Monday, November 7, 2011

Monday Musings.

So I had someone unfriend me from another social networking site in a response to what I can only assume was my last blog. Guess they think it's inappropriate to dislike your sick child.

Just doing my best to alienate my small group of readers. Bygones.



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Anyway, it's Monday and you know what that means. It's time to muse.

I've always been curious...Do germs stick to dry cloth? Sounds stupid but...I mean...do they? Like, specifically, if you only briefly touch something with your sleeve? Kind of like the five-second rule. I'm sure they do, but to what extent?

THE RAECH says they do.



In fact, she recommends changing your kids' clothing after school to cut down on germs. She would appreciate that I already strip my kid bareass nekkid the very milisecond second she walks through the door after preschool, and toss that shit in the washer on hot immed.

But anyway, see, I always open doors with my sleeve if I have no paper towel or something, and, it's not like I then proceed to lick my sleeve, and I don't consider it clean, per se, but I feel a lot better about my sleeve than I would my bare hand if I'd touched the doorknob. So, to what extent do germs really stick to cloth?

One wonders.

17 comments:

  1. i have no idea how much they stick to fabric, but they must. that's why we're told to change bedding after being sick.
    i sometimes use the bottom of my shirt to open doors rather than a sleeve because i feel that it's less likely to come into contact with my face after it has done its doorhandle doody-duty.

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  2. You're right, the bottom of your shirt is better for doorhandle doody. snort. But I guess when I'm trying to be inconspicuous, it has to be the sleeve. Bathroom doorhandles are always done with paper towels, or, if none are available, I'd curse them and their sons' sons and then use my bottom-of-shirt.

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  3. I have no idea about the germs, except to say that I use my sleeves, too.

    What I wanted to tell you was something I thought you'd get a big kick out of. Someone unfriended me because of a post I published this morning. Not only unfriended me, but actually blocked me, as well. I only know this because she sent me a snooty message.

    We will try to push past our despair. Although, like you said, maybe I shouldn't be pissing off the hand full of people that read my blog. Oh well.

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  4. Wow, someone really feels strongly about bras. JFC.

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  5. I wish blogging was like twitter - and you could see who is still following you that you are following by using a software program!

    You asked about the brussel sprouts. I cut them in half, drizzle them with olive oil and balsalmic vinegar, sprinkle w/ sea salt and pepper, and roast at 400* for 20 minutes.

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  6. I cannot stand Rachel Ray and wouldn't take a second's worth of parenting advice from her. She cooks. She doesn't even have a kid does she? Germs, colds, viruses build the immune system, make it stronger. Handwashing is the most effective way to prevent infection.

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  7. Well, to be fair, THE RAECH was quoting a pediatrician. I was just linking to her article about it. And we won't get into the Hygiene Hypothesis again, but whatever the case, I sure would rather my little baby not catch colds to "build her immune system." I'd rather she be much older when she gets sick.

    We wash our hands like crazy in this household, but nothing can prevent it when a preschooler sneezes square in your kid's face.

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  8. Sorry about the "friend". :(

    I wondered about that...also, what about sitting in a public place and them coming home to sit on your couch? Do the germs stick to your clothes and then transfer to your furniture?

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  9. I try not to think about that. That's the next logical step in my downfall. Making everyone not only wash, then hand sani, but strip as well. I already make Maya do it after preschool, but I don't even want to start to "have" to do it with everyone, so I really, really try not to think about it. But yeah, it's a gross concept. That's why it's so yucky when I see people sit on their kitchen counters or something. Ew to the max.

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  10. Totally off topic, but how do you get your Clorox wipes out of the little round container? I've tried both Lysol and Clorox wipes and for the life of me they WILL NOT come through the little opening in the lid. I set it up and pull one wipe through, then it breaks off and I have to dig into the container to get the next one out.

    As an expert on Clorox wipes, I thought you'd have a tip. :)

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  11. Hahaha you're so funny. I'm an expert on germs (lol) but not so much on the removal of Clorox wipes. There are two types of canisters, one with an opening like regular baby wipes and one with a claw-type opening. BOTH SUCK. I guess the claw-mouth-type is better because you can kind of keep it wide open and dig around better and they don't break off as easily, but there's no way to tell what kind of opening the canisters have when you purchase them, really. So, sadly, I have no advice on how to make wipe-removal less Totally Sucky. Except maybe try Clorox next time--right now, those are the ones sitting on my counter, and they have the claw-mouth-thing I'm talking about (instead of that one little immobile hole opening) that might make removal slightly easier.

    Love,
    Germ Expert

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  12. I use lysol for soft surfaces, ALA the couch. Buttfunk has got to come from somewhere, AMIRITE? That person sucks.

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  13. EWWWW 4EVR @ BUTTFUNK

    *runs for teh Lysolz*

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  14. I just 5 nanoseconds ago took a survey about a new woolite product that is supposed to rejuvenate fabrics, brighten colors and *KILL GERMS*
    so, while I don't know if/how long germs live on your clothes, woolite wants you to think so!

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  15. I gotta say that I'm just happy that we're both adult enough that you haven't unfriended ME, given that you are a microbe/germ/bacteria/coli-phobe and I...you know..occasionally incubate them on purpose in my own home for "fun" (aka research for my caving group, but whatev). But in all fairness, as soon as their 48 hour incubation period is over I douse those bad boys in bleach, let 'em die a horrible bleachy death for 10 minutes, then dispose of them. :D

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  16. Oooh, MJ, that's a good enough selling point for me to buy Woolite, even if it is bunk. :)

    And Bobbilynne, I'd never unfriend you, even if you do grow mold for fun.

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  17. Yay! I feel all warm n fuzzy inside.

    It's all in the name of science anyhow...I mean, how can I be expected to provide you with scientifically valid comments if I haven't done my germy homework? ;)

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