Antibacterial Soap Vs. Regular Soap

Is antibacterial soap better than regular soap? According to the FDA, it is no better. All of the antibacterial products on the market today are creating more superbugs. I have personally dealt with the superbug MRSA and it terrifies me. I mostly use regular, liquid soap. I do occasionally buy antibacterial soap because it does give me an extra sense of security but I have not had any problems using regular soap. As long as you wash your hands thoroughly for as long as it takes to sing the alphabet song in your head, you should be fine. I do not use bar soap because it can harbor bacteria, although it is better than nothing.

No self-respecting germaphobe like me goes anywhere without hand sanitizer or antibacterial hand wipes. I carry both. Hand sanitizer is good but there are some messes that just need to be wiped off. The bottom line? Be careful, stay clean and avoid touching things as much as you possibly can.

Salmonella Causes Alfalfa Sprout Recall

Salmonella found in alfalfa sprouts has sickened 23 people in 10 states. The FDA issued a recall on Friday, May 21, 2010 on raw alfalfa sprouts labeled as "Caldwell Fresh Foods alfalfa sprouts" from Maywood, California. My daughter bought some sprouts last Thursday, the day before the recall because she likes them on sandwiches. I don't care for sprouts. In my opinion, they taste like dirt (not that I eat dirt, it reminds me of the smell of dirt). We checked the label on Friday after seeing the recall in the newspaper. Fortunately, the sprouts she bought are from Utah and not part of the recall. As I have said before in previous posts, be careful and wash raw fruits and vegetables very thoroughly before eating. Also, keep an eye out for news reports about recalls. Avoid higher risk produce like prepared salads and pre-cut fruit and vegetables. It may be more work to do it yourself, but it's better than getting sick and also less expensive.

Sanitizing Your Make-up And Purse

I went to visit my friend Megan a last week and she told me she had recently heard a news report about germs found in make-up. She threw all of her old make-up away.

I have heard of eye infections from old mascara or eyeliner before, but never gave it much thought. I always handle my make-up with clean hands and I don't carry it in my purse. I decided to do a little research into this and I found a great Dr. Oz video. Here are his tips:

"Lipstick and Mascara


Take a tube of lipstick and dip it in alcohol for 15 to 30 seconds, then wipe away the top layer of the lipstick. Or leaving it overnight in the freezer will also kill bacteria and viruses.

Leave a closed tube of mascara overnight in the freezer, thereby killing the germs.
 
Foundation and Eye Pencil


If you use a powder foundation, scrape off the top layer of the powder occasionally.
If you use a liquid foundation, scoop out the top layer.
Sharpen your eye pencil to a fresh point, making sure to remove the first layer.

Oz suggests disinfecting all of your cosmetics every three weeks, including using alcohol or freezing them."

I found this very interesting and useful information. I never would have thought to freeze my make-up or put lipstick in alcohol. I've never been big on lipstick, but I love lip balm! Dr. Oz also talked about cleaning the inside of your purse weekly. I clean the outside of mine from time to time, but I rarely clean the inside.

Washing Fresh Fruit & Vegetables

Is it really necessary to wash fresh fruit and vegetables? My advice is: better safe than sorry. You not only need to remove any germs, but pesticides as well. Should they be washed with soap, some kind of vegetable wash or just plain water? According to an article in USA Today, chlorinated water kills many of the bacteria and viruses that may be on fruit and vegetables. They recommend soaking them in a gallon of cold water with 1/2 teaspoon of bleach for about 10 minutes. Then rinse thoroughly. Personally, I use water with just a drop of dish soap and rinse thoroughly. I wash fruit like apples or pears under running water with a drop of soap that I rub all over it with my hands. Other things like broccoli, cauliflower, strawberries and grapes, I put in a bowl of water, add a drop or two of soap and swish it around with my hand. Then I put them in a strainer and rinse well. I, personally, have not had any problems so far using this method. That, of course, is not a guarantee. Don't forget about bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe or other items that are peeled or cut. You still have to handle them or cut through the outside and you don't want to spread germs or pesticides on the outside to the fruit on the inside. You can also wash fruit and vegetables with a produce wash. They can be purchased or made at home. It's best to avoid pre-packaged or pre-cut fruit and vegetables. There have been several recalls of these types of products in recent years. They seem to be at a higher risk of contamination and because they are supposedly "pre-washed" they are usually consumed without being washed at home. Again, I strongly recommend to grow whatever you can on your own and buy local as much as possible.

What's The Best Way To Clean Silverware And Dishes?

I'm embarrassed to admit this as a germophobe, but this is a picture of the scrubber that I've been using to clean off my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. It is badly in need of replacing but I just keep forgetting to get one when I'm at the store. Maybe now that I'm embarrasing myself, I'll actually remember. I'm not that worried about it because the dishwasher sanitizes everything anyway. I don't use the nasty thing for any other purpose.

For dishes that have to be washed by hand or don't fit in the dishwasher, my personal preference is a plain old dishrag because they are easily sanitized in the washing machine. I get a new one out every day and never leave it wadded up and wet. I also use a dishrag to wipe the table and counters. It's more sanitary than using a sponge. I use some type of sanitizing wipe to clean up after things like raw meat.

I have never cared for dishwands because I find them awkward to use and they tend to leak all over. It's a matter of personal preference though. It does have a sponge on the end but because it is always full of soap, it would seem to be safe. As a precaution, I would recommend removing the sponge, rinsing as much soap out as possible and putting it in the microwave (wet) for about 1 to 2 minutes. The heat will kill any bacteria that might be lurking in the sponge. Be careful removing it from the microwave. It will be hot!!

Sponges are okay, like my nasty scrubber above for rinsing dishes off to put in the dishwasher. I do not recommend using them to wipe any surfaces. If you absolutely prefer to use a sponge, sanitize it by putting it in the microwave (wet) for 1 to 2 minutes to kill any germs growing in it. Be careful taking it out as it will be very hot! It can also be sanitized in the dishwasher but it grosses me out to have it next to the dishes (even if it is sanitized).

Another E. Coli Lettuce Recall

It seems to be happening more and more often these days, recalls on some type of produce for e. coli. This time it is shredded romaine lettuce manufactured by Freshway Foods of Sidney, Ohio. So far it is linked to 19 cases of e. coli, of which 12 people were hospitalized.

This is why I recommend, if at all possible, growing your own food. Even if you live in an apartment, you can grow a little garden in a window box or in pots inside. If it is absolutely impossible to grow your own fruit and vegetables, try shopping at a local farmer's market or a grocery store that sells local produce. This reduces the chance of infection.

If you're someone like me and do not have a "green thumb," try it anyway. I had my first ever garden last summer. I know very little about plants. I bought some seeds for fruit & vegetables that we like and planted them in the backyard. Some of the plants did very well and others didn't. I planted watermelon and they didn't come up at all. That's okay, I'm going to try again. I was glad to get whatever survived my inexperienced gardening. It's all about trial and error. I'm planning to plant another garden this year if it will ever stop snowing!

How To Be A Germophobe When You Have Sick Kids

Sorry folks, but it is very hard to be a germophobe with sick kids, especially younger ones. If the child is under the age of 3, plan on getting coughed on, sneezed on, and having a snotty nose wiped on you. Young children need you more than ever when they are sick. Don't avoid contact with them. Just do your best to keep your hands clean and be sure to take some kind of immunity-boosting supplement. If it doesn't scare your child, you can wear a mask, if desired.



When older children get sick it is somewhat easier to avoid. They can wipe their own noses and are generally okay to lay in bed and watch TV. They still need to be checked on, comforted, and, if needed, given medication. Make sure they wash their hands as often as possible. Sanitize any surfaces they come in contact with such as doorknobs, light switches, faucet handles, etc. Don't forget remote controls, video game controls, and any toys they may have played with.

Adorable "Germophobe" T-shirt

I found this adorable t-shirt on Amazon.com. I sooo have to buy this for my 1-year-old!! It's perfect!

Germophobe vs. Germaphobe

Today, instead of talking about germs, I'm giving a brief spelling lesson :-). I recently became aware that there are significantly more people searching for the word "germaphobe" than "germophobe." It made me question how it is really spelled. So, I went to Merriam-Webster for the answer. It turns out I was right. It is spelled "germOphobe." What a relief. I don't have to change the title of my book.