Ok, I am now officially grossed out...

**pip** · 10-24-2007, 06:31 PM

I know that there are lots of germs in the world, but I am relatively clean and I guess I would prefer to not be neurotic about certain things. But, e-coli all over my hands when I'm transferring laundry to the drier?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21423163/?GT1=10450

**Marie78** · 10-24-2007, 06:46 PM

What a great article. I had heard about a few of these before. I didn't realize that wet laundry might have ecoli on it, I wash in warm water and thought that the detergent and temperature would kill those germs. I am grossed out about the bottom of my purse and don't know how to go about cleaning certain purse materials. I will consider cleaning the bath tub almost daily, now that I realize it's probably just as germy as the toilet area!!EWWW

**DixieJ** · 10-24-2007, 06:49 PM

That is an interesting article. I never thought about the bathtub germs. I clean my tub several times a week, but I don't dry it like the article says. My grocery store has disinfecting wipes by the carts which is great, I guess I need to keep some in my purse for stores that don't (especially in the winter time)

Dixie Jean

**Missy** · 10-24-2007, 07:00 PM

if you think about it...bathtubs are in the same room as the toilet...when you flush, even with the lid down the germs go swirling around the room in a fine mist (was it nightline or 20/20 that showed it) so toothbrushes get sprayed (which is why they should be kept IN the medicine cabnit) , plants and other decorations, towels on towel racks, counters, showers, doors, walls...everything gets sprayed with a little toilet water each time you flush.

whee fun. I'll be cleaning the bathroom ....

**baxjul** · 10-24-2007, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Missy

whee fun. I'll be cleaning the bathroom ....

ROFL!!!! Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow!

**momof42003** · 10-24-2007, 10:30 PM

Makes me want to have some of those anti bacterial wipes EVERYWHERE I go and clean everything before I touch it.. I can't believe germs are that bad..... WOW WOW WOW!!!!!

**mikandmari** · 10-25-2007, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by baxjul

ROFL!!!! Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow!

Me too. Actually, Thursday is cleaning day. Such glamorous lives we lead

**miss_thrifty** · 10-25-2007, 08:33 AM

i knew about the purses. i always put my purse on the door hangers inside the stalls. But the underwear is really gross. Ughhhh, guess Ill be washing them in hot water no matter what. lol
once a week I wash the washer down in bleach and soap to kill germs and wash any residue off hubbys work clothes in the wringer. Toilets are done every day either with bleach or lysol.
All door nobs, phones, anything we usually touch on daily bases.

**frugalfriend** · 10-25-2007, 09:56 AM

Even though I had heard about most of this stuff, STILL so disgusting!!!

I always scrub my kitchen sink before washing any dishes by hand, and use hot water and bleach for whites when doing laundry. The germy hands thing, transferring clothes from washer to dryer is so gross . . good thing I wash my hands a lot! LOL! The toilet flushing spewing germs everywhere in the bathroom is the worst . . . (thought with the lid down, it wasn't a problem) YUCK!! Guess, I'll be cleaning today too . . .

**pip** · 10-25-2007, 10:10 AM

On the other hand, we stay pretty healthy in this house, even with the germs. Maybe we can live with some of those germs. Maybe I don't want to think about those germs too hard. I wonder if a hot drier kills some of them. Think I'll do a google search on e-coli and heat.

**frugal.lass** · 10-25-2007, 11:51 AM

Pip's right. We actually do need to be "exposed" to small amounts of bacteria in order to develop a defense against them. People who live in immaculate houses (that use too many antibacterial products) actually don't develop the immune responses necessary to fight off a lot of common infections. I've seen repeated studies saying that children who don't get exposed to "germs" because the houses they live in are spotless, get sick more easily.

And please keep in mind that they are finding that a lot of antibacterial products for home use don't really have a strong enough antibacterial ingredient. They are being held responsible for the increased superbugs (along with people not taking their meds as prescribed).

As far as the article goes...I'm a flight attendant and you would be surprised at how many people try to go into those lavs barefoot or in socks. I always stop them and tell them to go put shoes on, I get a rude look in return but trust me...those bathrooms are NOT cleaned very often or very well (and it's not just my employer...I have friends on many other airlines and unless we don't have a choice due to the length of our flight, we don't use the lavs onboard).

**Jaded** · 10-25-2007, 12:23 PM

O.K., I'm not a germaphobe, and I've washed and dried a lot of grimy clothes and undies and baby diapers, and I've NEVER had an e-coli infection. I think that these articles cause normal people to do abnormal things to avoid germs. Everyone has e-coli in their bodies. Period. Otherwise, it wouldn't be on your underwear. If you can't get it from wearing your underwear all day, you probably aren't going to get it by handling wet clothes.

Sorry, but this is the STUPIDEST thing I've probably ever read.

**Jaded** · 10-25-2007, 12:29 PM

Just want to add...I've done all sorts of "unsafe" things in my life, all without disinfectant wipes, and here are just a few. On that note, I have only had one case of food poisoning, and that was from bad chicken at a restaurant. I still eat chicken in restaurants, btw.

1. Pushed a grocery car without cleaning the handle
2. Put food products in the top section where babies sit
3. Rushed out of the bathroom for a screaming child without washing my hands
4. Handled dirty baby diapers
5. Cleaned cat litter boxes (a lot lately!)
6. Held cats and dogs on my lap
7. Played in the mud with my kids
8. Been handed chocolate and other treats from people and put them right into my mouth.

The list goes on, but you get the point. I must have built up quite an immunity to germs.

**Grayce** · 10-25-2007, 12:36 PM

If you watch the video it is sponsored by clorox, they have their products showing throughout the video. They obviously have a reason to want to sell more sanitizing products. Sure there are germs on things. Do we need to sanitize the heck out of our laundry? I don't think so. Your body develops it's defenses against bacteria/germs. The best way to protect yourself is to wash your hands. It's ridiculous to me to wash my clothes in hot water with bleach and then further sterilize them in a hot dryer. Trust me, I use cold water, no bleach and hang a lot of my things...I am still alive.

**pip** · 10-25-2007, 12:42 PM

Me, too. I only use cold water for our laundry, but I do use the drier for towels, sheets, underwear, socks. I don't think we've ever had a case of food poisoning or sickness from e-coli. I didn't notice that Chlorox was associated with the article....that makes a bit more sense for how graphic it was!