In addition to getting a new washer and dryer, we also very much needed a new vacuum cleaner. We had 2 old pieces of junk. One that didn't work at all and another that didn't work very well. I saw an "infomercial" one night advertising the Oreck Halo vacuum cleaner with a UV-C light that kills germs while you vacuum. It even kills MRSA, which is the germ that I fear the most. I have wanted an Oreck vacuum for several years now and I am thrilled to find a germ-killing one. I ordered my new Oreck last week and it came today. I love it!! My carpets look great. I wish I had this when my 1-year-old was still crawling.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
I FOUND A GERMOPHOBE FRIENDLY VACUUM CLEANER!!
In addition to getting a new washer and dryer, we also very much needed a new vacuum cleaner. We had 2 old pieces of junk. One that didn't work at all and another that didn't work very well. I saw an "infomercial" one night advertising the Oreck Halo vacuum cleaner with a UV-C light that kills germs while you vacuum. It even kills MRSA, which is the germ that I fear the most. I have wanted an Oreck vacuum for several years now and I am thrilled to find a germ-killing one. I ordered my new Oreck last week and it came today. I love it!! My carpets look great. I wish I had this when my 1-year-old was still crawling.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Our Weekend Getaway
My husband and I spent the night at a hotel last night for a little Valentine's Day get away, which we have never done before. We did take our 1-year -old though. He's too young to leave overnight. We used a local get away package that includes dinner at a local restaurant. We decided to upgrade to a jacuzzi suite just for fun. The dinner was great. No worries there.
The hotel room overall seemed pretty clean, however I did notice some areas that needed improvement. I had planned to run bleach through the jetted tub before using it, but it was so small it wasn't worth bothering with. Also, the shower was over the jetted tub, which is gross for a hotel room. My husband filled the tub and ran the jets just out of curiosity and you wouldn't believe the disgusting crap that came out of it. The upgrade wasn't worth it. A public use jetted tub is just too gross.
I also noticed that the faucet handles had a lot of ridges that were filled with soap scum and who knows how many germs. The hotel is older and the faucets have not been changed. I used a towel or tissue to turn the water on and off.
I brought my own hair dryer so I wouldn't have to touch theirs. I never walk on hotel room carpet barefoot. I also always make sure to fold the sheet over the blanket because the blankets don't get washed. The bedspread was put on the floor and not used at all.
The hotel breakfast was decent, but nothing spectacular. They served powdered eggs and the usual continental breakfast items. The milk was sour, which I didn't realize until I took a drink. I noticed they had a big bottle of hand sanitizer next to the food which I was glad to see since I was touching the serving utensils.
Overall, it was a fun weekend. I enjoyed getting away from most of the kids for one night and spending time with my husband.
For more hotel room germophobe tips, order my book from any of the links on my website: http://www.howtobeagermophobe.com/.
The hotel room overall seemed pretty clean, however I did notice some areas that needed improvement. I had planned to run bleach through the jetted tub before using it, but it was so small it wasn't worth bothering with. Also, the shower was over the jetted tub, which is gross for a hotel room. My husband filled the tub and ran the jets just out of curiosity and you wouldn't believe the disgusting crap that came out of it. The upgrade wasn't worth it. A public use jetted tub is just too gross.
I also noticed that the faucet handles had a lot of ridges that were filled with soap scum and who knows how many germs. The hotel is older and the faucets have not been changed. I used a towel or tissue to turn the water on and off.
I brought my own hair dryer so I wouldn't have to touch theirs. I never walk on hotel room carpet barefoot. I also always make sure to fold the sheet over the blanket because the blankets don't get washed. The bedspread was put on the floor and not used at all.
The hotel breakfast was decent, but nothing spectacular. They served powdered eggs and the usual continental breakfast items. The milk was sour, which I didn't realize until I took a drink. I noticed they had a big bottle of hand sanitizer next to the food which I was glad to see since I was touching the serving utensils.
Overall, it was a fun weekend. I enjoyed getting away from most of the kids for one night and spending time with my husband.
For more hotel room germophobe tips, order my book from any of the links on my website: http://www.howtobeagermophobe.com/.
Monday, February 8, 2010
My New Washer and Dryer
This weekend I bought a much needed new washer and dryer. I'm not posting this to brag, I was pleasantly suprised while researching the best brand of washers and dryers to find that Samsung makes a washing machine with ActivFresh technology that sanitizes clothes even in cold water! I didn't even know that Samsung made appliances! I know they make TV's, DVD players, and other electronics, but I had no idea they made washers and dryers. Here's my washing machine story: My old washing machine was 16 years old and well past its prime. For the past 5 years, I have had to thump the lid just to make it run. It has been getting weaker and weaker to the point that our clothes just weren't getting clean. The dark colors would come out with white streaks all over them and any stains had to be washed out by hand before going in the washer. As a germophobe, this bothered me that my laundry is not getting clean. I hoped the heat from the dryer was at least killing some germs. My main concern was with the towels, washrags, dishrags, underwear, and socks. That's probably where most of the germs would be lurking. We did not have any problems with infections or illness, but I still just felt dirty. I was thrilled to find machines that sanitize all of my laundry, even the dark colors that are washed in cold. My new washer and dryer both have steam and sanitize cycles. The washer has the ActivFresh technology that also sanitizes as well as an extra hot sanitize cycle that is great for the towels, underwear, etc. I am thrilled to find "germophobe friendly" machines!
It feels great to have clean clothes again!!!
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Swine Flu Declared National Emergency
By PHILIP ELLIOTT, Associated Press Writer Philip Elliott, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – "President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect noninfected patients.
The declaration, signed Friday night and announced Saturday, comes with the disease more prevalent than ever in the country and production delays undercutting the government's initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses of the vaccine could be available by mid-October.
Health authorities say more than 1,000 people in the United States, including almost 100 children, have died from the strain of flu known as H1N1, and 46 states have widespread flu activity. So far only 11 million doses have gone out to health departments, doctor's offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials.
Some hospitals have opened drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat swine flu patients. The idea is to keep infectious people out of regular emergency rooms and away from other sick patients.
Hospitals could modify patient rules — for example, requiring them to give less information during a hectic time — to quicken access to treatment, with government approval, under the declaration.
On April 26, the administration declared swine flu a public health emergency, allowing the shipment of roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually needed them. At the time, there were 20 confirmed cases in the U.S. of people recovering easily. There was no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC had taken the initial step necessary for producing one.
"As a nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic," Obama wrote in Saturday's declaration.
He said the pandemic keeps evolving, the rates of illness are rising rapidly in many areas and there's a potential "to overburden health care resources."
"Many millions" of Americans have had swine flu so far, according to an estimate that CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden gave Friday. The government doesn't test everyone to confirm swine flu so it doesn't have an exact count. He also said there have been more than 20,000 hospitalizations."
***Do everything you can to avoid getting the swine flu by following the advice in my book.***
Available through Amazon with free shipping on orders over $25.
WASHINGTON – "President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, giving his health chief the power to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect noninfected patients.
The declaration, signed Friday night and announced Saturday, comes with the disease more prevalent than ever in the country and production delays undercutting the government's initial, optimistic estimates that as many as 120 million doses of the vaccine could be available by mid-October.
Health authorities say more than 1,000 people in the United States, including almost 100 children, have died from the strain of flu known as H1N1, and 46 states have widespread flu activity. So far only 11 million doses have gone out to health departments, doctor's offices and other providers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials.
Some hospitals have opened drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat swine flu patients. The idea is to keep infectious people out of regular emergency rooms and away from other sick patients.
Hospitals could modify patient rules — for example, requiring them to give less information during a hectic time — to quicken access to treatment, with government approval, under the declaration.
On April 26, the administration declared swine flu a public health emergency, allowing the shipment of roughly 12 million doses of flu-fighting medications from a federal stockpile to states in case they eventually needed them. At the time, there were 20 confirmed cases in the U.S. of people recovering easily. There was no vaccine against swine flu, but the CDC had taken the initial step necessary for producing one.
"As a nation, we have prepared at all levels of government, and as individuals and communities, taking unprecedented steps to counter the emerging pandemic," Obama wrote in Saturday's declaration.
He said the pandemic keeps evolving, the rates of illness are rising rapidly in many areas and there's a potential "to overburden health care resources."
"Many millions" of Americans have had swine flu so far, according to an estimate that CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden gave Friday. The government doesn't test everyone to confirm swine flu so it doesn't have an exact count. He also said there have been more than 20,000 hospitalizations."
***Do everything you can to avoid getting the swine flu by following the advice in my book.***
Available through Amazon with free shipping on orders over $25.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Now Avalable On Amazon.com And BarnesandNoble.com!!
Do what you can to avoid swine flu! Order my book that is now available at http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Germophobe-Avoiding-Sickness/dp/1449020593/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1254887380&sr=8-1 or http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Hospitals Open Drive-Thrus
From the associated press, Sept. 30, 2009: Hospitals open drive-thrus
"Fast-food places have them. Banks and pharmacies do, too. Now hospitals are opening drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat a swelling tide of swine flu patients.
Call it McTriage. And, yes, you can get Tamiflu with that--if you're sick enough to need it. Most people aren't.
The idea behind these efforts is to keep coughing, feverish people out of regular emergency rooms, where they can infect heart attack victims and other very sick patients. The need has soared in recent weeks as flu has spread among schoolchildren before vaccine is available."
What a fabulous idea!! This will help keep highly contagious people away from those who visit the emergency room for other reasons such as broken bones.
Remember, do your best to avoid swine flu by ordering my book. Now available through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
"Fast-food places have them. Banks and pharmacies do, too. Now hospitals are opening drive-thrus and drive-up tent clinics to screen and treat a swelling tide of swine flu patients.
Call it McTriage. And, yes, you can get Tamiflu with that--if you're sick enough to need it. Most people aren't.
The idea behind these efforts is to keep coughing, feverish people out of regular emergency rooms, where they can infect heart attack victims and other very sick patients. The need has soared in recent weeks as flu has spread among schoolchildren before vaccine is available."
What a fabulous idea!! This will help keep highly contagious people away from those who visit the emergency room for other reasons such as broken bones.
Remember, do your best to avoid swine flu by ordering my book. Now available through Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Now Available For Purchase!
How To Be A Germophobe is now available for purchase at this link through Author House Publishing.
Enjoy!
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