Posted on 09/07/2013 8:07:09 AM PDT by EBH
AKRON, Ohio -- Here's something that might send you dashing back to the washroom: Microbiologists at GOJO Industries and other institutions have discovered that a quarter of the soap in public restrooms is so contaminated that it leaves your hands filthier than before you washed them.
In fact, some of the soap they tested contained so much fecal matter that you're almost better off washing your hands in the toilet after you flush it, said Charles P. Gerba, professor of microbiology in the University of Arizona's Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
GOJO, the company that invented Purell hand sanitizer, has launched a public awareness campaign called Gojo.com/NoMoreBulkSoap to not only warn consumers about the hazards of using dirty soap, but also to convince businesses, airports, shopping centers, restaurants, and schools to quit using some soap dispensers altogether...
... Turns out that washing with dirty soap could leave your hands with "25 times more (potentially harmful) gram-negative bacteria after washing than before washing with contaminated soap," Shumaker said. "You could end up going into a public restroom and coming out dirtier than you were before."
(Excerpt) Read more at cleveland.com ...
Thanks for reminding myself to purchase some kitty litter....FOR MY CAR.
:-/
the handle(pump type) and or dispensing tip.
Pigs in the credit union I managed as a facilities type put their water bottles on the spout of the water cooler.
I said something and mgmnt did nothing so I sent out an email telling everyone the red crap on the spout is lip stick If you don’t want to get sick bring your own water.That didn’t go over to well.
Large groups of people tend to be pigs especially large groups of women.
The mens room was immaculate and the ladies(wrong term) room was always filthy by noon.
I suspect it is not soap but detergent. Water is a perfect medium for bacterial growth. Which is why I avoid any cosmetic products that have water in them that do not contain preservatives. You should see how the “natural” crowd goes bonkers over that issue.
I would never use tap water when making cosmetics for my own use let alone if I ever sold them (I don’t). It would be distilled water. Normal procedure for when water is going to be added is to heat it to a certain temp then hold it at that temp for a specified time. This is in addition to using a preservative. But I get that is not practical for filling those dispensers.
The solution would be to make sure the product is premixed, tested for bacteria before packaging. The dispensers could be lined with a disposable liner which would be changed before each refill. But add tap water over and over again to a dispenser that harbors bacteria already and of course you are gonna get germs in the “soap”. Better yet carry your own soap or other cleanser.
I’ll drink to that
From the article it is suspected that the people who refill it may do so after cleaning the toilets or as a result of vandalism.
No those thing were/are gross.Never worked and were always black
I avoid public restrooms whenever possible. But on the rare occasion when I end up in one, I follow your advice, with a few variations. I flush with my foot, and get out of the stall quickly so as to avoid a shower of germs from the open toilet. I turn off the faucets with a paper towel after washing. I use a paper towel to open the door (don’t want my clothing on that dirty handle). And I do use my own sanitizer after I leave.
Thank you...you said it better than I could.
It isn't only men. I've witnessed women do it, too. I've also seen women either run their hands under plain water, or wash with soap for about one second.
Finding true soap in a store can be difficult. True soap is made by adding a base to an acid to make a salt. So when you see ingredients such as Sodium Tallowate or Sodium Palmate you are looking at soap or at least a product that contains some soap. Sometimes the ingredient list may read “saponified oils of ____” that is also soap. If you see sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide as ingredients that is also a soap. Some products are a mix of soaps and detergent. If you want 100% soap check that the label is just that.
Not so. According to WebMD, if the sanitizer is at least 60% alcohol, it's quite effective. But it isn't a substitute for washing; it doesn't work on hands that are visibly dirty.
Anyway, I eschew them for the most part and carry hand sanitizer and wipes to clean my hands and take care of business at home or in the nurturing confines of nature's own bountiful accommodations.
I’ve travelled a lot by car, and have had to use public restrooms, and have used the soap dispensers, and to this day I have never gotten sick. I do flush with my foot, put tons of toilet paper on the seat before using, (Don’t like the paper seat covers provided in some restrooms. Too thin.)and open the door with either paper towels, or my shirt tail. I try to take reasonable precautions, but I’m sure I’m missing something somewhere. I think just being in a public restroom and breathing the air in there can be hazardous to one’s health.
Great! I’ll just lick my hands clean after using the restroom.
That’s a good one! (I went to CU Boulder, so we were lucky just to hit the urinal.)
shirt tail? use the paper towel in your hand after drying hands to touch a door handle.
Use toilet paper to wipe. That way you won’t need to wash your hands...
When I used to do barracks inspections in the Army, stunt that always impressed them with your thoroughness as they nervously watched you, was to run your finger under the hidden part of the rim of the toilet and lick it with a thoughtful look and comment, (of course switching fingers).
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