Oh thats SO dirty!

[blonboy]

I have to admit....I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I got to thinking this morning about some of the things that just totally wig me out when it comes to touching things and i was curious about you guys.

Take for instance what they say about hotel rooms....we've all heard the stories.... the remote controls for the tv NEVER get wiped down, nor does the phone. Ive heard to NEVER drink from the glasses as some maids will take the dirty towels and simply wipe out the glass....EW!!

Anyway, here's what got me thinking....My wife was watching an Oprah episode that involved forensic scientists doing tests on typical household items like sponges, and bathrooms and linens and such - AMAZINGLY disturbing......

I was getting my usual breakfast out of the vending machine this morning and after inserting a bill, had to reach into the coin slot to retrieve my change. I wondered how many fingers had been in there. So, here's my list of things that just wig me out - how bout you guys? Keep in mind these items are all 'public' items. Not necessarily household items.

• Door Handles - can hardly use em
• Banisters (stairs or escalators)
• Elevator Buttons
• Phones
• Gas pump handles
• ANYthing in a restroom
• Salt shakers or any condiment item in a restaurant
• PIN pads in grocery stores or any store
• Shopping cart handles

My worst case scenario happened once when i had to use the restroom in a movie theatre - no matter how full i am, i ALWAYS have to get a big thing of popcorn - which you eat with your fingers.....anyway, i used the restroom and it was one of these restrooms that has virtually NO paper.....the hot air blower for your hands....no paper towel....I couldnt get out of the restroom!!! I usually use a papertowel to pull the door open with. I waited frantically for someone to come in so i could go out and resume my movie.....after no one came in i finally resorted to pulling some TP to grab the door with.....

Im a mess....
~Blon

[Daniel Bates]

I never gave it a thought, I guess... if my skin is free of cuts and abrasions then I should be fine. Hopefully.

[babybluetx23]

Ok here is a thought for you, shaking ANYONE'S HAND?!?!?! You have NO idea where their hands have been ALL DAY!!! Money is another......And im with you on ANYTHING in a bathroom. I use a public restroom and I will flush the commode with my FOOT!!! hehehe I dont care HOW silly it looks!!! hehehe I guess Im just not near as OCD about those issues. if I MUST touch something in a public bathroom like you had to at the movie theatre, I just bring along a bottle of anti bacterial gel. Lucky for me, Im a female and I can carry things in a purse and never get a second look like you would carrying a purse! hehehhe

[JohnT]

Your list just about covers it for me too. Especially the public restroom. I hate using them and will not touch a thing when I'm in there.

[babybluetx23]

Which makes me wonder, If Three or four of us here arent willing to touch ANYTHING in a public restroom......then is the rest of the world like this?!?! Are we all being parinoid about public restrooms for no reason?!??! hehehehe Just a thought! hehehe

[Mike G]

Nothing like that bothers me at all .. my wife has issues with bathroom doors but I give her hell about it

[TXhummer2]

I played in the dirt and mud of the Texas coast as a child. Not much bothers me now, except that skunk stuff....

(SMELLS are a TOTALLY different matter!)

[ShutteredEye]

There are so many places that bacteria are that you haven't even thought about. You can't win against them, and if you tried you'd only weaken your immune system, and leave yourself open for attack by a truly pathogenic bug....

[Elsaspet]

Hehe BlondBoy,
Now we're ALL freaked out.
Thanks!
:-)

[Mike G]

Originally Posted by TXhummer2

I played in the dirt and mud of the Texas coast as a child. Not much bothers me now, except that skunk stuff....

(SMELLS are a TOTALLY different matter!)

Odd as it may seem anything but a direct skunk spray (been there once in Ohio) never really bothered me .. it just isn't an offensive smell to me. :dunno:

[tiffany]

i usually avoid using public restrooms, but if i have to, i also use a paper towel to open the door.

other than that, the other stuff rarely bothers me. i clean my hands as much as possible so i don't sweat the small stuff.

[Wes]

After a life time of using public telephones, pushing buttons on elevators, opening doors, using remote controls, drinking from cups, using public water fountains, handling demo cameras in camera stores, touching vending machines, handling money, kissing girls, playing in the dirt, being around animals, and shaking hands.... I figure if some germ hasn't killed me yet, then it's all good.

[janetg]

i happened to catch that show on oprah - and what dr. oz said at the end of that was...

the best thing you can do to prevent illness is wash your hands often and keep your immune system as healthy as you can. we live in a world of bacteria, and there are some that say we were MADE from it. don't be such worry warts.

now that isn't word for word, but the only thing he really cautioned against (i think i have it taped on my computer if anyone's interested) - is hot tubs....avoid public hot tubs like the plague.

[Jay Henley]

Edit: delete duplicate.

[Jay Henley]

I guess one thing that drives me crazy, is when going to hotel or a cruise, I like to use a clean towell after shower. After drying off, I throw the towel on the floor and step on it and dry my feet.... sometimes the maids will pick up the towels and fold them and put them back on the rack if they do not feel like they are in to bad of shape. I just dont like wiping my face the next day with a towel that had been on the floor or had used to wipe my feet previously. the towel thing does not bother my wife at all.