Obsolete
07-14-2008, 01:14 AM
I recently started living with my girlfriend and her mother. I've always been laid back when it comes to washing my hands, stuff like that. They, on the other hand, are fairly obsessed with germs. I only occasionally wash my hands, once or twice a day max, not counting before cooking, and once they found out about this they went psycho on me. I tried to defend my point, stating that humanity has survived more than 20,000 years without the most base knowledge of germs and for almost all of the history of mankind-not counting the millions of other creatures on the planet, sanitation has not existed really. Despite this, people have lived fairly decent lives. While I understand that true-people did live to be much younger, they also lived during times of war, famine, constant hardships and when you had a 1/3 chance of seeing age 14. I tried to explain this to them, but they refuse to accept anything I say. They keep on saying highly exaggerated things like "he doesn't believe in germs" when I simply don't believe its nearly as bad as everybody says. I don't believe in the need to wash my hands every hour, or other constant sanitary precautions they take. Despite this, I decided I should at least give it a chance and get some info on the actual threat of germs. I acknowledge that many bugs and sicknesses are spread through lack of sanitation, and I do believe in keeping things clean, just not hospital clean.
So-could I get some information on this? Preferably with unbiased (no media-run or financially driven) sources. I admit I could be wrong, I just don't believe I am.
So-could I get some information on this? Preferably with unbiased (no media-run or financially driven) sources. I admit I could be wrong, I just don't believe I am.
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Lindaru
07-14-2008, 01:34 AM
I am 51 years old and grew up before Clorox Wipes were ever even thought of. Except for some minor health problems (none of them due to germs), I turned out just fine.
About the only thing I do differently now than I did growing up is use anti-bacterial soap after handling something with the possibility of salmonella or E. Coli. I handle shopping carts and door knobs without fear. It is my take that the immune system needs to come into contact with certain things in order to maintain its strength, but that is just my opinion.
Lindaru ;)
About the only thing I do differently now than I did growing up is use anti-bacterial soap after handling something with the possibility of salmonella or E. Coli. I handle shopping carts and door knobs without fear. It is my take that the immune system needs to come into contact with certain things in order to maintain its strength, but that is just my opinion.
Lindaru ;)
pinkpixies
07-14-2008, 01:57 AM
At least wash your hands after going potty. ewwww. LOL
Fennicy
07-14-2008, 04:40 AM
Hmm well while washing your hands at the appropriate moments are appreciated to everyone around you, you still don't wanna overdo it. I know a couple people who are obsessed with keeping their hands clean that they actually start getting sick more often than people who aren't obsessed with keeping their hands clean. What can happen is that if you keep the germs away so often your body can't get used to them and build up immunities which makes it easier for you to get sick. I believe that's how it works anyways.
I believe it's best to find a middle ground.
I believe it's best to find a middle ground.
healthseeker
07-14-2008, 05:43 AM
Well, you said that you wash your hands a couple of times a day...but clearly you have to pee/poo more than that, right? Not washing after that can get people sick. Look it up.
feelbad
07-14-2008, 09:41 AM
we actually DO need to be exposed to some germs just to build a healthy immune system. the kids that you see grow up in an extremely disinfected environment are the ones who apprear to really get sick much more easily,espescially if they have actually lived a good part of their lives this way. the only way to actually build that strong immunity is by simply being exposed every once in a while. while things should be "clean" to sit and disinfect our whole environment over and over is abit much in my opinion.
my son for instance recieved a liver transplant back in 2000,and is immunosuppressed by meds he has to take to stave off rejection. while i do clean my house from time to time i have not gone overboard with actual disinfection of everything around him and he IS much healthier for it. he has managed to not even get some of the strep and other things other family memebers have actually picked up along the years here. it really is amazing considering his immunosuppression. but the only time i was extremely careful about maintaining a much "cleaner" environment for him was right after his discharge and we still had tubes to deal with and a healing huge incision,then i was really up on things,but once that was over,i really just kind of went back to the way things had been around here before his transplant,nothing really changed in that way and i do think he is much more well 'armed' in the antibodies dept ya know?
i really was not too sure just what to expect when he had to go on all those meds that just created that bigger risk for picking up things,but amazingly,despite my non disinfection of everything,he has been doing amazingly well for his status. even him getting the colds and flus that go around have not really occured either. i think we struck the perfect balance with his antirejection meds,thank god.
while you should ALWAYS wash your hands after going to the bathroom,doing it simply becasue you 'feel" like it needs to be done because of the 'threat' of germs all the time is a bit much. you just NEED some germs around to build up that immune system,espescially(starting) in younger children. just use a little common sense with it,thats all. FB
my son for instance recieved a liver transplant back in 2000,and is immunosuppressed by meds he has to take to stave off rejection. while i do clean my house from time to time i have not gone overboard with actual disinfection of everything around him and he IS much healthier for it. he has managed to not even get some of the strep and other things other family memebers have actually picked up along the years here. it really is amazing considering his immunosuppression. but the only time i was extremely careful about maintaining a much "cleaner" environment for him was right after his discharge and we still had tubes to deal with and a healing huge incision,then i was really up on things,but once that was over,i really just kind of went back to the way things had been around here before his transplant,nothing really changed in that way and i do think he is much more well 'armed' in the antibodies dept ya know?
i really was not too sure just what to expect when he had to go on all those meds that just created that bigger risk for picking up things,but amazingly,despite my non disinfection of everything,he has been doing amazingly well for his status. even him getting the colds and flus that go around have not really occured either. i think we struck the perfect balance with his antirejection meds,thank god.
while you should ALWAYS wash your hands after going to the bathroom,doing it simply becasue you 'feel" like it needs to be done because of the 'threat' of germs all the time is a bit much. you just NEED some germs around to build up that immune system,espescially(starting) in younger children. just use a little common sense with it,thats all. FB
janewhite1
07-14-2008, 09:56 AM
Definitely wash after each bathroom visit, or after doing certain gross stuff involving babies or pets, and before eating or food preparation.
Beyond that? Kinda depends on your lifestyle. My lifestyle involves taking crowded public transportation and interacting with dozens of strangers each day. In the winter, these can be dozens of sick strangers, so I also wash as soon as I get to work, and as soon as I get home. I avoid touching my face after I've touched surfaces that many strangers are also touching. While I was just a little careful about hand washing, I'd get sick with a cold or something every month, and really ill at least once per year, now I get sick 2-3 times per year, and haven't been really badly off in the 2.5 years I've been doing it.
My husband drives to work and rarely sees people outside his small department. He doesn't wash his hands so often, but that's fine for him.
Using anti-bacterials is completely unnecessary, ordinary soap is good enough.
And about that childhood death rate? Most of those kids died of contagious disease, not violence. My great-grandmother was one of eight kids, two died as babies, and two more were dead by age 12, all of illness. Only her oldest brother died of violence, and he was an adult, a soldier.
Trust me. The discovery of the germ theory of disease, and the public education campaign on the importance of cleanliness cut the infant mortality rate in HALF. Oh, having clean water and proper sewers help too, but handwashing is also a critical component of good health.
Now, your GF and her mother could be going overboard due to cleaning-product commercials. Just how much do they wash?
Beyond that? Kinda depends on your lifestyle. My lifestyle involves taking crowded public transportation and interacting with dozens of strangers each day. In the winter, these can be dozens of sick strangers, so I also wash as soon as I get to work, and as soon as I get home. I avoid touching my face after I've touched surfaces that many strangers are also touching. While I was just a little careful about hand washing, I'd get sick with a cold or something every month, and really ill at least once per year, now I get sick 2-3 times per year, and haven't been really badly off in the 2.5 years I've been doing it.
My husband drives to work and rarely sees people outside his small department. He doesn't wash his hands so often, but that's fine for him.
Using anti-bacterials is completely unnecessary, ordinary soap is good enough.
And about that childhood death rate? Most of those kids died of contagious disease, not violence. My great-grandmother was one of eight kids, two died as babies, and two more were dead by age 12, all of illness. Only her oldest brother died of violence, and he was an adult, a soldier.
Trust me. The discovery of the germ theory of disease, and the public education campaign on the importance of cleanliness cut the infant mortality rate in HALF. Oh, having clean water and proper sewers help too, but handwashing is also a critical component of good health.
Now, your GF and her mother could be going overboard due to cleaning-product commercials. Just how much do they wash?
Lindaru
07-14-2008, 12:29 PM
I always wash after blowing my nose, going to the bathroom, or handling things like garbage/picking things tracked on the floor up, but then have always done that. I did put the anti-bacterial soap in the kitchen for raw meat things but use regular soap for everything else.
I have to say my last illness was in December 2005 when I had a sinus infection which I later discovered was brought on by an abscessed tooth.
I am not really sure which is the right way to go on hand washing but figure if I am not getting sick, I must be doing what is right for me.
Lindaru :)
I have to say my last illness was in December 2005 when I had a sinus infection which I later discovered was brought on by an abscessed tooth.
I am not really sure which is the right way to go on hand washing but figure if I am not getting sick, I must be doing what is right for me.
Lindaru :)
Obsolete
07-14-2008, 04:18 PM
They tend to wash everything, pretty much constantly. There is a soap dispenser in pretty much every room. This morning a bag of chicken nuggets that was open at the top fell on the ground, open side up with only the bag hitting the ground and it was thrown away. In all honestly, in the end its a lot of minor stuff. But its also a lot of minor stuff that I don't do, and I'm not in the habit of doing.
janewhite1
07-14-2008, 06:14 PM
Hmm. It does sound like their cleanliness habits may go beyond what is necessary for health. Washing one's hands multiple times inside the home isn't necessary, unless you've just used the bathroom or otherwise soiled them, or are about to cook or eat. Throwing away food because the package was dropped on the floor isn't necessary, unless you just sprayed the floor for roaches or something.
At this point, it becomes a lifestyle thing, and you will have to see if some sort of compromise can be worked out. How much are you willing to give to make them happy, and how much are they willing to live and let live? There's no right or wrong answers, here.
At this point, it becomes a lifestyle thing, and you will have to see if some sort of compromise can be worked out. How much are you willing to give to make them happy, and how much are they willing to live and let live? There's no right or wrong answers, here.
thinkzoo
07-14-2008, 06:47 PM
If they're really that compulsive about it, they could be suffering from OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). If they find it interferes with their lives, they should see a mental health professional for evaluation. If they don't mind living that way, you'll have to learn to accept it if you want to continue living there.
I agree with the other posters. People who live in an excessively clean environments suffer more illness than those who live in a more balanced way. You can look up the research if you like.
I agree with the other posters. People who live in an excessively clean environments suffer more illness than those who live in a more balanced way. You can look up the research if you like.
Sherbear38
07-14-2008, 07:12 PM
Hi - I agree wi. Fennicy - I wash my hands always after the bathroom, and before and after food handling, But some people can overdo it. I once had a co-worker who washed down everything with rubbing alcohol, the desk , the keyboard, the phone, her hands,& arms, Every Single Day. What happened was she ended up being sick every other week. Antibiotics all the time. She could not build up an immune system. Wouldn't listen to reason, finally ended up getting "Layed-off" because she was never at work, always home sick!
Hey if your not getting sick all the time, your doing OK! If your living with them though, at least let them see you do it before food handling. Keeps the peace. Good luck! Sherbear38
Hey if your not getting sick all the time, your doing OK! If your living with them though, at least let them see you do it before food handling. Keeps the peace. Good luck! Sherbear38