How To Disinfect Top Of Red Bull or Soda Can If Cashier Touched It?

[Ronnym]

I use the self check out option for checking out. When I did this a while back, I had an issue with it. The person that was there then carried a few of my red bull bottles and put it in another area. It wasn't a cashier but someone helping out with the self checkout a while back. When he did this, he literally grabbed each of the bottles by the top part where you drink from and I was upset by it. Normally you aren't suppose to do that and grab it by the side.

Now when I drink Red Bull or any can, I typically rinse the top of it with water. Then drink from it. However, this bothered me a lot. The thing is I recently starting drinking with a straw because of this for my other cans after rinsing the top with some cold water. However, the issue here is even if I do that and use a straw, the part where you push to open the can, will touch the Red Bull even if I use a straw.

How do I disinfect the top part of the can safely so I can drink from it? I thought about boiling some hot water and pouring it on a paper towel. Then typing the top area of the can with the paper towel. Would that work or is that bad? I know the top of cans are generally disgusting and you should wipe it or rinse it with water. But since this person grabbed the cans right in the middle of it, I want to have it fully clean before I drink from it. I will use a straw but the issue is I don't think I can open the can in a way where that part you open doesn't touch a part of the Red Bull?

Pour it into a glass

Could you put alcohol gel on the top then set on fire?

Do you understand how illogical this is? You need therapy, not a solution to clean a perfectly clean enough can.

I just pour a little of the coke or whatever out onto the grass or whatever to moisten the can and then wipe where I’d drink with a tissue. Or use a bit of hand gel and wipe with tissue, or a disinfectant wipe you carry with you in a sandwich bag amd again pour a little drink out to clean off the disinfectant.

I wouldn’t do this for everything but I’m funny about cans if there couod be rats around in warehouses as there used to be a link to people catching leptospirosis after drinking direct from cans. Granted that was found to be in pubs where the rats were pissimg on the cans but Ive never forgotten it!

so on this occasion I’d suggest you may not be over reacting like others are implying.

Yabu to drink red bull when you’re already an anxious person

Yea I'm not sure why everyone thinks this isn't a big deal. Let say you bought a can of coke or energy drink or Starbucks can drink. Let say it dropped on the sidewalk and the top part of it clearly touched the sidewalk. Are most of you just going to drink it like that? I wouldn't even want to drink it even with a straw because when you open the can, that part of the can that goes down when you open it will touch a bit of the drink.

The person that said pour it into a can or cup. The issue is when I open the can, it seems the liquid will touch the part that is opened or the drinking area of it. It's not like how you open a 2 liter bottle of soda and then open the cap and then put it into another cup. So I wanted the know what is the best way to disinfect and sanitize the top part of the can. The thing is I normally just pour cold water over it and that's all. But because this happened in front of me, that bothered me a lot. I thought why did he had to carry the cans that way. I read online and some people are annoyed when this happens at the grocery store as well. I'm surprised more people here are not bothered by it as I thought.

The caffeine and taurine are potentially making your anxiety worse. Stick to San Pelligrino. I recommend chilled Limonata in a tall clean glass and a sprig of mint

This wouldn’t concern me whatsoever but what’s the difference between washing the top with soap then washing a plate?!

This is the exact thought process a dear friend has and she has diagnosed severe ocd, this is not a logical thought process

If I dropped a can on the pavement I would absolutely drink from it as normal. Maybe I’d be extra careful when opening in case it’s all fizzed up.

OP I think your anxiety is disproportionate.

How do you wash up, generally speaking?

Your anxiety/OCD is the problem here, probably exacerbated by the Red Bull. Imaginary hand germs and soap remnants are the least of your worries.

Go to the doctor.

I don't even rinse them. Since I worked somewhere where I saw mice running over the top of cans I tend to give them a quick wipe with my thumb if I'm out and I buy a can. You're massively over worrying about this.

Washing it with plain Water or wetting a paper towel with boiling water will not get rid of the bacteria / Germs you are worried about

Use a dettol wipe and leave it to dry

Why does everyone think they have a right to say something mean.

Say something helpful or move on, no need to comment at all

I didn't think about it this way but that makes a lot of sense.

I would also drink a can off the pavement too.

Soapy water then rinse well

People don’t think it’s a big deal because not everyone has anxiety/intrusive thoughts/OCD. If you have good mental health you are able to recognise that the risk is minute. Hopefully you can get some help and one day you’ll feel the same.

You're probably not helping the OP a great deal with that. Or eating any food whatsoever after that list of things.

I'm not a red bull drinker and I can't picture how pouring it from the can into a glass means that the drink touches any dirt or germs on the can. Does it have a ring pull like a normal can? Tuck it inside then surely no liquid touches it

I would use use hot soapy water like you would wash a cup and leave it to air dry first.

I used to have severe health anxiety over certain foods so I understand how you feel. You know it yourself this is irrational and sounds silly to others, but you cant stop the thoughts and people telling you it is no big deal doesn't help either. Have you tried CBT , it helped me a lot?

If you’re worrying excessively OP, I think you need to knock the Red Bull on the head. As well as all the other terrible ingredients, that amount of caffeine is going to massively increase your anxiety.

I never tried any medication for this ever. I had OCD forever but it was much worst a while back.

The thing is I don't drink Red Bull a lot as people here make it sound to be. I drink it occasionally. The thing is this example would be the same if it was say a soda can or Starbucks can. It's a can.

I am shocked people would drink out of a can that dropped on the sidewalk where the top of it touched the sidewalk. Most of you would do that without even pouring some water over it or wiping it? You telling me if it dropped on a puddle of water on the sidewalk as well... that wouldn't bother you? Surely that has to bother almost all of you right?

You are worrying about the wrong thing if you are consuming red bull! That’s what will ruin your health!

Health anxiety and OCD are not the same, they are distinct conditions. I would strongly suggest cognitive behavioural therapy , you can self refer yourself and it can work very well , certainly did for me.

To answer your question, I wipe down a can just because of the conditions of warehouses, but if someone grapped a can that wouldnt bother me like it has in the same way for you.

If it fell in a puddle I would probably wipe it off on my jeans and then drink it.

if it fell in animal poo I’d take it home and clean it

just adding my voice to the 70 others who have told you that this is anxiety / OCD and not a hygiene question.

You really do need to speak to someone for some help with your reaction.