Community Chat

[Jannabelle]

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 PinkSugar said:

I have never put my purse on the floor anywhere, and I try to avoid public restrooms at all cost.

Not being snarky at all, but I am curious why.

Here's a little tid-bit from Live Science re: public restrooms:

"The germiest place? The floor — there lies the most diverse community of bacteria, the researchers said. The average swab taken from the floor had about 230 bacterial species, compared with 150 species in swabs from other locations." *

* Locations in the restroom.

OK, I don't touch the floor,or set anything there, but maybe that is why some folks want shoes removed before going into their home......in a restroom, I do what I need to do, wash my hands, hopefully there are paper towels I can get without having to touch anything, then get out of there asap....but I know that those folks that come in, use the bathroom and never bother to wash their hands are spreading that nastiness everywhere, door handles, carts, merchandise.....maybe I should just stay at home,lol.

[NoelSeven]

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 PinkSugar said:

I have never put my purse on the floor anywhere, and I try to avoid public restrooms at all cost.

Not being snarky at all, but I am curious why.

Here's a little tid-bit from Live Science re: public restrooms:

"The germiest place? The floor — there lies the most diverse community of bacteria, the researchers said. The average swab taken from the floor had about 230 bacterial species, compared with 150 species in swabs from other locations." *

* Locations in the restroom.

OK, I don't touch the floor,or set anything there, but maybe that is why some folks want shoes removed before going into their home......in a restroom, I do what I need to do, wash my hands, hopefully there are paper towels I can get without having to touch anything, then get out of there asap....but I know that those folks that come in, use the bathroom and never bother to wash their hands are spreading that nastiness everywhere, door handles, carts, merchandise.....maybe I should just stay at home,lol.

Jannabelle, I added this after you'd already read the post above:

WebMD lists germs commonly found in public restrooms as including streptococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli and shigella bacteria, hepatitis A virus, the common cold virus, and various secksually transmitted organisms. They suggest this poses a problem for those with immune system issues.

There are quite a few of us on this board with immune system problems.

[Jannabelle]

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 PinkSugar said:

I have never put my purse on the floor anywhere, and I try to avoid public restrooms at all cost.

Not being snarky at all, but I am curious why.

Here's a little tid-bit from Live Science re: public restrooms:

"The germiest place? The floor — there lies the most diverse community of bacteria, the researchers said. The average swab taken from the floor had about 230 bacterial species, compared with 150 species in swabs from other locations." *

* Locations in the restroom.

OK, I don't touch the floor,or set anything there, but maybe that is why some folks want shoes removed before going into their home......in a restroom, I do what I need to do, wash my hands, hopefully there are paper towels I can get without having to touch anything, then get out of there asap....but I know that those folks that come in, use the bathroom and never bother to wash their hands are spreading that nastiness everywhere, door handles, carts, merchandise.....maybe I should just stay at home,lol.

Jannabelle, I added this after you'd already read the post above:

WebMD lists germs commonly found in public restrooms as including streptococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli and shigella bacteria, hepatitis A virus, the common cold virus, and various secksually transmitted organisms. They suggest this poses a problem for those with immune system issues.

There are quite a few of us on this board with immune system problems.

Oh I understand completely, not minimizing that issue at all, just wondering, doesn't the germs get spread to other areas? Is avoiding public restrooms all that protective? I don't know, just wondering out loud, I can't imagine never using a public restroom.

[NoelSeven]

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

On 3/7/2014 Jannabelle said:

On 3/7/2014 PinkSugar said:

I have never put my purse on the floor anywhere, and I try to avoid public restrooms at all cost.

Not being snarky at all, but I am curious why.

Here's a little tid-bit from Live Science re: public restrooms:

"The germiest place? The floor — there lies the most diverse community of bacteria, the researchers said. The average swab taken from the floor had about 230 bacterial species, compared with 150 species in swabs from other locations." *

* Locations in the restroom.

OK, I don't touch the floor,or set anything there, but maybe that is why some folks want shoes removed before going into their home......in a restroom, I do what I need to do, wash my hands, hopefully there are paper towels I can get without having to touch anything, then get out of there asap....but I know that those folks that come in, use the bathroom and never bother to wash their hands are spreading that nastiness everywhere, door handles, carts, merchandise.....maybe I should just stay at home,lol.

Jannabelle, I added this after you'd already read the post above:

WebMD lists germs commonly found in public restrooms as including streptococcus, staphylococcus, E. coli and shigella bacteria, hepatitis A virus, the common cold virus, and various secksually transmitted organisms. They suggest this poses a problem for those with immune system issues.

There are quite a few of us on this board with immune system problems.

Oh I understand completely, not minimizing that issue at all, just wondering, doesn't the germs get spread to other areas? Is avoiding public restrooms all that protective? I don't know, just wondering out loud, I can't imagine never using a public restroom.

I agree with you, what's in the restrooms surely must get spread around, although probably not as concentrated a dose, and some outside that room will die in certain amounts of time, but there's probably continuous new sources inside the restroom.

IMO avoiding the restrooms when possible would cut the odds, but you're right, probably most of us have to use them some of the time.

[hennypenny]

When out my purse never touches the floor anywhere. i hang it over my neck like a feed bag when I go to the restroom.

We take our shoes off when we come in the house. I don't want shoes that have been in public places to touch my floors and carpets.

Our grocery stores provide wipes for carts and we keep disinfectant wipes in the car.

----Only slightly neurotic

[NoelSeven]

Jannabelle -

One more thing before I get off line, WebMD suggests various ways to try to avoid contagion in public restrooms:

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/what-can-you-catch-in-restrooms?page=2

[lovesrecess]

I avoid public restrooms if at all possible... but if I do go into one of them, I never put anything on the floor; I also put my purse on my neck or arm but it never goes on the floor.

[Jannabelle]

On 3/7/2014 NoelSeven said:

Jannabelle -

One more thing before I get off line, WebMD suggests various ways to try to avoid contagion in public restrooms:

http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/what-can-you-catch-in-restrooms?page=2

Thank you, Noel, I do most of that, I am very careful, you should see me trying to balance to flush with my foot on some of those high ones,lol...and I much prefer paper towels to those air dryers, so I can use it to open the door.

[luvmyteddy4]

I carry a paper towel and place it on the floor of the restroom or put the bag on my feet if I am not carrying a crossbody. I always carry one if I don't know the place or it is a large venue like a concert or outdoor activity. People stand up at concerts and you don't want to put your bag on the floor or leave it on the seat.

Half the time the bathroom door doesn't even have a lock on it or it's broken and I have to put my feet on the door to keep it closed. Then people look under the door and think no one is in there and try to open the door. Thank goodness I have long legs. LOL. Half the toilets are stopped up at large venues. That's the worse. Or there is no toilet paper in the stall and you don't know until you are in there. I carry extra everything.

What we women have to go through!

[Sooner]

Going out must be an ordeal for some people.

Another thought here: Your hands touch so many things when you are out then after all these products and surfaces you are in contact you hold on to your purse handles, so those are simply filthy too. You hold on to those, but you would never touch the bottom of your bag, so why do you worry about how germ laden that is? It's like the bottom of your shoes--you don't handle those. Just don't put your purse on counters and tables at home and you will be fine. Put it on the floor by the door and don't worry!

Use some wipes on your hands occasionally and have a good time! And yes, I understand some have more concerns because of health issues than others.