Pucker Up, Puddytat (and Pooch, Too)
Aww, come on, Mr. Clean! Everybody needs a little sugar.
When you look at your cat's furry face, do you think "parasite potential?" Or, do you pucker up and lean in for a good smackeroo?
Elizabeth Ware Packard - Advocate for rights of women and the mentally ill
Yep, cats use their tongues as washcloths. I get that. How else do you expect them to clean their poop shoot? And dogs eat only-God-knows. ... It happens.
But before you second guess your kissing habit, consider that you're probably already doing some pretty gross things in your everyday life. And you haven't died yet, right?
Here are seven things that are nastier than your cat's -- or dog's -- mouth and not nearly as adorable. Go ahead, kiss the kitty! Smooch your pooch! We've got your back.
Adorable Kissing Cat: Not
1. The Kitchen Sponge: Booming With Bacteria
Don't even pretend you're innocent on this one.
The biggest source of germs in the entire house is the kitchen sponge.1 You used it to soak up that raw chicken juice, spot-clean the floor, then wipe up the kitchen table after dinner. (The Health Department will be right over.)
As many as two-thirds of kitchen sponges are contaminated with fecal bacteria, typically through contact with raw meat.2 Although it takes only a few pathogens to make you ill, many sponges contain millions of bacteria and viruses -- including E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Norovirus.
These organisms thrive in warm, damp conditions and can multiply rapidly, with one bacteria cell becoming as many as 8 million within a mere 24 hours.3
And beware if you don't routinely toss that nasty sponge into the microwave or dishwasher. The most common cause of foodborne illness -- the Norovirus -- can live on a sponge as long as a week.
Feeling queasy yet? If not, consider this: some scientists have suggested that based on the number of germs present, it's probably safer to lick your toilet seat than your kitchen counters.
Instead of doing either, kiss your pet. There are worse ways to get cooties.
Do You Kiss Your Mama With That Mouth?
2. The Bottom Of Your Purse: Friend To Fecal Bacteria
When is the last time you cleaned your pocketbook? You probably cannot recall.
Purses are notorious carrying cases for contamination, with research indicating that as many as one-third have fecal bacteria on the bottom.4 Germs particularly love leather purses because of their porous surfaces.5
What Are Poop Germs Doing On Purses?
Rather than using the hook on the back of the stall door, ladies often put their purses on the floor of public restrooms. Then, they place those traveling bags of bacteria on desks, kitchen counter tops, and other surfaces, cross-contaminating as they go.
However, even if you never sit your purse on the floor, it's still probably pretty gross. Poor hand washing practices mean that we're all walking petri dishes.
One study found that a whopping 95% of people cut corners when hand washing.6 (Men were much worse at hand washing than women.) Examples of "short cuts" include
a failure to use soap
not washing long enough, and
skipping hand washing altogether.
As a consequence of poor hand washing practices, there are often high levels of bacteria on items inside your handbag, as well as purse handles and straps. Hand or face lotions, lipstick, and mascara, for example, frequently come into contact with unclean hands before being returned to the purse. Unclean hands make them breeding grounds for bacteria.
So what's a dirty girl to do?
Your Breath Doesn't Smell Great Either
What You Can Do
You can reduce the spread of germs on handbags using the following tips:
never sit your purse on the floor (seriously -- that's what those hooks are for!)
avoid touching your face unless you have just washed your hands
use antibacterial wipes to regularly sanitize the bottom of your pocketbook, purse handles, and items you carry, and
practice good hand washing!
In the meantime, go ahead and smooch your pooch. Pucker up for your puddytat. If you're going to catch cooties, you may as well enjoy the experience!
3: Money: A Motherlode Of Microbes
Here's a major cootie alert. Dirty money is not simply cash made through illegal and immoral means. It's a motherlode of microbes, and it's what's in your wallet.
Scientists have studied the cleanliness of banknotes from countries across the globe, and they have found that an average of 26,000 bacteria contaminate paper money.7 Average banknote cleanliness is a function of how long the cash has been in circulation, the numbers of folds and creases it has, and the type of material it is made of.
Research discovered that Swiss francs, Danish krones, and Chinese yuans were among the dirtiest money, while the Australian dollar was by far the cleanest banknote. So are those Aussies simply super clean, or what?
Rather than using cotton paper fiber, Australia produces banknotes using polypropylene polymer, the same material that drinking straws are made from. Germs have a harder time sticking to the material.
What's Growing In Your Wallet?
Especially for those among us who are non-Australians, paper cash has been found to harbor up to 3,000 different types of bacteria, including those causing
gastric ulcers
pneumonia
food poisoning
staph infections
acne and
antibiotic resistance.8
In addition, the flu virus can live on paper money for 17 days. Think about how many times a banknote could change hands during that time, and it's no wonder we suffer regular flu epidemics!
You Can't Say You've Never Touched Drugs
Sadly, bacteria and viruses aren't all that's hitching a ride on paper money. If you've never thought about where your cash has been before it touched your hands, then consider that 90% of circulating dollar bills in the United States contain traces of cocaine.9 Percentages are nearly as high for other countries worldwide.
Unfortunately, sometimes it's not just trace amounts of drugs. Three employees at a Michigan convenience store became sick after they handled money coated with a methamphetamine residue.
Go spend your dirty money on your pet, for health's sake.
Yucky Euros, Disgusting Dollars: How Nasty Is Your Cash?
4. Telephones: Teeming With Germs
Nasty news flash: your cell phone is filthy. One in six have fecal bacteria on them.15 Hmmm. Any idea where that would come from, my chatty friend?
Eww ... Just Eww
A survey of American cell phone users found that 75% admitted to not being able to put the device down long enough to use the toilet.16
Yeah, you know who you are ... browsing social networks, texting, and yapping away with friends, business associates, and family while you do your bodily business. (Is anyone truly that busy?)
The study found that while toileting
67% of survey respondents read a text,
63% received calls,
41% initiated phone calls, and
39% surfed the Internet.
Men were more likely to conduct their work while sitting on the throne. Such heinous hygiene habits help explain how approximately 1 in 5 people have dropped their phones in the toilet.
Dirty purrson, you've been caught by the poo patrol. (We already suspected that you protest too much about hygiene!) Set the phone down and give your pet a big kiss.
So what if Fluffy uses her tongue as a washcloth or Fido occasionally eats excrement? Your habits aren't exactly stellar.
Clean Enough To Kiss
5: Escalator Handrails: Do You Really Want To Know?
Your habit of not keeping your hands to yourself could be making you sick. Americans typically touch around 300 surfaces every 30 minutes. Chances are, if you're in public, then one of those surfaces is a handrail. And that handrail is gross! (We already know you don't wash your hands well.)
People can transfer germs up to seven times before it leaves their skin. Testing has shown that when you grab a handrail on a public transit system or escalator, for example, you could be exposing yourself to
food
urine
mucus
feces, and
blood -- as well as the bacteria, viruses, yeast, and mold they can transmit.
Is your stomach churning yet? This is just more proof that you aren't as clean as you thought you were. Elevator buttons, ATM machines, and gas pump handles are other filthy surfaces, and you probably touch them all in your daily life.
Oh, Dear God: This Puppy Teaches His Owner A Lesson
6. Hotel Rooms: Hazardous To Your Health?
While Fido and Fluffy may fight fleas (hey, do something about that), you may be battling your own pests.
Whether you stay in a swanky, high end hotel or a seedy motel suite, you may be checking out with some extra baggage. And I'm not just talking about those hotel shampoos you hoarded.
One in 10 Americans have encountered a bed bug problem, with the most frequent source of contamination being hotels. Some experts believe that the rise in worldwide travel is contributing to the global epidemic.
Other common sources of bed bug contamination include:
college dorms
nursing homes
office buildings
schools and daycare facilities
hospitals
vehicles (trains, buses, and taxis)
movie theatres and
used furniture.
Hungry Critters
Bedbugs are flat and rust-colored, about the size of an apple seed. They also don't discriminate in their hunt for a meal; the pests simply like warm bodies.
When these insects come out at night, bedbugs can drink seven times their weight in human blood. They can also survive months without a meal. Summer is their peak season.17
As disgusted as you might be by the thought of sharing your bed with thousands of these insects, the damage they do is simply a nuisance, much like that of a mosquito. Bedbug bites produce itchy red bumps and sometimes no reaction at all.
Bedbugs Aren't All That's In Your Hotel Room
If bedbugs aren't enough to make you second guess your hotel stay, consider this gag-worthy nugget: Researchers who examined hotel room cleanliness found traces of semen and urine in every single room tested. Traces of urine were even found on the nightstand Bible. (Is nothing sacred?)
The bedspread, television remote and the main light switch were particularly contaminated areas, harboring fecal bacteria, streptococcal and staphylococcal infections. These bacteria can produce a variety of illnesses, including
blood infections
pneumonia
meningitis
skin infections, and
food poisoning.18
With cooties like that, do everyone a favor and just stay home. Cuddle with your furry friends. Dogs and cats aren't nearly as dirty as places you've been.
Mwah! Not A Cootie In Sight
7. Hospitals: A Playground For Pathogens
Cooties can be downright dangerous, and unfortunately some of the meanest cooties hide in hospitals. It's best to stay away, if you can. (Besides, your pets are waiting for you at home.)
Over 2 million Americans get drug-resistant infections annually, and tens of thousands die from them.19 Examples include C. Diff, MRSA, and flesh-eating bacterial disease. The elderly, very young, and immunosuppressed are at special risk for these superbugs.
Hospitals are the most acute source of antibiotic-resistant infections, and a prime source of contagion is medical personnel checking IVs and catheters with dirty hands. Studies have consistently found that doctors and nurses wash their hands only about half of the time.
Observe those who care for you. Do they wash up before touching you? How about after writing in your chart? And what about you? Even though you're a patient, are you washing your hands before eating that hospital meal?
Consider every touch, every incision, and every tube a potential access point for super germs. And don't assume that hospital rooms are thoroughly disinfected between patients. One study found that 75% of hospitals had been cited for sanitary violations.
Just Kiss the Cat: You Probably Already Have Cooties
Based on the gross things you're already doing in your everyday life, you probably already have the cooties. So go ahead -- cuddle your canine and kiss your cat.
The warmest hearts often have cold noses.
A Kiss Is Worth A Thousand Purrs
Pucker Up, Puddytat (and Pooch, Too)
Aww, come on, Mr. Clean! Everybody needs a little sugar.
When you look at your cat's furry face, do you think "parasite potential?" Or, do you pucker up and lean in for a good smackeroo?
Elizabeth Ware Packard - Advocate for rights of women and the mentally ill
Yep, cats use their tongues as washcloths. I get that. How else do you expect them to clean their poop shoot? And dogs eat only-God-knows. ... It happens.
But before you second guess your kissing habit, consider that you're probably already doing some pretty gross things in your everyday life. And you haven't died yet, right?
Here are seven things that are nastier than your cat's -- or dog's -- mouth and not nearly as adorable. Go ahead, kiss the kitty! Smooch your pooch! We've got your back.
Adorable Kissing Cat: Not
1. The Kitchen Sponge: Booming With Bacteria
Don't even pretend you're innocent on this one.
The biggest source of germs in the entire house is the kitchen sponge.1 You used it to soak up that raw chicken juice, spot-clean the floor, then wipe up the kitchen table after dinner. (The Health Department will be right over.)
As many as two-thirds of kitchen sponges are contaminated with fecal bacteria, typically through contact with raw meat.2 Although it takes only a few pathogens to make you ill, many sponges contain millions of bacteria and viruses -- including E. coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and Norovirus.
These organisms thrive in warm, damp conditions and can multiply rapidly, with one bacteria cell becoming as many as 8 million within a mere 24 hours.3
And beware if you don't routinely toss that nasty sponge into the microwave or dishwasher. The most common cause of foodborne illness -- the Norovirus -- can live on a sponge as long as a week.
Feeling queasy yet? If not, consider this: some scientists have suggested that based on the number of germs present, it's probably safer to lick your toilet seat than your kitchen counters.
Instead of doing either, kiss your pet. There are worse ways to get cooties.
Do You Kiss Your Mama With That Mouth?
2. The Bottom Of Your Purse: Friend To Fecal Bacteria
When is the last time you cleaned your pocketbook? You probably cannot recall.
Purses are notorious carrying cases for contamination, with research indicating that as many as one-third have fecal bacteria on the bottom.4 Germs particularly love leather purses because of their porous surfaces.5
What Are Poop Germs Doing On Purses?
Rather than using the hook on the back of the stall door, ladies often put their purses on the floor of public restrooms. Then, they place those traveling bags of bacteria on desks, kitchen counter tops, and other surfaces, cross-contaminating as they go.
However, even if you never sit your purse on the floor, it's still probably pretty gross. Poor hand washing practices mean that we're all walking petri dishes.
One study found that a whopping 95% of people cut corners when hand washing.6 (Men were much worse at hand washing than women.) Examples of "short cuts" include
a failure to use soap
not washing long enough, and
skipping hand washing altogether.
As a consequence of poor hand washing practices, there are often high levels of bacteria on items inside your handbag, as well as purse handles and straps. Hand or face lotions, lipstick, and mascara, for example, frequently come into contact with unclean hands before being returned to the purse. Unclean hands make them breeding grounds for bacteria.
So what's a dirty girl to do?
Your Breath Doesn't Smell Great Either
What You Can Do
You can reduce the spread of germs on handbags using the following tips:
never sit your purse on the floor (seriously -- that's what those hooks are for!)
avoid touching your face unless you have just washed your hands
use antibacterial wipes to regularly sanitize the bottom of your pocketbook, purse handles, and items you carry, and
practice good hand washing!
In the meantime, go ahead and smooch your pooch. Pucker up for your puddytat. If you're going to catch cooties, you may as well enjoy the experience!
3: Money: A Motherlode Of Microbes
Here's a major cootie alert. Dirty money is not simply cash made through illegal and immoral means. It's a motherlode of microbes, and it's what's in your wallet.
Scientists have studied the cleanliness of banknotes from countries across the globe, and they have found that an average of 26,000 bacteria contaminate paper money.7 Average banknote cleanliness is a function of how long the cash has been in circulation, the numbers of folds and creases it has, and the type of material it is made of.
Research discovered that Swiss francs, Danish krones, and Chinese yuans were among the dirtiest money, while the Australian dollar was by far the cleanest banknote. So are those Aussies simply super clean, or what?
Rather than using cotton paper fiber, Australia produces banknotes using polypropylene polymer, the same material that drinking straws are made from. Germs have a harder time sticking to the material.
What's Growing In Your Wallet?
Especially for those among us who are non-Australians, paper cash has been found to harbor up to 3,000 different types of bacteria, including those causing
gastric ulcers
pneumonia
food poisoning
staph infections
acne and
antibiotic resistance.8
In addition, the flu virus can live on paper money for 17 days. Think about how many times a banknote could change hands during that time, and it's no wonder we suffer regular flu epidemics!
You Can't Say You've Never Touched Drugs
Sadly, bacteria and viruses aren't all that's hitching a ride on paper money. If you've never thought about where your cash has been before it touched your hands, then consider that 90% of circulating dollar bills in the United States contain traces of cocaine.9 Percentages are nearly as high for other countries worldwide.
Unfortunately, sometimes it's not just trace amounts of drugs. Three employees at a Michigan convenience store became sick after they handled money coated with a methamphetamine residue.
Go spend your dirty money on your pet, for health's sake.
Yucky Euros, Disgusting Dollars: How Nasty Is Your Cash?
4. Telephones: Teeming With Germs
Nasty news flash: your cell phone is filthy. One in six have fecal bacteria on them.15 Hmmm. Any idea where that would come from, my chatty friend?
Eww ... Just Eww
A survey of American cell phone users found that 75% admitted to not being able to put the device down long enough to use the toilet.16
Yeah, you know who you are ... browsing social networks, texting, and yapping away with friends, business associates, and family while you do your bodily business. (Is anyone truly that busy?)
The study found that while toileting
67% of survey respondents read a text,
63% received calls,
41% initiated phone calls, and
39% surfed the Internet.
Men were more likely to conduct their work while sitting on the throne. Such heinous hygiene habits help explain how approximately 1 in 5 people have dropped their phones in the toilet.
Dirty purrson, you've been caught by the poo patrol. (We already suspected that you protest too much about hygiene!) Set the phone down and give your pet a big kiss.
So what if Fluffy uses her tongue as a washcloth or Fido occasionally eats excrement? Your habits aren't exactly stellar.
Clean Enough To Kiss
5: Escalator Handrails: Do You Really Want To Know?
Your habit of not keeping your hands to yourself could be making you sick. Americans typically touch around 300 surfaces every 30 minutes. Chances are, if you're in public, then one of those surfaces is a handrail. And that handrail is gross! (We already know you don't wash your hands well.)
People can transfer germs up to seven times before it leaves their skin. Testing has shown that when you grab a handrail on a public transit system or escalator, for example, you could be exposing yourself to
food
urine
mucus
feces, and
blood -- as well as the bacteria, viruses, yeast, and mold they can transmit.
Is your stomach churning yet? This is just more proof that you aren't as clean as you thought you were. Elevator buttons, ATM machines, and gas pump handles are other filthy surfaces, and you probably touch them all in your daily life.
Oh, Dear God: This Puppy Teaches His Owner A Lesson
6. Hotel Rooms: Hazardous To Your Health?
While Fido and Fluffy may fight fleas (hey, do something about that), you may be battling your own pests.
Whether you stay in a swanky, high end hotel or a seedy motel suite, you may be checking out with some extra baggage. And I'm not just talking about those hotel shampoos you hoarded.
One in 10 Americans have encountered a bed bug problem, with the most frequent source of contamination being hotels. Some experts believe that the rise in worldwide travel is contributing to the global epidemic.
Other common sources of bed bug contamination include:
college dorms
nursing homes
office buildings
schools and daycare facilities
hospitals
vehicles (trains, buses, and taxis)
movie theatres and
used furniture.
Hungry Critters
Bedbugs are flat and rust-colored, about the size of an apple seed. They also don't discriminate in their hunt for a meal; the pests simply like warm bodies.
When these insects come out at night, bedbugs can drink seven times their weight in human blood. They can also survive months without a meal. Summer is their peak season.17
As disgusted as you might be by the thought of sharing your bed with thousands of these insects, the damage they do is simply a nuisance, much like that of a mosquito. Bedbug bites produce itchy red bumps and sometimes no reaction at all.
Bedbugs Aren't All That's In Your Hotel Room
If bedbugs aren't enough to make you second guess your hotel stay, consider this gag-worthy nugget: Researchers who examined hotel room cleanliness found traces of semen and urine in every single room tested. Traces of urine were even found on the nightstand Bible. (Is nothing sacred?)
The bedspread, television remote and the main light switch were particularly contaminated areas, harboring fecal bacteria, streptococcal and staphylococcal infections. These bacteria can produce a variety of illnesses, including
blood infections
pneumonia
meningitis
skin infections, and
food poisoning.18
With cooties like that, do everyone a favor and just stay home. Cuddle with your furry friends. Dogs and cats aren't nearly as dirty as places you've been.
Mwah! Not A Cootie In Sight
7. Hospitals: A Playground For Pathogens
Cooties can be downright dangerous, and unfortunately some of the meanest cooties hide in hospitals. It's best to stay away, if you can. (Besides, your pets are waiting for you at home.)
Over 2 million Americans get drug-resistant infections annually, and tens of thousands die from them.19 Examples include C. Diff, MRSA, and flesh-eating bacterial disease. The elderly, very young, and immunosuppressed are at special risk for these superbugs.
Hospitals are the most acute source of antibiotic-resistant infections, and a prime source of contagion is medical personnel checking IVs and catheters with dirty hands. Studies have consistently found that doctors and nurses wash their hands only about half of the time.
Observe those who care for you. Do they wash up before touching you? How about after writing in your chart? And what about you? Even though you're a patient, are you washing your hands before eating that hospital meal?
Consider every touch, every incision, and every tube a potential access point for super germs. And don't assume that hospital rooms are thoroughly disinfected between patients. One study found that 75% of hospitals had been cited for sanitary violations.
Just Kiss the Cat: You Probably Already Have Cooties
Based on the gross things you're already doing in your everyday life, you probably already have the cooties. So go ahead -- cuddle your canine and kiss your cat.
The warmest hearts often have cold noses.
A Kiss Is Worth A Thousand Purrs
