About twenty years ago I started reading a book called The Secret House. No, it isn't a horror book, I never read those. It is a book about what goes on during your day at a microscopic level.
If I remember right, it starts out explaining what happens to the dust mites when you first wake up. (You'll never want to get in or out of bed again, or walk on carpet, or apply mascara.)
I can't recommend the book, because I never got past the morning teeth brushing explanation. Yes, I do still brush my teeth, but I definitely changed where I
store my toothbrush.
I'm not afraid of germs, I know they are there and I keep my immune system as healthy as possible, but I do think that we need to know how to avoid the bad ones as much as possible.
Unfortunately, many people don't know how to properly rid themselves of germs, see To Sanitize or Not to Sanitize, an earlier post for this blog.
So for those who want to know where you should NOT keep your toothbrush, read the follow article, wash your hands, and do everything you can to keep your immune system happy.
For you braver souls, an updated version of The Secret House can be found below.
The 9 Worst Places for Your Health
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ReplyDeleteThat's pretty interesting. I avoid doing most of those things naturally, even though I didn't know that most of them were considered to be unhealthy for us. The airplane one, however, surprised me. Otherwise, these ideas make sense.
ReplyDeleteIsaac Wilson
I can't believe that about the toothbrush and the toilet. Also about the bottom of your closet. I probably have 50 pairs of shoes on the bottom of the closet that I want to go throw away now.
ReplyDeleteKellie Scott
This stuff is pretty crazy to me, what we actually are exposed to everyday. I am not a germaphobe at all, but I will definately be more careful about what I expose myself to!
ReplyDeleteLindsey Grandstaff
I have always kept my tooth brush to the right of the sink because it sits on a charger. I think I'll be keeping the toothbrush head inside the medicine cabinet from now on. I thought I was pretty good with hygene, but I guess I can still approve.
ReplyDeleteKyle Warner
I sometimes think that I'm better off not knowing some information about life. That is absolutely disgusting how many microbes are around the sink (toothbrush territory). I do think that by bringing in small amounts of germs and pathogens in our body helps our immune system to grow stronger. I may be changing a few of my habits though after reading this article.
ReplyDeleteJennifer Peterson
This was a very interesting article. I thought the information on where you shouldn't store your toothbrush was very interesting. I also thought it was interesting that the middle stall has more germs than the ones on the ends in public restrooms.
ReplyDeleteJason Gubler
The toothbrush is the most disgusting one to me. I will now leave the toothbrushes in the drawer in my bathroom. Also the food cooling is an interesting point. I never think of how the food cools, just that it goes into the fridge.
ReplyDeleteOk, so maybe everyone here will think that I am gross or weird, but I actually don't think any of this stuff is too bad. I mean, I have lived for 19 years with my toothbroush out on the counter. Germs SURROUND us every day, and there is nothing we can do about it (except make ourselves crazy with worry). If you get the flu because something from the toilet or counter or any place got you sick, its really not a big deal. People get sick from germs, and germs are everywhere. Thats the bottom line.
ReplyDeleteI naturally have followed these suggestions. I guess it has always made sense to me to keep your toothbrush far away from where people wash their hands and spit and stuff. I do, however, think that germs are a part of life and germaphobes need to calm down.
ReplyDeleteI happen to believe that what you don't know wont hurt you in certain senses. In this case, I looked over the article and found out some pretty interesting things. It was surprising to hear some of the different places where germs are most persistent. I think that we should always be prepared to live in a world with germs.
ReplyDeleteLawrence Stein
I found out about the toothbrush thing when I was in high school and it completely grossed me out. I find most of that information rather fascinating, though none of it really surprised me. Unfortunately, germs are everywhere and unavoidable.
ReplyDeleteKatie Winchester
The toothbrush thing totally makes sense, people also need to buy new ones after being sick too. Some of the biggest resevoirs of germs is our makeup ladies. AND NEVER SHARE! Natalie
ReplyDeleteWell here is another reason to put down the toilet seat. That is something we all need to get in the habit of.
ReplyDeleteSome of the things that we would discover by reading this book would startle us, and gross us out. However, we live with it everyday so why add more stress to ourlives by constantly worrying about germs that are inevitably going to be apart of our lives no matter what.
ReplyDeleteHow many of us have our toothbrushes on the side of the sink by the toilet.I will start making sure the toilet cover is down. Also I will keep my toothbrush in a cabinet.
ReplyDeleteI have always been a skeptic about everything, but I'm not entirely sure that the whole toilet thing is true. Now, if you have a small bathroom, then I believe that it could be correct, but my sink is pretty far from the toilet. But hey, I still won't take any chances when it comes to toilets. My toothbrush will be safely tucked away in a drawer from now on.
ReplyDeleteNathan Howes
I naturally don't leave my toothbrush in the bathroom but it's really gross imagining stuff splashing up out of the toilet to land on you toothbrush and then you pick it up to brush your teeth. Ugh! I don't know but I will definitely be passing this along.
ReplyDeleteI have read before about the germs on a woman's purse and since then I have tried to be more conscious of where I put it and believe me, I have not set it down on the kitchen counter or table ever again! I really get irritated when I end up in a bathroom stall that doesn't have a hook because the last place I want my purse is on a nasty public bathroom floor. I think I may check out that book you recommended because it sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt is true we are constantly exposed to disgusting things. I could get really stressed out by thinking about all of the germs on every surface we touch. I could lose sleep over dust mites. So most of the time I try not to think about any of it and just do the best I can.
ReplyDeleteClint Schiffman
I am not one of the brave that could read this book or anything like it. To me with the bugs that are crawling all over me that I cannot see ignorence is bliss. I am the type of person that if I were to find out all the germs or bugs that are out there I can't see I know it wouldn't be healthy for me to know about. What comes to mind is Bob from the movie "what about Bob". or I would end up turning my house into a huge bubble where nothing could get in. So for me I will sleep with my dust mites, and what ever else is out there.
ReplyDelete