DIY Network

Germ Exposure Germ Exposure From "Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean" episode DQOC-147

It doesn't matter where you go or what you do: germs are an everyday part of our lives. If your house is spotless, you still have germs. Just by venturing outside, you come in contact with all kinds of these minuscule creatures; it doesn't matter where you go: the gym, the mall, the grocery store, even the door knob you use -- all are loaded with germs. Depending on the organism, germs and viruses can live on objects anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours. Viruses need a living cell to stay alive, so they die more quickly than bacteria or fungi. So, with the help of microbiologist Janice Jones, we're looking at all the places germs lurk and learning how we can limit our exposure to these tiny terrors.

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Figure A

• Shopping carts To prevent coming in contact with germs left behind from children's diapers, hands and shoes, wipe off the seat portion of the cart with alcohol-based wipes. To protect them from shopping-cart germs, put babies and young children in "floppy" cloth seat covers designed to fit over the seat and handle portion of the cart (figure A).

• Remote controls, cell phones Wipe them down with alcohol wipes on a regular basis. If they're used by multiple users, and during the cold and flu season, consider doing this daily.

• Money Always wash your hands after handling money.
  

  Figure B

• Airline blankets and pillows Try never to use airline comfort items (figure B). If the previous user had any type of skin infection, the organisms could be transferred to your skin.

• Razors Never lay them down on a bathroom counter without capping them when traveling. Germs from the counter can transfer to cuts and nicks on your skin.
  

  Figure C

• Hotel bedding When traveling, keep in mind that three million people a night stay in U. S. hotels, and you can't guarantee that all the bedding is washed after each guest leaves. If possible, remove bedspreads and comforters or request additional sheets to place over the top layers of bedding. You can also purchase portable black lights that illuminate the protein stains in body fluids. Turn out the room lights and turn on the black light to check for stains on bedding and carpets (figure C).

• Hotel floors Never go barefoot.