8 Germiest Public Places

**frugalfriend** · 02-17-2011, 02:18 PM

I am a germ-phobe, I admit it. Knew about germs on shopping cart handles and public bathrooms, but a few were a surprise, such as the lemon wedge on your drink at a restaurant? With all the colds and flus going around thought this might be of interest.

8 Germiest Public Places - 1 - Health Topics - MSN Health & Fitness

**frugalfranny** · 02-17-2011, 02:24 PM

Had heard about most of those............also, the ice machine is another one that I have heard..........and they seldom mention MONEY...........but that is supposed to be horrible.

The one that I have never heard mention.......and that I forget about...........your OWN doorknobs at home..........and your car steering wheel and gear shift knobs!!

Think about it.......out running errands, touching all the 'stuff'..........and then you drive home!!

I figure the only thing saving me on the door knob thing is that it is so cold in my garage they (germs) wouldn't last long!!!

**pollypurebred39** · 02-17-2011, 02:29 PM

Just heard on the news last night that trays from the food court are as dirty as the public restrooms. Ewwww...

Lemons

**DixieJ** · 02-17-2011, 02:36 PM

Thanks for the info. I had never thought about menus and condiment containers being nasty. I always keep my hand sanitizer with me and am constantly using it.

**starsapphire** · 02-17-2011, 03:01 PM

Hmm....I haven't died yet....

**thesightofoneself** · 02-17-2011, 03:11 PM

this list could be so much longer. germs are everywhere just waiting

**Darlene** · 02-17-2011, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by pollypurebred39

Just heard on the news last night that trays from the food court are as dirty as the public restrooms. Ewwww...

Lemons

They were talking about this the other day on the radio. Yuck is right. Eat at home, save money and be able to swallow your food knowing that you've done your best to keep things pretty well clean.

**Palooka** · 02-17-2011, 09:04 PM

Never gave much thought about the lemons, but yeah. yuck.

**brennasmom** · 02-17-2011, 09:39 PM

I know I heard somewhere that the ketchup bottles in the restaurants were super dirty. bleck.

**FrugalKate** · 02-17-2011, 09:57 PM

Best stay out of Hospitals and Doctors/Dentist Offices as well.

**madhen** · 02-17-2011, 11:35 PM

Someone told me about lemons a year or so ago. I just assume there are germs everywhere and try to wash my hands as often as possible without being accused of being obsessive-compulsive. I also use the 20-second rule when washing my hands, and typically wash up to the wrist. Yeah, I've made an art out of it.

**Ivvy** · 02-22-2011, 02:55 PM

Interesting, I've never thought about the lemon wedges before. I'll save the lemon water for when I'm home =)

I have a moderate case of germaphobia that has caused me to re-think some of the ways I do things these days.
I bring antibacterial wipes to the laundry mat to wipe down the folding tables before I use them, after seeing people time after time placing unwrapped food, bare feet (yuck!) and dumping out jars of quarters on them while waiting for their clothes to finish.
I may get weird looks when caught doing this, but after seeing the amount of crap on the wipes I feel better knowing I'm folding my clean clothes on a clean table.

**Ramona** · 02-22-2011, 05:45 PM

I do that thing with a paper towel or even t.p. to grasp the door handle when leaving a restroom. It feels a little weird but I don't care.

I'm not surprised that you can catch a cold/get sick from an airplane. I blame the recirculated air they use to save money. The only people on the flight who get 100% pure air are the pilot and co-pilot.

**shp1055** · 02-22-2011, 06:59 PM

I'm laughed at at work. Bathrooms just gross me out (inheirited from my mom - sisters are like this too). My bathroom routine is as follows:

Push door open with elbow;
Open stall with toe of shoe;
don't lock stall door;
take care of business;
flush toilet with foot;
open stall door with toe of shoe;
turn hot water faucet on with back of hand;
pump soap into one hand with back of other hand;
wash hands 20 seconds;
pick up paper towel and dry hands, fold towel & use it to shut off faucets, to open door & cut off light switch if I'm the only one in there & throw in the trash can that sits right at the door.

Public restrooms, I try to take my own supplies.

**Spirit Deer** · 02-28-2011, 02:56 PM

No real surprises there.

I've always wondered why anyone lets their kids play with the toys at a medical clinic. Just think of the stew of germs on those things!

I usually take my Gameboy or DS and play that while I'm at the doctor's office. It takes two hands to play either of them so that helps me keep from unthinkingly touching anything. Plus they're small and convenient to carry.

I've seen a lot of people sticking utensils into stubborn bottles of catsup in restaurants, after they've eaten from the utensils. Squirt bottles should be less of a problem than the glass bottles though. I try to avoid the glass ones.

The ick factor is wonderful if you're trying to lose weight, because it helps you refrain from food samples of any kind. Until this last Christmas, our local grocery store put out their various bulk chocolate candies in open boxes. For years, the ick factor kept me from buying any, because I couldn't help but think about all the people who had sneezed and coughed over those open boxes. This year, they finally started putting plastic covers on the bulk boxes.