I cut my finger at work the other day and when we finally got it bandaged I wanted it protected from germs. I am in Nursing so we come in contact with lots of germs every day and I wash my hands multiple times.
I got a rubber glove, cut off one finger of it and fit it over my bandaged finger. I then put tape all the way around the bottom of it to keep water and germs from getting in it.
This works great for me but I do not recommend you keep it on more than 8 hours at a time. I changed mine when I got home and just left the band-aid on it. You don't want it to get infected and the best thing for a cut is air.
So if you find yourself in a germ infested environment and need to protect a cut or wound that a glove finger will cover I highly recommend using my method. Years ago they had "finger cots" that served the same purpose. They are hard to find today.
By gem from VA
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To avoid germs in a public washroom, pick the stall closest to the door. Studies show that it is used the least, so it should be the cleanest. Before washing your hands, release the paper towel from the dispenser that you will need.
When I get books from the library, I use a spray bottle with vinegar and spray the book and wipe it down with a paper towel. The vinegar kills germs and you can see a lot of dirt removed on the paper towel.
I was watching a show on TV the other day, on properly cleaning of your kitchen. Something that I think we all do well. But sometimes the dish cloths, dish rags or sponges we use around our sinks and stoves, often get overlooked.
I recently read a medical research report stating that hand sanitizers are only about 60% as effective as washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. However, a hand sanitizer is better than nothing!
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
How can I clean my teeth to get rid of germs?
By pintu from India
My dentist just told me to brush with baking soda & a few drops of peroxide. It will kill the germs in your mouth.
I rinse with pure peroxide. Just swish it around in your mouth for 15 seconds, then spit it out. This heals cuts and sores as well as cleans germs.
This may surprise you, but you don't want to rid your mouth of all germs because some of them are protective. GOOD bacteria in and on our body competes with bad for nutrients. The over-use of anti-bacterial products actually causes worse "germs". So brushing vigorously with a good toothpaste after meals, and swishing the mouth with a mouth wash daily is more than enough.
But don't work too hard to sterilize your mouth; you will regret it.
Floss once a day, and brush twice a day, after breakfast and before bed, with a soft toothbrush and a regular brand of toothpaste. I prefer one with fluoride and I use one that is for sensitive teeth.
They make candles to get rid of smoke odors, pet odors, etc. Do you all know if they make a candle you can burn to get rid of germs when someone is home sick with a cold?
Sick AND well people don't need polluted air, smoke filled that overworks their lungs...EVER.
Even though you mean well, try treating the sick person directly with Seamist Salt Water nose drops spray, with lots of fresh water and a clean plastic cup each day, with linens washed/bleached every other day, (if well enough, warm shower twice a week),give one Acidolphylus capsule a day until well, with mild non-cheese or milk-based soups/foods(potato, split pea,black bean, weakened tomato, or celery soups,canned "light" pears, avoiding acid foods/drinks and milk, chowders and creamed soups until VERY well), in disposable paper/plastic bowls, plates,flatware, with light simple foods as patient improves and is mostly symptom free or requests it.
(I prefer to take 100 mg. of Zinc each day which helps strengthen my immune system. Also, if coughing, the over-the-counter Daytime Gel Caps
and Nightime Gel caps seem to really work for a lot of folks, including me, if taken as directed on the box.)
Don't use aerosol sprays, candles, or ANY
strong chemicals in the sick room. If on tiles, use
a mild hot water solution of 1/2 water, a few drops of Lestoil, and a few capsful of bleach for mopping. If on carpet, do not vacuum until patient is well because ALL regular vacuums LEAK FLOOR DUST/GERMS INTO THE AIR, which is certainly not good for patient.
Wear baggies or cheap disposable gloves to wipe down all surfaces once a week with paper towels and mild "bleach/water solution", NOT depending upon Windex, Vinegar, or Ammonia to help or kill HARMFUL germs!
Replace the trash sack liner of the can daily, keep tissues or toilet paper nearby for expectorating and
drippy nose, which the saltwater nose drops should check, unless sinuses are too stopped up. If chest congestion, read label on the "tussins" for Guafenesin to loosen it up and help it get patient spit out mucous plugs prompty when loosened. Avoid cough drops/syrups. If sore throat, gargle once an hour with 1/2 tsp. table salt and 6 oz. COLD water, not hot/warm, carefully spitting into drain, NOT spreading mouth germs all over sink bowl. If nausea, 1 tblsp COLA SYRUP(cheap and works!) from Walgreens Drugs, hourly until gone, usually requiring no more than one small 6 oz. bottle. If nausea continues past that, see a doctor.
If diarreah (sp?), Immodium is what I use should this occur. If not checked by this, see a doctor.
If fever, Tylenol-type relief as directed, and see a doctor if not gone in 3 days. If no fever,
My mother used a plate of sliced onions placed on several surfaces. She claimed that they absorbed germs. Maybe a Scottish idea that my grandparents brought with them.
Use a Lampe Berger or a knockoff instead. It burns alcohol and is easy to refill. The alcohol is drawn up the wick to a porous stone that absorbs the alcohol. The stone is lit, you let it burn two or three minutes, and blow it out. The wire on the stone is kept extremely hot and burns the alcohol and the particles in the air. The lamps are beautiful and useful. You can use the fragrance "oil" that is sold with it (expensive) or "90% rubbing alcohol" or a mixture of the two. Look up more information about thes lampes, they have a long and interesting history!
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Beginning Oct. 15th each year, until May 15th the following year, we stop eating out, even if we are treated to it because many sick folks are too sick to cook, but not too sick to go out.
Is there a way to disinfect laundry without using chlorine bleach, which is too hard on some white fabrics and cannot be used on colors? Sharon from FL
