Coming from a Germaphobe, 10 Ways to Prevent Germ Spread

Germs....they are everywhere and like never before, it is important that we do not spread the wrong germs. As we are all in and out of lockdowns, quarantines, staying at home, we have heard numerous suggestions and expert advise about what to do and not do when it comes to spreading the infamous Covid-19. Well me being a germaphobe, some of these suggestions of things to do to prevent the spread of germs were not new to me. I cringe at the thought of germs. Now I am not the most "germaphobic" person there is, I mean, if you have seen the old TV show Monk, Monk who has OCD, (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), I am not quite that extreme; however, I certainly do understand Monk. OCD is a form of anxiety and anxiety I do have. While my level of germaphobia is higher or lower at different times, I am mostly always conscious of the risk of germs around me. For me having hand sanitizer is like putting on underwear. I have to have it and if I don't I am on edge. I don't like outside shoes worn in the bathroom where I shower and get undressed. I don't like to eat in a place where the floor is noticeably soiled or wet. Don't ask, that's the way I am. I could go on for hours of how germaphobia affects my life and to think there are some that are even more so than me. Also with germaphobia, it affects everyone differently.

When this Covid-19 stuff all started we ran out to the local stores and emptied the shelves of all the cleaning and disinfecting options we could find. Even so much as to buy products to make our own germ killers, when we realized we were too late and the stores would not have what we need to protect ourselves and our family. Not to mention the issue with the toilet paper. I was fortunate enough to be living with someone who kept Clorox wipes and disinfecting bleach on hand in bulk. So I was able to take certain measures to make sure if I had to leave the house, I was doing all I could to prevent the spread of any germs, mainly Covid-19. While no method, product, etc, is 100% guaranteed to stop anyone from the exposure to the virus, by taking all the possible precautions, a person greatly decreases the chances of exposure or contracting the virus. If a person does get the virus, but they are taking precautions, they decrease the chance of spreading it.

We have to learn new habits and improve our methods as we go about preventing the spread of germs. For us germaphobes, and I do believe we are a special group, it's not as difficult for us to take extra germ prevention steps because in some ways it's not new to us. Difference now is we don't look so weird or silly for being over-the-top germ conscious. The experts cannot advise us on every detail of lives as how we individually are exposed to germs.

Coming from a germaphobe, we are constantly aware of potential germ issues throughout our normal day, so I decided to make a list of things to consider, that people may not think about or need to be reminded of, because they don't spend a considerable amount of the day thinking how to avoid germs.

Here are 10 suggestions from me, a germaphobe, for preventing the spread of germs (not all inclusive). This list is not meant to replace expert advise and I do not profess to be an expert. As you should always refer to the labels of products, consult with a doctor for any medical advice, and seek professional help if you have questions or concerns about any of these issues.

1. When you go to your mail box or take out the trash - Wash your hands after and DISINFECT knobs, latches, etc that you touch in the course of these chores. Remember the trash collectors touch other people's trash receptacles and postal workers touch other people's mail boxes.

2. Take off shoes before entering or at the door and spray Lysol or other disinfectant on bottoms of shoes. It's possible to track in germs on your shoes, walk barefoot or drop items on the floor, then touch your feet or the dropped item, now you have the spread of contamination.

3. For now you may want to carry money, credit cards and wallet items in a plastic baggie that you can discard each day or spray; or carry these items in a hard surface container, because it is easier to disinfect hard surfaces than fabrics of wallets. If you got on gloves and touch your wallet....well....

4. Bleach cleans but not all bleaches are disinfectants. It must say on the bleach bottle that it is disinfectant. Clorox tells you this on their product.

5. Remember to read product labels. Some products require saturation, some require a 5-10 minute sit on the object before the disinfecting qualities take affect.

6. Put 70% alcohol in a spray bottle, as another means of quick access sanitizing.

7. Wipes for hands are not the same as the Clorox or Lysol type wipes for disinfecting surfaces. Again read labels, the manufacturers usually indicate on the labels whether the product is effective for disinfecting and on what type of surface.

8. Some cleaning products we are familiar with as disinfectants, have versions of their product that are for cleaning and not disinfecting, such as I said with the bleach. So read labels to know what you are buying and using to prevent the spread of the virus or any other infectious diseases.

9. Take disinfectant wipes or spray and treat you car keys, door keys, mailbox keys etc. We often touch these items as we go about our travels and errands, even with the gloves on. This items can harbor germs as well. For instance we leave a store and touch our car keys to unlock the door. We sanitize everything except the key remote.

10. You know how you go to the fast food window and get a soda and a straw? Do not touch the actual straw that we are inserting into our drink cups. Instead peel back the wrapper on the straw, pull the paper until about a 2-3 inches left on the straw, use the end with the paper to hold the straw and insert in the drink. Once inserted, remove the remaining paper wrapper. The idea is inserting the straw without touching it and possibly getting germs on it.

I hope this list helps you beef up your fight against germs and spreading the Covid-19 virus. I'm sure there are a million ways in which we have to be careful in the fight against germs, I made this list in an effort to address some common everyday instances in which we need to be reminded to take precautions. Coming from a germaphobe, I'd rather everyone have on full body personal protection equipment, but that's not realistic. Don't be surprised though if I resort to wearing full gear myself.