Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Tuesday's Tip

Are you a germaphobe? I know I am!! When H1N1 became a scare this fall, I had the children take their shoes off at the door and I sprayed them with Lysol. I am known to use my Lysol and Clorox disinfectant sprays and wipes quite literally. Our children are terribly allergic to dust mites. One of the recommendations is to wash their linens and stuffed animals in hot water once a week to kill the dust mites and any germs, so I do this. However, if your stuffed animal has a music box or a voice box, the water will ruin it. For those items, simply stick them in the freezer for 8 or more hours to kill the germs!!! I love it. You can do this with any toy that you cannot wash in another manner. Kill those germs! I'm tempted to freeze our money before touching it after learning that the flu germs live for SEVENTEEN DAYS on a dollar bill!!! Can it be true? THat is just disgusting!

Cheerio!

15 comments:

Jessica Ryan said...

I had no idea about freezing the animals! That's great. Have to say that we are bad about washing ours regularly. Really, I'd like to give some away... like hundreds, but the children seem not to be able to part with them!

Sherrie said...

I am not a germaphobe (with three boys I would be insane if I was one, lol). The one thing that does gross me out is dirty and crumpled bills (as in dollar bills). I love crisp clean money. I seriously wish I had a money washing machine. ;)

Gabi said...

Money laundering hahaha!!!
ew, the thought of germs on the dollar bill is gross!! My oldest is also very allergic to dust mites. So happy the cleaning fairy comes to help me tackle that problem!

Cheerio to you too!

Imjustagirl said...

WOW!! I did not think about freezing the germs off. My question is does this kill the dust mites too?

Grateful for Grace said...

Great tip!!

The Hayden Family said...

I always look forward to your Tuesday Tip! And this one was awesome. My meat and frozen pizzas are comin' out and the stuffed animals are goin' in! Buh bye germs!!!!!!

Susan R said...

Amen Sister! Finally, a woman that is as crazy about germs as I am.....and I mean that in the most loving way. I had to take my daughter to the doctor yesterday and I made her keep her hands in her pockets and told her, "Now Paige, when we go into the office....be sure not to touch ANYTHING". This after I used a tissue to grab the door handle. Yes, that's where the germs live. I keep a bottle of Purell next to every sink in the house and especially near the computer key board. I'm a traveling Hazmat Team on my own. I'm not sure I would put money in the freezer though. Because even though I'm a germ a phobe I would forget where I put the money.

Jill said...

I thought I was a germaphobe until I read your post- ha! I never even think about the dust mites, but now that you mention it...

KK said...

I had no idea about the freezing! This may just change my life! We just pried Pinkie's prized teddy bear out of her hands long enough to put it in the washing machine. I washed inside a pillow case and it turned out great but I am thinking I could freeze it in between washings...

Love Being A Nonny said...

What a great tip! I am not a germaphobic but I do like clean. I will do this with stuffed animals that I HAVE to have. I try not to keep too many of them around.

CRICKET said...

I am a germaphobe too, getting in the car we all use Purell then when we get home we take off our shoes and wash our hands. I had no idea about money!!!

bevy said...

I should be more of one... but like Sherrie, with boys, it would make me C-R-A-Z-Y. We wash hands and do all the normal things, like washing linens and the like in hot, hot water. Didn't know about the freezer though. Great to know!

MY BIG THING is all the horrible chemicals we use to clean with! That keeps ME up at night...

carolinagirl said...

certified germ freak here. i have done the freezing thing...even with pokemon cards. hahaha!

also, i freak out if i cannot put my hands on my wipes/hand sanitizer when i pick the boys up from school...harp on washing hands constantly. BUT we are all pretty well, and so far, no one has missed a day of school in over a year! :)

Ruby Red Slippers said...

What a great tip-I will be trying that one! It is nice to have met you, and I am glad you stopped over at my blog-Your kids are DARLING!!!

Danielle @ Transforming Home said...

We are germaphobes too. My husband and I both work in hospitals, so we know all to well what those sneaky little germs can do to the human body. Lots of hand washing, Lysol, and hand sanitizer in our house. And no shoes. Hands are washed the second we walk in the door.
Thanks for visiting me today!

Danielle