WASH YOUR HANDS

I know this goes all the way back to lessons from mom but wash your hands often! The best way to prevent colds and flu, etc could be as simple as washing your hands. If it isn't convenient to wash your hands, keep an alcohol-based hand gel around. Every time you shake hands or handle a public door handle, shopping cart, etc, wash or gel your hands. Once the germs are on your hands and you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, you are very likely to catch whatever the last person who handled said object has.

I found it interesting a few years ago after President Trump had his annual physical and his doctor came out to talk to the press. Among many silly questions asked was one about his hand washing and is he a germophobe. His doctor smiled and said something like this, "As much as he shakes hands, he would be crazy not to wash his hands often." The same goes for each of us.

My personal opinion about covid-19 prevention is that hand gel is your best defense. I have spent a lot of time around covid. Being cautious about what you touch and using hand get can go a long way in prevention of this crazy illness and others..

GOOD IDEA FOR COLDS AND FLU

What a great idea anytime, but especially during cold and flu season. This will help keep from spreading germs everywhere. Such a simple solution to keep others safe from our germs. Attach an empty tissue box to a full box. After using a tissue, simply discard it in the empty box.

Picking Up Germs in the Grocery Store

I came across this old post from 2013. l think the addition of hand gel and/or antibacterial wipes was a great addition to stores during the Covid pandemic. I am glad they are still available. Shouldn't we have always been using them?

Would you believe the grocery store is one of the easiest places for you to pick up germs?  With cold, flu, and virus season upon us, remember these tips when going to the grocery store.

• Take advantage of the hand-wipes available by the door.  Clean the handle of the shopping cart when you go in and get a second wipe for your hands.  You probably handled your cart before you used the wipes!  When people with dirty hands touch your cart or someone sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose while pushing the cart, it is being exposed to germs.  (Remember this applies to shopping carts in all types of stores, not just grocery stores!
• Meat packages often leak and thus contaminate your cart and anything else nearby in the cart.  Place your meats on the bottom of your cart.  If they leak, they won't contaminate other nearby foods, specially produce.   Also, they will be the last thing you put on the conveyor belt so if they leak there, they won't contaminate your other items.  If the conveyor belt is wet or it appears the last person's meat leaked, ask the cashier to clean the belt. Fresh meats can contain all sorts of stomach causing problems.  Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, spends a lot of time studying germs in public places.  He states that studies show 70% to 80% of shopping carts studied nationwide contained E Coli.
• Wash fresh vegetables and fruits before using them to eliminate any germs they may have come in contact with.
• By the way, one of the easiest places for the above germs to hide is in your cloth grocery bags.  If you use those, be sure to wash them after each use!

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CLEANING WOODEN CUTTING BOARDS

Bacteria can grow in the deep knife cuts on wooden cutting boards because wood is porous and nearly impossible to clean.  A quick wipe is not enough to kill the germs on such a board.  To be sure you are getting rid of all the germs, soak wooden cutting boards in 1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water for at least 2 minutes.  Wash the board with hot soapy water following the soaking.

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IS THE FLU (OR SOMETHING WORSE) LURKING IN YOUR KITCHEN?

Now that flu season is upon us, here is something you may not have thought off when it comes to flu prevention.  Studies have shown that around 30% of all kitchen sponges tested positive for the flu virus!  Just imagine what else may be lurking there!  If you use a kitchen sponge, be sure to disinfect it daily!  Or do as I do and get rid of kitchen sponges altogether.  Several years ago I decided to throw away my kitchen sponges.  I use heavy-duty paper towels or dish cloths.  One use with the paper towels and into the trash! Dish clothes go into the washer with hot water and a small amount of bleach. Don't let yourself or your family get sick over something so simple.