7 Facts and Myths about Germs in Our Daily Life

Germs are everywhere. We always clean up our selves in our daily life for distancing ourselves from germs. But, before you claim yourselves as a super-sterile, check the fact and myth out:

1. Myth: Hand Drying Machine is the best way to drain up your hands.

Fact : Hand Drying Machine can actually increase the number of bacteria on your hands after washing hands. Bacteria can growth in the hand drying machine because this area is very warm and humid. When the dryer is turned on, the air that comes out could be full of bacteria. Tissue and Paper Tissue are still the best way to dry hands, because this can remove the bacteria physically from your hands.

2. Myth: Hand Sanitizer and Alcohols can replace the function of washing hands.

Fact: Alcohol and hand sanitizer has been proven effective for cleaning bacteria from relatively clean hands. However Sanitizer less powerful to remove germs which are contained on extra dirty hands and oily. For this one, water is still the best. Also, don’t forget that alcohol can make hands dry, so in the long period time, the number of bacteria is increases continually. Instead, only use hand sanitizer at the emergency situation or no water.

3. Myth: During a toothbrush is placed far from toilet, bacteria won’t grow up.

Fact: If you like to keep your toothbrush in bathroom, there’s one you need to know. When you are flushing the toilet, water tight rotation will make bacteria sprayed up into the air and stayed until 2 hours afterwards. Every time you brush your teeth, the germs which stick on a toothbrush will go into your mouth! Well, you have two choices : close down the toilet lid when flushing, or store your tooth brush outside the bathroom.

4. Myth: All germs are danger for healthy.

Fact: Apparently there are some bacteria which benefits the body. This type of bacteria are usually found in the group in charge of maintaining the ecosystem in the particular body part. Some parts of body which are inhabited natural bacterial flora or good bacteria are stomach and vagina.

5. Myth: Using soap together would make us share the germs.

Research shows that bacteria don’t necessary move from one person to another through a soap. Some experts argue, it is because soap – especially anti-bacterial soaps- have an ability to clean themselves. Beside that, the bacteria whom you are obtained from the soap would be shed when you wash your hands with water.

6.Myth: Trying cosmetics in the shopping center is safe to do, because the covers or the samples is always cleaned all days.

Research shows that cosmetic samples at makeup stores save many Stapylococci and E.coli, even after the end of the lipstick or powder is thrown/ cleaned.

7. Myth: Foods that fall could still be eaten as long as they haven’t been 5 seconds.

The motto “hasn’t been five seconds” actually should be thrown far away. When a slice of cake fell to the floor, microorganisms directly invade the cake .What’s worse is if the floor is wet. The germs which is nested will be more.

Reference: Health Today; May 2007 (with arrangement)
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