Some highlights:
A cutting board was found to have 200 times more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat.
Laundry can be crappy - literally. An average piece of underwear contains 0.1 grams of feces. According to a microbiologist at the University of Arizona who has studied germiness for a number of years, virtually anyone who transfers a load of underwear when doing laundry can get E. Coli on their hands as a result.
Because only 5 percent of Americans choose to use the hottest wash cycle when doing laundry and due to the decreasing length of wash cycles, we're exposing ourselves to viruses via the clothes we wash. (The solution - wash underwear loads separately, and make sure the water temperature is at least 140 degrees to kill microbes.)
Thirteen percent of the shoes tested by the above microbiologist tested positive for E. Coli after three months of wear. And 90 percent of the shoes he tested had "other fecal matter".
Fortunately the article provides solutions to these anxiety-inducing issues (like washing your hands for at least 15 seconds at a time to get rid of germs).
Poo. The invisible enemy!
2 comments:
Ugh.
Double Ugh.
Thanks for sharing though...honestly, SPH had a tradition of taking off any and all shoes before coming into the house as a child. We pretty much adhere to that, and R is a complete convert. Now after I read your post, I will be even more adamant!
I freaked when I read this, but then I thought about it - we currently have E.Coli living in our intestinal tract - in small quantities and proper balance, it is necessary for survival. It is only when it grows unchecked (like on raw meat or raw sewage) and then gets transferred to fruits or veggies or doesn't get cooked out of meats that it becomes a problem. Even if you washed your undies in 900,000 degree heat, as soon as you put them on, they will be exposed to fecal matter/E.Coli on your hiney. Just make sure to wash hands after touching kitty - don't get me started on animals...
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