that scale. He’s kookoo too.
Jen {at} take2mommy recently posted..Vegetarian BLT with Avocado
From Wombat Central:
I read about a woman once who made everyone change their clothes every time they went out somewhere and returned home. kookityfreakingcoo.
From TILTE:
I don’t think I’m necessarily a germaphobe. In fact, I’m pretty sure I’m just average when it comes to stuff like that.
HOWEVER… if someone has the barfs? I’ll straight up light a match to this house and relocate.
TILTE recently posted..Look-a-Like.
From Wombat Central:
Hahahaha. Yeah. Don’t have kids.