BREAKING HARD: N.C. study: Germs can't fight soap, water - researchers test hand-washing methods

Myrtle Beach Online ^ | 3/12/05

[ErnBatavia]

I always wash BEFORE I go to the bathroom...but that's just me.

[LongElegantLegs]

Oh, great, NOW they tell us. And all these years I've been using applesauce...

[P.O.E.]

Same with most household cleaning chores. Almost all you need are vinegar, bleach, ammonia & baking soda (not, of course, mixed together). The rest is all marketing.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I wash my hands once a month...whether they need it or not.

[Semper Paratus]

Good thing Howard Hughes didn't hear that.

[SE Mom]

In a further stunning development, it was found the most effective wight-loss program is eat less, exercise more:)

[yarddog]

I remember around 40 years ago, nearly the entire staff of a large Summer resort came down with food poisoning. The manager got on the P.A. system at lunch the next day and said it was a virus going around and that everyone in the neighboring towns had it too.

Everyone burst out laughing when the camp Dr. got on the mike and said that might be true but he hoped the kitchen crew would begin washing their hands more often.

[Proud2BeRight]

This struck me as the type of study usually done for an elementary school science fair project.

[philomath]

strange you should mention that, but many hospital operating rooms have switched to a short alcohol-based hand rub for surgical personnel, as opposed to the 5 minute antibacterial and water. don't see any applesauce dispensers yet, but i'll keep looking....

[TomGuy]

True.

Several years ago (before I had cable), I happened to be watching Oprah. Her guest was some guy who wrote a book on keeping the home clean. In the course of the discussion, a lady in the audience asked about the anti-microbial liquid soaps.

The author almost raged. 'No, those are overkill. You don't need them. Just get my book. It tells you what you need.'

I laughed. Soap (and bleach) were overkill, but his book was the right solution. Yeh, right. Pay $25 for his book or $.89 for a gallon of bleach.

[FoxNews talking about this research study now.]

[LongElegantLegs]

...short alcohol-based hand rub

Ah, ye, the apple cider alternative. ;'P

[SouthTexas]

And this costs us HOW much????

[Publius6961]

I remember once reading in painful clinical detail how soap works in removing dirt from clothes or hands; perhaps in Scientific American, back when it was a science magazine rather than a 1984 PC propaganda whore.

I have never, however, seen a detailed explanation of how soap and water deals with bacteria and viruses , some of which are smaller (if I vaguely remember) than water molecules. I simply don't understand and hence have no clue.

Does anyone know of a good explanation of how that magic works?

[mewzilla]

A new study by infection-control specialists at UNC Hospitals confirms that the best way to get germs off your hands is with plain old soap and water.

Duh.

[Condor51]

In another 'study', UNC researchers found that eating rocks was harmful to your teeth and play havoc with your colon.

[Owen]

I recommend an added item, that is more habit than specific process.

Sratch itches on your face with your left hand, and preferably with a knuckle on it rather than fingers or nails. You shake hands with your right hand and probably most of us turn doorknobs with it, too.

I worked on this consciously 15 yrs ago and there's just no question I get few colds and flu episodes now.

Yeah not a very controlled experiment, but my results are good.

[SouthTexas]

Youngest grandson spent the first month of his life in NICU. The Drs. and nurses were not near as bad as daughter supervising the five minute scrubs.

[SauronOfMordor]

strange you should mention that, but many hospital operating rooms have switched to a short alcohol-based hand rub for surgical personnel, as opposed to the 5 minute antibacterial and water. don't see any applesauce dispensers yet, but i'll keep looking....

A while back a friend of mine was telling me about a development of a guy he knew which would probably save thousands of lives in hospitals. He'd developed a better formula for a combination soap and hand lotion. My friend (who worked in hospitals) said many hospital personnel were not washing between touching patients because it would make their hands too chapped...

[12chachacha]

I use bologna. I keep a slice of bologna in my pocket and when I'm through using the toilet I get the bologna out and all of the evil germs jump onto the bologna. I then Frisbee it into the trash can.