One more:
[Can you imagine the amount of bacteria and viruses passed between people when clothing are washed in a public laundromat?]
Fear the phone, not the doorknob, US germ expert says
By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent Tue May 2, 8:39 AM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Worried about colds, flu and other germs?
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"Usually the dirtiest handles in public restrooms are urinal flush handles,"
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"Most people don't realize that they actually should wash their hands ( before and ) after they make dinner and also after they do the laundry," Gerba said.
Americans have moved to short-cycle, cold-water washes to save energy and wear and tear on clothing, but this leaves viruses and bacteria largely intact.
"Water at 140 degrees F (60 degrees C) will sanitize laundry," Gerba said. But only 5 percent of Americans use hot water for laundry.
And viruses such as hepatitis A, rotavirus and bacteria such as Salmonella -- all of which cause stomach upsets and diarrhea -- can easily survive the average 28-minute drying cycle.
These are all carried fecally. "There is about a 10th of a gram of feces in the average pair of underwear," Gerba says. "You don't want to be doing your handkerchiefs with your underwear."
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=healthNews&storyID=2006-05-02T123900Z_01_N01451015_RTRIDST_0_HEALTH-GERMS-DC.XML
Some things just need to be washed in HOT water, imo.
I have mentioned before that those who grew up in our grandparents' generation had a better understanding of personal hygiene than many modern folk do, just because of the realization that germs brought infection, and before most antibiotics, infections killed people.
As a culture, we have become incredibly hygenically lax.