The front doors at stores, malls, etc... Why? Think about it. This is the door people first touch when they get out of their cars. Were they just drove to the mall unobserved.

When you drive, watch people. What are they doing? Sneezing, coughing, etc.. unimpeded by the need to be polite, quiet. What else? Nose-picking! Lots of that going on in those cars. Then they get to the mall and go in the door.

Don't get me started on escalators, either. Gross.

My suggestion? Carry sanitizing gel, antibacterial wipes, anything. And don't grab the same topmost portion of the door handles where 90% of the people grab it (watch, you'll see). Grab the handle in the middle or at the bottom. Or go in the left hand door. Or push with your elbow.

Lots of crud out there these days. Be careful.

You'll thank me later!

Seriously just get one of these or don't leave your house...

People are getting WAY too freaky about the germ thing.

I mean, really....how DID we live and prosper for as long as we have without hand sanitizer and face masks?

No wonder the terrorists don't fear us....they think we're pussies! LOL

- brickboy240


Man up!

OP, I'm a'hearin' on ya.

redwood must have a lifetime supply of Lysol in his house. You're fulfilling the California stereotype and need to quit posting.

Yeah, ok, maybe that comes off as a bit paranoid as I read it again. But some of that probably comes from dealing with the whole prostate episode and radiation treatments a couple years back.

Doc says to always be careful, and that my immune system has taken a hit.

But okay, Orgass, I'll quit posting because you don't like what I say..... What an ass....

I make almost no effort to avoid germs. I eat off the floor and after picking my nose, use public door knobs/handles, only wash my hands when they feel dirty or I just took a shit, and eat bar nuts.

And you know what? I almost never get sick. Not NEARLY as often, at least, as my coworkers do who I have seen BATHE in Purel. I like to feed my immune system a constant barrage of cannon fodder, because hey - use it or lose it!

Completely understandable if your white blood cells have taken a hit, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnmMNdiCz_s

my immune system is shot as well. although i don't have the depth of commitment to cleanliness that you have, i wholeheartedly applaud your efforts. should we ever meet, i will not hesitate to shake your hand. i live in southern california though, so you might hesitate to shake mine....

Well, my OP reads a lot more paranoid than I intended. I often fail miserably, and touch everything. Later, a good hand washing.

The OP was written after reading another about bathroom doors. I've always just felt like regular doors, escalators, etc... are just as bad as bathroom doors.

Anyway.

A good friend of mine is an ER Doc. Years ago,we discussed this. He said it IS better to have a challenged (used) immune system. The worst thing you could do is constantly wash,or use wipes,etc. and keep yourself penned-up in the house alone. God gave us an immune system. Let it work for you. Don't handicap our natural defense to disease. Wash and wipe when appropriate.

quote:

Originally posted by ltbarber:
A good friend of mine is an ER Doc. Years ago,we discussed this. He said it IS better to have a challenged (used) immune system. The worst thing you could do is constantly wash,or use wipes,etc. and keep yourself penned-up in the house alone. God gave us an immune system. Let it work for you. Don't handicap our natural defense to disease. Wash and wipe when appropriate.

Yep. As a matter of fact, part of the reason we have these drug resistant "super-bugs" is overuse of antibiotics. The human immune system needs to be stimulated in order to remain effective.

If you can be situationally aware enough to carry a concealed firearm, you should have the ability to keep your hands washed and not rub your face after you touch a public door handle.

I really don't undestand the increase in OCD behaviour as it relates to bacteria...get a life folks.

quote:

Originally posted by alfa556:
I really don't undestand the increase in OCD behaviour as it relates to bacteria...get a life folks.

Yup. For the life of me, after searching my memory, I cannot recall anyone in my family having died from touching a door handle.

I'm beginning to think the most contagious thing in the country today is actually OCD.

You know folks, "Monk" was supposed to be a funny Detective show, not a lifestyle guide.

I think the up swing is a result of bad reporting (the press) and marketing of anti-gem stuff.


What about shooting cows up with un-necessary anti-gem???

quote:

Originally posted by DonovanM:
I make almost no effort to avoid germs. I eat off the floor and after picking my nose, use public door knobs/handles, only wash my hands when they feel dirty or I just took a shit, and eat bar nuts.

And you know what? I almost never get sick. Not NEARLY as often, at least, as my coworkers do who I have seen BATHE in Purel.

Respectfully, have you considered you may be the source of the problem for the sick individuals around you?

This continued barrage of people suggesting you should not minimize risks is goofy. The world is a filthy place; there is nothing wrong with avoiding filth.

I wish I had the energy to keep my place as clean as Mr. Monk's...

Ever notice that the people you know that keep hand sanitizer with them and use it all the time, wash their hands several times a day, gobble down loads of vitamin C pills, stress over touching anything that might be dirty and other nonsense like this are usually the SICKEST people you know?

We have this chick at work who must have OCD and is a germaphobe. Her car must have literally 25-30 containers of those antibacterial wipes in them and she actually carries them with her. She wipes the door handle before going into the building, then goes right to the bathroom and washes her hands.

Someone told me they saw her hands and they are all chapped and raw from being washed probably a hundred times a day. It's been going on for years, not just since the Swine Flu scare started.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
We have this chick at work who must have OCD and is a germaphobe. Her car must have literally 25-30 containers of those antibacterial wipes in them and she actually carries them with her. She wipes the door handle before going into the building, then goes right to the bathroom and washes her hands.

Someone told me they saw her hands and they are all chapped and raw from being washed probably a hundred times a day. It's been going on for years, not just since the Swine Flu scare started.

With the natural barrier of healthy skin and oils on her hands stripped away, compromised, likely a avenue for the bad little germ buggers to crawl inside and eat her alive...