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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to think we are all becoming ridiculously germ-phobic?

54 replies

sickoftheholidays · 28/02/2011 15:49

Just seen an ad for vanish claiming to kill bacteria on clothes as washing alone may not be enough! Last I heard no-one died from your average dirty pair of jeans? I do get very tired of hearing how the bacteria on a childs high chair is more than on the floor, and the naff dettol adverts showing the germs etc,
I just feel like shouting ITS ONLY BACTERIA FFS, GET A GRIP PEOPLE! THE WORLD IS FULL OF THE STUFF, YOU CANT KILL IT ALL!

Am I unreasonable to think that this craze for absolute cleanliness is downright unhealthy for your average person?
I'm not advocating living in filth by the way, just objecting to adverts that make me feel like a dirty slattern because I dont dettol my surfaces and floor daily and use vanish in every single wash!

OP posts:

manticlimactic · 28/02/2011 17:17

I think all the companies that manufacture all these 'gets rid of 99% of germs' crap are actually in cahoots with the pharmacutical companies.

Not building a resistance to germs/viruses will make you catch anything going. You trot to the doctors or chemist to get something to sort you out.

I've never bothered with any of them. Hot soapy water and a bit of elbow grease sorts most things out and out of all my friends with children my daughter is the only one who is almost never ill. They were all in shock a few weeks ago when she was ill for the first time in years and I blame my exp who's DP just had a baby and anti-bacs their house to within an inch of it's life.

sausagerollmodel · 28/02/2011 17:18

I'm not germ-phobic at home -no hands-free pumps, just plain old soap and water - but I'm a bit more careful away from home. I always carry alcohol hand gel when I'm out with the DCs and they go to the toilet and perhaps there isn't any soap or DD2 can't reach the washbasin. And I have a thing about restaurant/cafe tables, I have to spray them with alcohol gel just to make sure they're clean even if they've already wiped them!
And I would hapily pick up food off our own floor and eat it, but I would never do this in a cafe or restaurant!

FoxyRevenger · 28/02/2011 17:23

sausageroll are you secretly Niles Crane?

Katey1010 · 28/02/2011 17:26

Definitely no hands free pump here but there was another thread where a mum said that her LO had been born with one hand and she had a couple of the pumps. I think that is a brilliant use for them, for people who have challenges using the other kinds of soap.

When I had my DD in North America, I didn't make anyone wash their hands. But... everyone did. I would proffer DD and they would rush to the sink. Unless they were going to stick their hands in her mouth, I didn't see why but horses for courses.

Original poster

sickoftheholidays · 28/02/2011 17:31

phew, glad to hear the voice of reason from most folks! I was starting to think I was the only one!

OP posts:

Onetoomanycornettos · 28/02/2011 17:33

I agree about the constant use of Dettol, hands free pumps etc, however, we've had a recent phase of lots of handwashing in our house, which I had let slip a lot, and since Christmas, we have had almost no colds at all. Only before meals, which I don't consider fanatical, but my husband comes from another country in which it would be considered very rude to sit down without basic washing to eat, and considers it bizarre that in our schools we pay so much attention to all manner of obscure targets, but don't do basic hygeine with the children. I am now converted, as I do think that in winter, some children (including mine) are constantly ill and coughing with runny noses and as the school makes them go in on pain of death to keep up attendance, I do think there's some basic things that are worth doing, handwashing and disposing of tissues properly being one of them.

Rimblocks, sprays, air freshners (which actually are associated with an increase of asthma), wipes for going out in public, I'm not fussed about any of them.

Acinonyx · 28/02/2011 17:35

Totally YANBU - this drives me quite nuts and I do seem to know a lot of people possessed by germ-phobia. It's a wonder we all survived our relatively filthy childhoods .

GrimmaTheNome · 28/02/2011 17:45

and considers it bizarre that in our schools we pay so much attention to all manner of obscure targets, but don't do basic hygeine with the children

My DD had a hand-washing lesson when she was in infants, and came home with a leaflet showing how to do it properly.

I wish they'd had a lesson on throwing tissues away rather than on the floor or leaving under the pillow for mummy to pick up!

hocuspontas · 28/02/2011 17:51

Maybe schools are still under the bizarre impression that those skills are taught at home...

bigTillyMint · 28/02/2011 18:19

I was brought up in a bacteria-friendly house, and I try my best to keep up the tradition

DH and I have had less than 10 sick days off each in nearly 25 years of working, the DC are equally as fit.

DizzyKipper · 28/02/2011 18:24

This reminds me of my partner's cousin - his OH seems to be one of these germ-phobic people. Her son (only just turned 1) is also constantly ill, in hospital from x often enough, and has allergies. Well done to her I say

theyoungvisiter · 28/02/2011 18:46

The problem is, I think it's a vicious circle. If you have a child who's prone to infection then it's only natural to try harder to protect them.

It's really tricky. I have a friend whose little girl has constant chest infections (like, to the point of hospitalisation) and she's become increasingly germ-phobic over the time I've known her. Which is understandable - but I think ultimately doomed to failure since you can't clean the air.

Jix · 28/02/2011 19:46

What about leaving wet dishcloths touching a chopping board, or touching a plate. Is that disgusting?
Also leaving a dustpan and brush on the kitchen surface??
I sometimes do both of these by accident, when I'm in a hurry, and my husband goes beserk. I just think he's being slightly unreasonable but he thinks I'm totally disgusting and have no sense of basic hygiene.
Please be honest here - I won't mind if you agree with my husband, but this seemed a relatively sensible thread to see what people thought!

hocuspontas · 28/02/2011 19:49

Yes, dp gets disgusted by me leaving shoes on work surfaces where I've left them to dry after being polished. So you are not the only one!

strawberrycake · 28/02/2011 19:58

To the poster who mentioned crawling in a baby clinic, it's in the church hall so it's holy germs!

Seriously though, I am VERY relaxed about germs and the odd bit of floor licking but I've been blessed with the most allergic child I've ever met, Go figure. He has asthma symptoms (and treatment), food allergies and probably stuff I'm yet to pin-point, he's only 9 months too. 5 chest infections, 2 ear infections and 4 hospital visits to add to that. All my germ-phobic friends have kids with no allergies. Mine only has to rub his face on the carpet to turn red. I think it's one huge protest at being made to leave my tummy at 42 weeks. He refused to engage. got stuck, tried the lot but was still evicted. He's showed his displeasure at not being attached to me ever since.

sausagerollmodel · 28/02/2011 20:06

FoxyRevenger - I used to love that programme! I just have an [ugh] thing about public toilets and cafes. Am fairly relaxed at home though. Come to think of it though, I do wash dishcloths every day ... and put bleach down the loo ...
Strawberrycake LOL at holy germs!

babyapplejack · 28/02/2011 20:07

Re the crawling in the baby clinic: here's my problems with it: plenty of people will have walked to the baby clinic. General germs and grot on shoes = fine. However, there is dog shit on the pavement - smears as well as piles and it is for this reason that no baby of mine has ever crawled on the floor at the baby clinic! I am not fussed about a bit of dirt, but the dog shit terrifies me to be honest!

babyapplejack · 28/02/2011 20:08

hocus - we don't bother polishing shoes in the first place

but I would not like them on the worksurface (aforementioned dog shit possibilities)

MrsMoosickle · 28/02/2011 20:12

I "milton wipe" the cashpoint before I enter my pin number.

Jix · 28/02/2011 20:16

I change do change the dishcloths (nearly) every day and wash them in the machine. But he says they're still full of germs and that it's revolting to have them near food or on chopping boards. I honestly just think it's a fuss about nothing.

tazmintee · 28/02/2011 20:20

blimey how did we manage when we all had one bath per week, and all used the same bar of soap

its a wonder we didnt perish long ago

strawberrycake · 28/02/2011 20:21

babyapplejack

But if you worry about invisible dog shit where does it end? They wouldn't be able to crawl or toddle in the park/ on a beach. Or in anyone else's home, or anywhere but your own floor which you monitored and refused any shoes ever. Seems a little sad for a playful little boy.

greenlotus · 28/02/2011 20:38

There used to be an advert with a mum squirting Dettol Spray on a highchair tray right under baby's nose "Don't touch those germs dear, have a lungful of these chemicals instead"

There is definitely a place for being hygienic but IMO it's sanitation, hospitals and food hygiene, not normal daily walking or crawling around. As usual in the West our priorities are screwed up. People are dying from lack of clean water, not from failure to wipe their shoe soles with Milton!

Tazmintee, did you see the recent bath thread and discover how many people consider a bath to be a dirty experience and take a shower before & after?

babyapplejack · 28/02/2011 21:17

strawberrycake, I do have a bit of a problem with dog shit, I just worry about it a lot. Fortunately mine are past the crawling and toddling stages now so they can be told to watch where they step. I would go to the park much more often if we did not have to poo dodge.

Ironically, I hardly use antibac stuff. I have no antibac wipes or spray at the moment and I generally only use if absolutely necessary. My cleaning is mainly done with babywipes! I don't keep bleach either - just harpic the loo once a fortnight (people will be horrified, but it's fine). It is just my dog shit problem I have to find some way of dealing with.

Booandpops · 28/02/2011 21:25

Green lotus. Ahhhhgg hate that stupid dettol ad!!! Also no touch pump ridiculous ( except for disabled as mentioned)

I do admit to hating toliet brushes and dont have any.
I Wipe marks off with loo roll or if under water a bit of bleach does the job. (do wash hands after).

Quite happy to let kids use 10 second rule and I'm not fussy about hand washing or cleaning tables etc Only if kids have been touching farm animals.

Dirt is indeed good!

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