Hi. My name is Sarah, and I’m a germophobe.
Yes, I’ll admit it…I have issues with germs. In my defense, I come from a long line of germophobes, on both sides of the family, so there was really no escaping my destiny. There are stories that my maternal grandmother made my grandfather wash his mouth out with Listerine before she’d kiss him. My paternal grandmother evidently felt the need to put clean socks that had fallen on the floor back in the dirty laundry pile, despite the fact that said socks would be touching the floor eventually anyway. I don’t remember any specific stories about my dad, but there was always a general aura of cleanliness and germ-distancing around him, which evidently rubbed off on me, who already had the seeds to become a germophobe myself.
My pet peeve: When I’m in a public bathroom and someone else uses the facilities, then runs her hands under the water for 2 seconds and leaves. Excuse me? Why even bother? If this little hand-rinsing act is strictly for show, why not do the show right? There is just no excuse for not using soap, I don’t care what anyone says. It’s not like we aren’t well-informed about bacteria and germs. We all know that we’re supposed to wash our hands thoroughly with soap and warm water to avoid spreading germs, so why do so many people just ignore that and leave their nasty bodily fluids all over the place?
Shopping cart handles give me the willies, as do public door and faucet handles. There are countless statistics about all the disgusting microorganisms lurking on them, things like urine, feces, semen, cold germs, mucous. <<SHUDDER>> Who wants to be touching that?
Kudos to the stores that have antibacterial wipes next to the carts so my kids and I don’t get ill from someone else’s ick. Much frequented by me is the store that has a handle on the outside of the bathroom door so that I can push my way out when I’m done instead of having to use my sleeve or a paper towel to get out. Even more kudos to those with bathrooms equipped with touchless soap, paper towels and faucets, a germophobe’s dream.
A great big BOO to the stores who don’t provide paper towels in the bathroom, forcing me to use a wad of toilet paper in my departure.
To all those people out there who can’t seem to expend the 30 seconds it takes to properly wash your hands, just take a moment to think about what you might be spreading around, not to mention what you’re picking up from others like you who think that their own germs are somehow sterile. Come on, people, take the time to wash your hands correctly! And please train your kids to do the same. It’s simple, basic hygiene.
Are you a fellow germophobe? Welcome! Please share your germophobic roots and pet peeves.
If you’re not a germophobe, do you have a problem with people not washing their hands correctly? Why or why not?
Addendum: A very wise commenter pointed out that some people actually can’t wash their hands due to allergies, scent-induced headaches and antibacterial concerns. These issues did not even occur to me, so now I think I was perhaps a bit harsh on those who only rinse. However, I stand by my plea to people who don’t have these problems to please wash your hands. That said, I will no longer be so quick to judge people who just rinse. Thank you for the reality check, suburbancorrespondent.
Hopefully more public restrooms will begin using regular soap rather than antibacterial because, as much as I love the idea of getting rid of bacteria, I agree with suburbancorrespondent that it’s going to end up hurting us in the long run because it gets rid of good bacteria as well. I suppose that means I shouldn’t be using antibacterial gel or wipes either…
I’m extremely particular about some things, others, not so much. My house is more often dusty than not, but if I touch the dog, I will wash my wands (for an appropriate amount of time) before touching anything else.
3carnations, I’m the same way. My house is quite dusty too, but dust and dirt don’t bother me. They seem more, I don’t know, natural.
It’s other people’s (and animal’s) germs that make me crazy.
Sarah
Heh. Wash my hands. Not my wands. I sound like some sort of magician…
I am a germophobe just when someone has a stomach bug in our house. That is when my OCD tendencies emerge!
)
I do wash my hands a lot, though, and don’t realize it until I’m at another house and can’t find a towel or soap close by. Maybe I am one all the time and don’t realize it.
Hi this blog is great I will be recommending it to friends.
Here’s a weird one for you – I am a severe germaphobe…
BUT
I am allergic to the soaps that are always kept in the dispensers. All of them.
So, I do a hot water rinse, paper towel hold the door and then use the alcohol/germx I keep in my purse that i never take into a bathroom because there is never anywhere to hang it! (Can you tell I don’t go potty when I am out shopping alone!)
I’ve taught my children to avoid the restroom soaps – my oldest is milk allergic and some soaps (believe it or not) have milk proteins in them now. So we are some of the ones you will see just rinsing. We don’t seem to get sick any more often than the general population, though, if that’s any comfort.
In addition, I don’t like the anti-bacterial soaps. They get rid of good bacteria in addition to bad bacteria, thereby allowing fungal matter to thrive. I advise nursing mothers to avoid these soaps, also, in an effort to minimize their chances of thrush.
Also (nope, not done yet!), the perfumes in many of these soaps make me and others sick. As in migraines, or nausea…I always have to keep my distance from anyone who uses heavily perfumed soap, laundry detergent, etc.
So next time you see someone just rinsing, realize they might have a pretty good reason.
Nice to meet you, by the way – I wandered over from Larger Families…
Wow, suburban correspondent — I never would have thought of any of these possible reasons! Very interesting. Thanks for shedding some light on the other side. Guess my germophobic self tends to be a bit too judgmental
And thanks for coming over to visit! I appreciate it very much.
Sarah
Oh, and I hear you on the anti-bacterial soaps — there are way too many of those around. I think we’re going to end up paying for that eventually.
Sarah
Hey I’m Kaitlyn Willis and I’m doing a report kind of thing for class about why you should wash your hands. can anyone give me some statistics about people not washing their hands with the websites they are from because i am having trouble trying to find statistics. It would be greatly appreciated.
Kaitlyn Willis
ps this article is hilarious