O-C-D....that's the way for me

If you know me well, you know I'm ALL about the Purell and washings hands.

Heck, during cold and flu season, I've jokingly admitted I'd let my kids drink Purell if I thought it would help.

Ahem...I'm just joking, people.

I even caught myself getting all sicked out at the gym the other day thinking just how many people touch those machines and free weights.

That is 3-kinds of n-a-s-t-y.

In an effort to combat all of the nutty Swine Flu coverage, here are 8 places around your house that could use a swipe or two from the Clorox Wipes. A good saturating spray from the Lysol can will work wonders as well.

If you are eating, put your snack down before reading any further. I'm waiting....


1. TV remote

Many people watch TV while they absent-mindedly chew their fingernails, snack on food and flip through channels, leaving all kinds of bacteria on the remote. Make sure to sanitize the remote control regularly to prevent sickness. ***this goes for Hotels as well

2. Tub and shower

Your bathtub may have 100 times more bacteria than the trash can, according to an in-home bacteria study conducted by the Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community. The Hygiene Council recommends that showers and tubs be disinfected twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells left in the tub that can carry germs too.

3. Pet food dish

Most pet food dishes stay on the floor and do not get washed regularly.

4. Kitchen cloths and sponges

People frequently use sponges or cloths to wipe germs from surfaces in the kitchen. As a result, 70 percent of kitchen sponges in U.S. homes failed the hygiene test by having high levels of bacteria, according to the Hygiene Council. The council recommends running sponges through the dishwasher regularly and washing kitchen cloths on the hot cycle in the washing machine.

5. Microwave touch screen

This spot is notorious for not getting cleaned. Even though the food comes out cooked, the germs that can make you sick are left on the outside of the microwave for the next person to touch. It is important to wipe down the touch screen regularly, especially after cooking raw meat.

6. Light switches

Touching the light switch is practically unavoidable, but keeping it clean is not. The bathroom light switch can have as many germs as the trash bin. Disinfect light switches twice a week, or every day if a member of your household is sick.

7. Baby changing table

During diaper changes, the baby wipes container, the diaper packaging, the trash can and anything around the changing area get contaminated with bacteria through touching after handling a dirty diaper. The baby changing table area should be cleaned often.

8. Kitchen faucets

Typically people wash their hands after handling raw meat in the kitchen, but they touch the faucet to turn on the water and do not think about the bacteria that they leave. The Hygiene Council found more than half of faucets in American homes are covered in bacteria.

And to add my 2 cents....technology. I'm talking computer keyboards, mouses, gaming devices and the remotes that go with them.

And telephone and cellphones....cell phones are going places today that they were NEVER intended to go.

Ok, I'm done. I won't go into how I might have been known to turn off the water faucets in public restroooms with the paper towel that dried my hands and how I might just happen to open the door with the opposite hand that I eat bread and tortilla chips with....yeah, that would be going too far.

That might just be an overshare..