Avoid touching these surfaces in public places to stay healthy.
Restaurant menus
Cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. If it's a
popular restaurant, hundreds of people could be handling the menus--and
passing their germs on to you. Never let a menu touch your plate or
silverware, and wash your hands after you place your order. YES I get the menu and use a disinfectant wipe on each one we are handed! OH the looks I get!
Lemon wedges
According
to a 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70% of
the lemon wedges perched on the rims of restaurant glasses contain
disease-causing microbes. When the researchers ordered drinks at 21
different restaurants, they found 25 different microorganisms lingering
on the 76 lemons that they secured, including E. coli and other fecal
bacteria. Tell your server that you'd prefer your beverage sans fruit.
Why risk it?
Condiment dispensers
It's
the rare eatery that regularly bleaches its condiment containers. They just add ingredients to the container at the tables at or after closing or opening. Many people
don't wash their hands before eating, says Kelly Reynolds, PhD. The person who poured the ketchup, used the salt and pepper before you may
not have been, which means his germs are now on your fries. Squirt hand
sanitizer on the outside of the condiment bottle or use a disinfectant
wipe on condiment dispenser before you grab it. Holding the bottle with a napkin won't help;
napkins are porous, so microorganisms can pass right through, Reynolds
says.
Restroom door handles
Don't
think you can escape the restroom without touching the door handle?
Palm a spare paper towel after you wash up and use it to grasp
the handle. Yes, other patrons may think you're a germ-phobe--but
you'll never see them again, and you're the one who won't get sick. I carry a pocket packet of disinfectant wipes to ANY public restroom and I ONLY use them in emergencies!
Soap dispensers
About
25% of public restroom dispensers are contaminated with fecal bacteria.
Soap that harbors bacteria may seem ironic, but that's exactly what a
recent study found. "Most of these containers are never cleaned, so
bacteria grow as the soap scum builds up," says Charles Gerba, PhD. "And
the bottoms are touched by dirty hands, so there's a continuous culture
feeding millions of bacteria." Be sure to scrub hands thoroughly with
plenty
of hot water for 15 to 20 seconds--and if you happen to have an
alcohol-based hand sanitizer, use that, too. OH and did I mention I use a disinfectant wipe after I wash my hands!
Grocery carts
The
handles of almost two-thirds of the shopping carts tested in a 2007
study at the University of Arizona were contaminated with fecal
bacteria. In fact, the bacterial counts of the carts exceeded those of
the average public restroom. Swab the handle with a disinfectant wipe
before grabbing hold (stores were starting to provide them, BUT MANY stopped during down economy). And while you're wheeling around the
supermarket, skip the free food samples, which are nothing more than
communal hand-to-germ-to-mouth zones.
Airplane bathrooms
When
Gerba tested for microbes in the bathrooms of commercial jets, he found
surfaces from faucets to doorknobs to be contaminated with E. coli.
It's not surprising, then, that you're 100 times more likely to catch a
cold when you're airborne, according to a recent study in the Journal of
Environmental Health Research. To protect yourself, try taking green
tea supplements. In a 2007 study from the University of Florida, people
who took a 450-milligram green tea supplement twice a day for 3 months
had one-third fewer days of cold symptoms. The supplement brand used in
the study was Immune Guard ($30 for 60 pills; immune-guard.us). AS a retired Flight Attendant, I will say---I never got sick while flying. I drank green tea daily and while passengers slept etc. while in-flight!
Doctor's office
A doctor's office is not the place to be if you're trying to avoid germs. These tips can help limit your exposure.
1. Take your own books & magazines (and kid's toys, if you have your children or grandchildren with you).
2. Also pack your own tissues and hand sanitizers, which should be at least 60% alcohol content.
3.
In the waiting room, leave at least two chairs between you and the
other patients to reduce your chances of picking up their bugs. Germ
droplets from coughing and sneezing can travel about 3 feet before
falling to the floor.
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HYDROGEN PEROXIDE MAGIC!
Ever since I started using Hydrogen Peroxide to get rid of armpit stains, to clean cookie sheets, as a miracle cleaner in my kitchen and bathroom, and to make my own “oxi clean”…I ALWAYS have at least one bottle of the stuff under my kitchen sink, under my bathroom sink, AND in the laundry room. This stuff is amazingly versatile!
But it wasn’t until recently, after doing some IN DEPTH research on the subject, that I came to realize what a “miracle substance” hydrogen peroxide really is! It’s safe, it’s readily available, it’s cheap, and best of all, it WORKS! It works for a LOT of stuff!
Hydrogen peroxide should really be called oxygen water, since it is basically the same chemical make up as water but with an extra oxygen atom (H2O2). Because of this it breaks down quickly and harmlessly into oxygen and water.
Some other interesting facts about hydrogen peroxide:
It is found in all living material.
Your white blood cells naturally produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to fight bacteria and infections.
Fruit and vegetables naturally produce hydrogen peroxide. This is one of the reasons why it is so healthy to eat fresh fruit and vegetables.
It is found in massive dosages in the mother’s first milk, called colostrum, and is transferred to the baby to boost their immune system.
It is found in rain water because some of the H20 in the atmosphere receives an additional oxygen atom from the ozone (O3) and this H2O2 makes plants grow faster.
Next to Apple Cider Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide ranks up there as one of the best household remedies.
Besides the obvious (cleansing wounds), did you know that it is probably the best remedy to dissolve ear wax? Brighten dingy floors? Add natural highlights to your hair? Improve your plants root systems? The list goes on and on!
There are SO many uses for this stuff that I’ve started replacing the cap on the hydrogen peroxide bottle with a sprayer because it’s easier and faster to use that way.
I have compiled a rather impressive list of uses for 3% hydrogen peroxide that I hope will have you as thrilled and bewildered as I was!
Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide to remove dirt and pesticides. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing, rinse thoroughly with cool water.
In the dishwasher, add 2 oz. to your regular detergent for a sanitizing boost. Also, beef up your regular dish soap by adding roughly 2 ounces of 3% H2O2 to the bottle.
Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis. Use a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water.
Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste for brushing teeth. Helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.
Soak your toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu.
Clean your cutting board and countertop. Let everything bubble for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse clean. (I’ve been using it for this a LOT lately!)
Wipe out your refrigerator and dishwasher. Because it’s non-toxic, it’s great for cleaning places that store food and dishes.
Clean your sponges. Soak them for 10 minutes in a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water in a shallow dish. Rinse the sponges thoroughly afterward.
Remove baked-on crud from pots and pans. Combine hydrogen peroxide with enough baking soda to make a paste, then rub onto the dirty pan and let it sit for a while. Come back later with a scrubby sponge and some warm water, and the baked-on stains will lift right off.
Whiten bathtub grout. First dry the tub thoroughly, then spray it liberally with hydrogen peroxide. Let it sit — it may bubble slightly — for a little while, then come back and scrub the grout with an old toothbrush. You may have to repeat the process a few times.
Clean the toilet bowl. Pour half a cup of hydrogen peroxide into the toilet bowl, let stand for 20 minutes, then scrub clean.
Remove stains from clothing, curtains, and tablecloths. Hydrogen peroxide can be used as a pre-treater for stains — just soak the stain for a little while in 3% hydrogen peroxide before tossing into the laundry. You can also add a cup of peroxide to a regular load of whites to boost brightness. It’s a green alternative to bleach, and works just as well.
Brighten dingy floors. Combine half a cup of hydrogen peroxide with one gallon of hot water, then go to town on your flooring. Because it’s so mild, it’s safe for any floor type, and there’s no need to rinse.
Clean kids’ toys and play areas. Hydrogen peroxide is a safe cleaner to use around kids, or anyone with respiratory problems, because it’s not a lung irritant. Spray toys, toy boxes, doorknobs, and anything else your kids touch on a regular basis.
Help out your plants. To ward off fungus, add a little hydrogen peroxide to your spray bottle the next time you’re spritzing plants.
Add natural highlights to your hair. Dilute the hydrogen peroxide so the solution is 50% peroxide and 50% water. Spray the solution on wet hair to create subtle, natural highlights.
According to alternative therapy practitioners, adding half a bottle of hydrogen peroxide to a warm bath can help detoxify the body. Some are skeptical of this claim, but a bath is always a nice way to relax and the addition of hydrogen peroxide will leave you – and the tub – squeaky clean!
Spray a solution of 1/2 cup water and 1 tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide on leftover salad, drain, cover and refrigerate. This will prevent wilting and better preserve your salad.
Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.
Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten. You can also use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system.
Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.
Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.
Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. Or try soaking your feet in a peroxide solution to help soften calluses and corns, and disinfect minor cuts.
Spray down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.
Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.
Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
Use for towels that have become musty smelling. 1/2 cup Peroxide and 1/2 cup vinegar let stand for 15 minutes wash as normal. Gets rid of the smell.
Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.
De-skunking solution. Combine 1 quart 3% H2O2, 1/4 cup baking soda, 1 teaspoon Dawn dish detergent, 2 quarts warm water.
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![#HOW TO MAKE YOUR TEEH 'SNOW
WHITE'
-Put a tiny bit of toothpaste into a
small cup,
mix in one teaspoon baking soda
plus one
teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and
half a
teaspoon water.
Thoroughly mix then brush your
teeth for two minutes. Remember to
do it once a week until you have
reached the results you want. Once
your teeth are good and white, limit
yourself to using the
whitening treatment once every
month or two.
be sure to click SHARE so it will store on your personal page.
For more healthy recipes, tips, motivation and fun, join us here: @[323278087763609:69:All Natural Healthy Weight Loss Solutions Support Group]thy start](https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/s480x480/21222_568083413212597_299452707_n.jpg)
