Clean and Clutter-free: Don't say "Yuk!" right away

Forum: Clean and Clutter-free Replies: 32, Views: 521 Print -

Author Content gloriag Floyd, VA (Zone 6b) March 16, 2007 6:55 AM Post #3287612 The well known local "character" my friend was married to had an unusual philosophy about germs. First, he ran a small local bar/restaurant with a lot of lunch/breakfast traffic. It was his policy that if a bit of onion or potato etc. dropped on the floor, he promptly popped it in his mouth. This had been going on most of his life. He felt as if he were innoculating himself. Well, years ago, he went on a tour of India. He had to take the prerequsite shots, but he did nothing special to prepare. All the others went to great lenghts with prescriptions etc. After they arrived, he ate the street food and drank the local water. The other tourists ate only the food at their very nice hotel and drank only bottled water. All of them became terribly sick with the tourists' revenge stomach related illnesses, but he did not. He never got sick at home either until when he was 83 when he contracted liver cancer and died; he even managed to stay cheerful and ambulatory until the very end. I think the old guy was on to something. I wouldn't worry too much about germs here and there, on doorknobs, faucet handles, etc. But I have become more conscious of washing my hands frequently. I do wash fruit or vegetables etc. but I am fairly casual about worrying about contact with possibly germ infested materials (think about money!!!) Does anyone wash their money? I hardly ever get sick. I did have a two day stomach virus and a cold or two within the last year. Glo darius Appalachian Mtns, VA (Zone 5b) March 16, 2007 7:03 AM Post #3287650 Too much washing of our skin removes the beneficial bacteria, opening up opportunities for infections/disease. Why should our internal organs be any different? I DO wash produce and meat unless it's organic, and clean my hands with wipes after every visit to a doctor's office or even the grocery store before touching the steering wheel and starting the car. Never thought about money... but then I seldom have any, just use the debit card. rubyw Crozet, VA March 16, 2007 8:34 AM Post #3287951 Greetings Fellow Virginians. Cute story gloria. Just think back to when we ourselves or our offspring sat in a pile of dirt and ate bits of it. I guess that many of us built up immunity to some things by doing that. If we sat down and really thought long and hard about the foods that we eat within a day's time, we might decide not to eat some of the things that we currently enjoy. Yeah, I have heard that money is WAY dirty. Ruby PeggieK Claremore, OK (Zone 6a) March 24, 2007 9:28 PM Post #3317449 I have gotten eye infections more than once from having a hand full of change, not washing my hands and then forgetting and rubbing my eye later. (I have spring allergies, so rubbing my eyes is a constant). No telling what's on money. I've heard of some folks that keep folding money pinned to the inside of their undergarments...ewwww. Never know where that stuff's been. scutler Charleston, SC (Zone 8b) March 24, 2007 10:43 PM Post #3317515 This is an interesting topic. While I don't go to quite the extent this guy did, I'm not germ phobic either. I like to say that I'm "training my immune system" when turning down a "wipe" I've been offered. I don't run around using my elbows and feet to open doors as I see so many people doing. Here are a few things I've learned on the subject: - Washing hands with soap and water for the adequate amount of time does a good job of removing most germs. Per researchers, wipes don't work anywhere near as well. - Children raised in extremely clean environments are far more likely to develop allergies and/or asthma. Scientists believe that in the near absence of stimuli (germs), the developing immune system is unable to learn to distinquish between real hazards (germs) and mere irritants (pollen, etc). - Tests of random bills (money) have revealed a plethera of germs. I think germs can live better and longer on paper money than on coins. Copper, for instance, has some germicidal tendencies as does silver. - A study published a few years ago found more germs on office desks than on common surfaces in public restrooms. I found that hard to believe - then I looked around my own desk and reconsidered the posibility. - Telephones, as you probably already know, also tend to collect a good assortment of germs. - When I 1st started wearing contact lenses, I was terrified of getting all manner of germs in my eyes. Before inserting my contacts I 1st washed my hands with the enthusiasm of a surgeon heading into the operating room. I had tremendous difficulty with my contacts. My eyes burned and watered about 1/2 the time. I was always having to take the contacts out later in the day, clean them, reinsert them. One day I saw my (then) fiance get up, grab his contacts without making any attempt to clean his hands, and just pop the contacts in and go. As much trouble as I had with MY contacts, I didn't understand why he was able to forget he was even wearing his. So one day I decided to just try it his way. I got out of bed, grabbed my contacts, and without any hand washing just put them in my eyes. Wow, my eyes felt great all day that day and every day thereafter. I decided that, ironically, my eyes were having more difficulty dealing with the soap residue than with the germs. Bottom line, it is impossible and perhaps even inadvisable to avoid all germs. Dealing with the routine ones is what the immune system is for, and if you don't train it, it may not be there for you when you really need it; also, if you deprive it of its normal job, it may get bored and find other things to do (allergies). I figure, ignore the everyday germs but try to stay away from the really nasty ones: ebola, small pox, ecoli 157:H7, etc. I have friends who never touch the restroom door and use wipes everytime they exit a public building, grocery store, etc. I don't do any of that, and I don't seem to be sick any more often than them. If anything, less. gloria125 Greensboro, AL March 29, 2007 3:19 PM Post #3334050 As an archeologist I continued to play in the dirt as an adult. I don't know how many times I ate my peanut butter (in the days when PB was a healthy food) sandwich without washing my hands. (No water). This was after a morning of preparing the burial of some poor soul for documentation and removal before his final resting place was turned over for industrialization - a reservoir, highway, or nuclear plant. yuk. I do rarely get sick. jaxinco Broomfield, CO (Zone 4a) April 1, 2007 10:10 AM Post #3343684 One thing about washing your hands: If you work with aluminum tools, aluuminum siding, or ride an aluminum bike, be sure to wash your hands before you eat because the aluminum will get into your body that way and cause all kindsa problems down the road. People with alzheimer's have been found to have brains full of aluminum when autopsied. Be aware. jax in CO PeggieK Claremore, OK (Zone 6a) April 6, 2007 6:23 PM Post #3363653 A healthy immune system is a necessary thing. While I don't consider myself to be a germ-a-phobic, but I'm not about to tempt fate. There are all kinds of viruses and germs "now" that have evolved into something our normal immune systems have no way to deal with. The germs and viruses nowdays...aren't the same as years ago. In other words, "it ain't your grandmothers flu, anymore". I just talked to a mom (just yesterday) whose 5 yr. old son had a regular run of the mill stomach virus. Some how, (a freak occurrance, according to the doctor) the virus attached itself to his platelets. Within 24 hours, he was a very sick little boy and they didn't know if he would even make it. He's now under the care of a hemotologist, who is still conducting studies trying to find out "Why" this virus was able to attach itself to his blood platelets and almost kill him, being a perfectly healthy child. I also had a friend that died (age 38) who was perfectly healthy until she got a typical infection that didn't respond to antibiotics, went into her blood stream and killed her within about 10 days. Totally unexpected. Although it's probably a small chance we might contact a weird hybrid germ, it's still pretty risky to chance it. One just never knows... gloria125 Greensboro, AL April 7, 2007 5:02 AM Post #3364549 For the record, prehistorically, the most prevalent cause of death of people recovered archeological sites, was infection. Occasionally one finds an arrow in the chest cavity -- probably not shot by Cupid. Today, we have "modern" diseases, but more an more there is a suspicion that infections and viruses are involved in triggering the onset of those diseases. Gabrielle Washington, IL (Zone 5a) April 9, 2007 8:21 AM Post #3371622 On a news show once I saw how drug addicts use money - they roll it up and use it to snort stuff. Also, as PeggyK mentioned, where some people keep it. I wash my hands really good as soon as I can every time I handle money. VEGGIEHAPPY New Braunfels, TX (Zone 8b) April 27, 2007 10:19 AM Post #3437308 I'm with the local "character" :-) I follow routine hygene (baths, washing hands after using the restroom, etc. etc.), but that's it. I don't use anti-bacterial anything and I only take anti-biotics if the doc says it's required (which so far has been three times in my life outside of major surgery). Maybe one day I'll catch one of the super germs out there, but the first 44 years of my life I've been pretty lucky. I believe being too careful can be detrimental - especially if it starts in childhood. gloria125 Greensboro, AL April 27, 2007 10:29 AM Post #3437337 As an archeologist, I have met some interesting characters. One was Sabra, my room mate in college who decided to work on an excavation with us one summer. Sabra's mother was a nurse, and a germ freak. Playing in the dirt was an opportunity to rebel. Sabra had long blond hair--down to her waist. One day she rescued a family of possum babies whose mom had been hit in the road. All summer long, those baby possums played in S's hair at the site. I wonder what her mother would have said, about S. playing in the dirt all summer long with those possum babies living in her hair. (!) I remember that Sabra broke a few hearts amongst her male admirers, but I never remember her being sick. GiddyMoon Carmichael, CA April 28, 2007 5:25 PM Post #3442011 I hate sounding like a broken record but the media puts so much useless fears in peoples' heads. People have been living around germs and dirt, eating things of the floor for generations. Bacteria, along with many thigs in life, have mutitated and changed for thousands of years. But if we are not around them, we will not grow strong. The majority of people who are germiphobes that do more harm to themselves far outnumber the people who get seriously sick from any bacteria or germ out there. Antibacterial soaps and super clean homes are the worst thing you can do for a child. And it is a well known fact that children who are raised around animals have better uimmune systems. Let them eat dirt, eat off the floor, climb trees, ride bikes without bubble wrap and be kids...that is how we learned to get stronger and toughen up...that doesn't really happen much anymore...so many people are afraid to let their children live. zaphron2 Columbus, OH (Zone 5b) April 28, 2007 5:54 PM Post #3442092 This reminds me of a time I was watching a good friends 5 year old son about 15 years ago. We were walking along and he dropped his sucker on the floor. Without missing a beat he picked it up and shoved back in his morth. He cocked his head up and looked me in the eye to say "You know, kids are immune to dirt until they turn 8". I could only laugh as I have always been a fan of the 3-5 or 8 second rule. I never did remember to ask him if he was still immune to dirt when he turned 8. gloria125 Greensboro, AL April 29, 2007 3:46 AM Post #3442850 Kids are so smart! dwerland Nipomo, CA (Zone 8a) April 29, 2007 9:37 AM Post #3443950 My sister is really crazy silly about dirt and germs. She has a seven month old and a three year old. My brother told her he was going to feed the baby a dirt pill. I thought that was funny. Last night we had my 7year old sons bday party at Chuck E Cheese. Chuck E came out and was dancing and playing with the kids, and he reached out to say hi to the baby, (the baby reached out for him too) my sister pulled my nephew away and said "No, you're dirty" I told her not to tick off the mouse as my bill might be a bit bigger! birdsnblooms (Zone 5b) July 30, 2007 12:48 PM Post #3796610 And on a similar note, maybe you've seen this little news-bit: (not for the weak): One, two, three...everybody now...EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [HYPERLINK@www.canoe.ca] This message was edited Jul 30, 2007 12:49 PM VEGGIEHAPPY New Braunfels, TX (Zone 8b) July 30, 2007 7:02 PM Post #3798246 Ha! - made my day. PeggieK Claremore, OK (Zone 6a) August 1, 2007 11:04 AM Post #3805043 Ohhhhh, gag. That's nasty. I'm not so sure I agree with that theory though. I can see the immunity idea (barely). But also, the nasal hairs filter all kinds of things other than just bacteria. They help to filter out toxins that float around in the air. Lots of (carcenogens) stuff that we don't need or want to get into our respiratory track or our bodies. Nature put those there for a filter, and the sneeze reflex for blowing that filter out. But, little kids do get all kinds of immunities from germs they encounter. Once when I was a little girl, the neighbor kid told me it was ok to dig the tar from the joints in the pavement when the hot sun made it soft... and chew it for gum. We would clean off the top layer where the dirt was, and chew the underneath parts. We did this for a whole summer before our parents knew we were doing it. No telling WHAT kind of germs were there ! Can't remember getting sick from it. But I DO remember getting sick from drinking contaminated Spring water at a 5 star luxury resort after I was an adult. Spent time in the hospital after that one. Go figure ! hehe One just never knows. Wish those little rascals (germs) weren't so darn tiny... we could see em coming. PlantMomto3 Nevada, MO (Zone 6a) August 1, 2007 3:44 PM Post #3806148 I read an article by Bill Nye the Science Guy that we should limit our use of antibacterial products because we could unintentionally create germs that are resistant to antibiotics. I found the article here: [HYPERLINK@encarta.msn.com] Have you noticed how hard it is to find ANYTHING that isn't antibacterial? Peggie--that is too funny about the tar. Did it turn your teeth black?? My friend and I dug the tar off the road and it turned our hands black, at which point we wiped it on our clothes and I got in huge trouble from my mom. Wasn't able to play in it anymore. Too bad--it was as fun as Playdough. When I had one child, I used to stress out over the small stuff. I called the Pediatrician afterhours when I realized my one-year-old was eating a large moth. Then the second child came. Less time to worry about dirt. Then the third child came one year after the second. Dirt? What dirt? I was too worried about keeping my son from climbing up the bookcase. Now my kids have a high immunity and I get sick. mgpaquin Savannah, GA March 21, 2008 8:02 PM Post #4692683 The germ phobia and anti-bacterial frenzy is fed by corporations who want to make money. Simple soap and water will do a better, healthier job for you. I work for ear, nose and throat doctors so I'm exposed to every cold, sinus infection, ear infection, etc., that you can shake a stick at. I use none of the anti-bacterial products, only plain old soap and water. I think the last time I was sick with anything was when I had a 3-day cold about 8 months ago. Please also consider that by trying to kill ALL the bacteria you're only serving to selectively breed up more resistant varieties, like MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) which is no laughing matter. I remember being told as a child (I'm 62 now) "it takes a peck of dirt to make a man," so I guess I've eaten my peck even if I am a woman! PlantMomto3 Nevada, MO (Zone 6a) March 24, 2008 4:00 PM Post #4703977 I think it's ridiculous that all of my kids are required to bring in a bottle of Purell as part of their school supplies for each calendar year. I don't agree with using it and have explained my concerns to the private school my kids attend, but the school cites statistics that show a reduction in germs when anti-bacterials are used. My 5 year old daughter's hands dried out so badly this winter, they bled. I begged the school not to allow her to use it anymore, but she still used it. What can a parent do? darius Appalachian Mtns, VA (Zone 5b) March 24, 2008 4:01 PM Post #4703983 Change schools. gloria125 Greensboro, AL March 24, 2008 4:13 PM Post #4704030 Where are the statistics that show reducing germs keeps the kids from getting sick? I think there are statistics that show it makes them sick more often. The immune system is inside the kid. A healthy kid means fewer sick days. It has nothing to do with "germs". threegardeners North Augusta, ON (Zone 5a) March 24, 2008 4:16 PM Post #4704040 A girl I know , when she had her first baby she wouldn't let her out of the house. She wasn't allowed to touch the dog, touch the flowers, touch anything. Good grief, when that child got old enough to go to school, she came down with EVERYTHING X 3!!! Spent more time sick in bed than she did in school. It does no good to protect children from everyday germs, they make them stronger. gloria125 Greensboro, AL March 24, 2008 5:01 PM Post #4704171 My roommate in college grew up in a "germfree" environment supervised by her Mom who was a nurse. The first chance she got she went out with us doing archaeology for the summer. Sitting in the dirt all day long. we put her to digging burials which is a lot dirtier than just digging holes with a shovel. She was a 6 ft tall Germanic/Danish girl with flax colored hair down to her butt. She found a possum killed in the road and rescued the babies who lived in her hair the rest of the summer. When this "clean" girl got a chance, she went for the dirt! Woofens Dillonvale, OH (Zone 6a) March 24, 2008 6:49 PM Post #4704624 Plant Mom, I would have raised a huge stink, and gotten a doctors note about the Purell. I do not send it to school, I send an extra box of tissues instead. If your daughters hands bled, it was being over-used Just my 2 cents :) Janis PlantMomto3 Nevada, MO (Zone 6a) March 25, 2008 12:09 AM Post #4706285 Antibacterial is required on public school supplies too--probably required everwhere by now. When I talked to my daughter's teacher, she told me she couldn't supervise her use. It's everywhere--even a wall dispenser in the bathroom. For after you wash your hands??? My daughter slept with "bag balm" and socks on her hands for weeks! She thought that was fun of course. To think of all the "dirty" stuff I did growing up with only plain old soap to clean up with! Btw--possums in the hair made me laugh out loud. I hope she used antibacterial shampoo when they moved out!--haha jlp222 Hammond, LA (Zone 8b) March 25, 2008 12:12 AM Post #4706297 Has anyone seen the George Carlin stand up routine about germs? It is hilarious. Profanity filled, but hilarious. If you go to youtube.com you can search for it. gloria125 Greensboro, AL March 25, 2008 11:48 AM Post #4707723 re: possums. The last I saw of those possums they were chasing her border collie around the house. I think they moved out of the yard long hair when they got to big to stay there! PlantMomto3 Nevada, MO (Zone 6a) March 25, 2008 11:56 AM Post #4707750 I hope possums are nicer when raised by humans than when under my chaise lounge on my deck. My little pomeranians were barking late at night at about 11 p.m. and I got on my hands and knees to look under this chair and what did I see but a snarling, cornered possum with very sharp teeth bared at me. What a sight I must have been in my nightgown trying to back up slowly on my knees, scared to death! I hope those possums were nice to that border collie!! gloria125 Greensboro, AL March 25, 2008 12:07 PM Post #4707783 I don't think being nice is what they had in mind. that border collie followed us down to the campus every chance she got -- probably just to get away from those possums! Her name was Scout. There she would be in chemistry class, or english class. Just as if she was enrolled in the class. PlantMomto3 Nevada, MO (Zone 6a) March 25, 2008 1:05 PM Post #4708018 Well, I'm glad Scout was able to get away some days. OT-love the name Scout from one of the characters from my all time fave book/movie, To Kill A Mockingbird.

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