Ellen PhillipsEveryone who knows me accepts that Mrs. Germaphobic is obsessive about germs (well, perhaps not "accepts" but at least they deal with my paranoia).
While I always go the extra mile not to touch the public restroom faucet or door after washing my hands, for example, and always try to look out for other sources of nastiness, Bottom Line Personal presented a lengthy article about other germy situations I now store in my brain for everyday seemingly-innocuous offenders. (Frightening fact: Way too many folks do not wash their hands after using a public toilet. After observing 4,000 people, researchers found that 10 percent don't wash their hands at all. Of this 400, only one-third used soap but only 5 percent of these
washed long enough to thoroughly remove harmful organisms. And since bacteria and viruses can remain on hard surfaces for a few hours up to several days or longer, we really must beware of the following:
1. Coffee-cup lids - Based upon a University of Arizona study, of the disposable lids placed on cups by coffee shop workers, about 17 percent were contaminated with fecal bacteria.
2. Office coffeepot handles - I'm even guilty of this one; even though I wash out the pot, unless I place it in the dishwasher, I don't normally wash the handle. No more after reading this article, however!
3. ATMs - Always wipe the keypad or touch screen with a disposable wipe or thoroughly clean hands immediately after using the machine. Otherwise, we court the same bacteria as found in public restrooms.
4. Grocery store conveyor belts - These are really potentially dangerous sites. If juices from raw poultry or beef that may be contaminated with E.coli, Salmonella, or the like decide to leak onto the belt, your hands and other foods may well become tainted. Clean hands with a wipee before touching the car door handle and steering wheel; wash well upon returning home and again before opening cabinets and the refrigerator. And the fourth time's a charm in this instance so do wash hands once more after unpacking the groceries, especially meats.
5. Telephones - Public phones are rarely if ever cleaned. So when using a public phone, such as in a hotel or office, wipe the mouthpiece, the part that goes against the ear, and the dialing buttons with a disposable wipe. (And clean your own phones regularly, too, for extra protection.)
6. Hotel rooms Because I centered a column last November on this topic, I won't repeat it here. Just remember that most everything in many hotel rooms from supposedly-clean glasses to the YUK bedspread - haven't been cleaned well (if at all) and often harbors lots of harmful bacteria, as well as dust mites and other wee beasties.
7. Restaurant tables - Those cloths used to clean tables normally aren't sanitized between cleanings, which means each "cleaning" just re-distributes huge amounts of germs onto the next table. Again, those sanitizing wipes are our best friend. Don't be embarrassed to use them before sitting down.
My husband still rolls his eyes and grimaces at would-be spectators when I bring out disinfectant wipes. If truth be told, though, I expect he's glad I'm protecting him (and others in our party) from potentially life-threatening bugs. Hey, it's a Father's Day gift all year 'round!
Contact Ellen Phillips at consumerwatch@timesfreepress.com.