The Big Bacteria Myth...

[ck1]

Is the whole hygiene thing a bit of a con? Even Dettol are making washing powder now, but is there really an issue with a few bugs, especially in your sheets? My son is 12 and, I'm guessing like many 12 year old boys, doesn't have the highest levels of personal hygiene - washing hands after the toilet / before eating, only showering when told to and so on but he's never been ill other than a cold. We also keep our toothbrushes by the sink in the bathroom which is close to the toilet, I read that whenever you flush everything within a 6ft radius gets coated in toilet bacteria but, assuming most people have the same toothbrush storage habits, wouldn't there be an epidemic of permanent sickness if this was really an issue? Some people even drink their own wee so what's the point in washing your hands after the loo?

[Maydup]

Touch wood, OH and I are generally lucky enough to be bug and sickness resistant; maybe because we are a bleach free, detol free household and have built up our immune systems.

We are clearly used to our own bacteria and that of our household, and as such are more careful when we're in crowded environments to avoid new bugs. Beware for example of the handrail on the stairs coming up fom the public toilets in the railway station, yuk, or putting you bags on the floor in a public toilet, double yuk.

[sandyRoe]

If you don't wash your hands you're not doing yourself any harm, are you?

[Peter Pedant]

Oh god you dirty lot
what is the question by the way?
should I never wash my hands? er no I dont recommend that
what about every so often? yup and you can decide when

I must say I am a victorian washer - each time I touch uncooked meat,
or a dog,
or the bog - or touch boggy things - bowl, brush

as for wee drinking - I retch as I write about it
(OK Gandhi did it - well there are a lot of things he did I wdnt think about) O god I may have to wash my hands ....

is there anyone here who picks up dog poo with their bare fingers? from what people have written I bet there is.

[237SJ]

Contrary to popular belief, most cases of food poisoning are caused by dirty food handlers who cross contaminate bugs from faeces due to poor personal hygiene. So yes, washing your hands after going to the loo is vital

[10ClarionSt]

A late reply (very late, actually!) but thanks for the link Bedknobs. I didn't know about Norwalk because I don't do illness. I aint gonna be sick. I don't do doctor visits. I won't be ill. It's all in the mind!

[rowanwitch]

Carry on and it will be all in the bog. You can't will yourself to avoid infection.

[tamborine]

With all my animals my home probably reeks in bacteria but am not often suffering or found in Body & Soul. I dont own anti bacterial wipes nor wear gloves when touching public amenities ie hand rails, shopping trolleys, door knobs etc.