3 ms·

"It is so unsanitary." Is it really that bad? As in, so bad it justifies the amount of waste the alternatives produce? I'm sure it's not the worst thing you de

• Stratoscope 7y ago
  > door handles are pretty gross. Indeed they are. I am probably weird, but when I walk into our building I have a paper towel in my hand to grab the door handle. In fact there are two door handles, one from the parking lot and one into the building, so I use one side of the paper towel first, then fold it in half with a clean side on the outside and use that for the building door handle. Similarly at the cafeteria. I use a "clean hand, dirty hand" system there. My right hand gets dirty handling shared serving utensils, while my left hand stays clean handling fresh plates and such. And then before I eat I find a way to inconspicuously wash my dirty hand. Especially when I've gone to the salad bar and gotten icky sticky salad dressing on my dirty hand. Now that is gross. Weird? For sure. But at the age of 67 my immune system is probably not as good as it was when I was 20-something. It's been working so far. I seem to be one of the few people in the office who hasn't been out with a bad cold this year. Yes, those paper towels are pure waste. I toss them in the compost bin, and I'm grateful to have used them. Edit: if any of the multiple downvoters could mention what they objected to here, I would be genuinely grateful for the feedback so I can do a better job with my comments. Or if it's something I should have figured out on my own, I will do my best to sort it out. :-) Thanks!
  • sumedh 7y ago
    > I seem to be one of the few people in the office who hasn't been out with a bad cold this year. Probably because your immune system is good?
    • scotty79 7y ago
      Not necessarily. Cold viruses are transmitted from objects touched by sick people recently by your own hands onto your face. If he successfully avoids touching common objects and surfaces this is probably the cause that he didn't caught the cold because that's exactly how you get it.
  • dsego 7y ago
    Wash both hands before eating, problem solved.
  • scotty79 7y ago
    I applaud your diligence. I'm trying to do what you are doing and fail tertibly. I pretty much get cold (in the cold season) each time I'm going to get groceries or eat at Ikea.
  • Phenix88be 7y ago
    You have issues... You make your immune system weaker by avoid germs. This system need constant update and training on germs and new germs. I don't really think the immune system get weaker by aging.Also, your skin, provided that you didn't cut yourself, will protect you from almost anything. Their is a lot more things you should worried about like sick people who still go to work. Door handle will never make you sick...
• NLips 7y ago
  A quick note on this: Appeal to the building owners / maintainers for unplated, unpolished brass handles. The copper in brass (or other alloys of copper) is antimicrobial. Obviously the effect isn't immediate, clinical trials suggest it is immpresively high.
• vidarh 7y ago
  > I'm sure it's not the worst thing you deal with on a daily basis i.e. door handles are pretty gross. Keyboards.
• mrbonner 7y ago
  If this is OK for you, I guess you are also OK with strangers double-dipping shared sauce dishes. It's funny that this turns into a Seinfeld episode "The Implant" :) "Timmy to George: That's like putting your whole mouth right in the dip! From now on, when you take a chip - just take one dip and end it!"
  • verelo 7y ago
    Nope! And i never share drinks either. But i think there’s a big difference between what we touch and what ends up in our mouths.