Last time I was in Costco, they had this wand which purportedly will sanitize any surface. The set they were selling included a travel size version. Sure got me to thinking -- we've all seen the television stories about what lurks on surfaces in our hotel rooms.:eek:
Anyone using one of these?here is a link to a version sold on drugstore.com:
http://www.drugstore.com/qxp187953_333181_sespider/clean_wave/clean_wave_uv_c_sanitizing_wand.htm
gfunkdave
Feb 6, 09, 1:30 pm
Funny, all those "dirty" hotel rooms and we're all still alive.
This just seems like a waste of money to me. Your skin is designed to keep nasties out, and your immune system does the rest. Besides, are you going to wave this on every surface you touch? Do you know how many bacteria there are in a square inch of a given surface? A lot.
A few million years of evolution have made us quite able to cope with some bacteria.
BLI-Flyer
Feb 6, 09, 2:57 pm
Who needs another electrical appliance to pack and haul around?
Funny, all those "dirty" hotel rooms and we're all still alive.
It's like the obsession that many have with hand washing at every opportunity. Using the lav? Sure. But excessive hand washing may be detrimental, and particularly harmful in younger children. Interesting article:
Wash in Moderation
Dr. Ruebush, the “Why Dirt Is Good” author, does not suggest a return to filth, either. But she correctly points out that bacteria are everywhere: on us, in us and all around us. Most of these micro-organisms cause no problem, and many, like the ones that normally live in the digestive tract and produce life-sustaining nutrients, are essential to good health.
“The typical human probably harbors some 90 trillion microbes,” she wrote. “The very fact that you have so many microbes of so many different kinds is what keeps you healthy most of the time.”
Dr. Ruebush deplores the current fetish for the hundreds of antibacterial products that convey a false sense of security and may actually foster the development of antibiotic-resistant, disease-causing bacteria. Plain soap and water are all that are needed to become clean, she noted.
“I certainly recommend washing your hands after using the bathroom, before eating, after changing a diaper, before and after handling food,” and whenever they’re visibly soiled, she wrote. When no running water is available and cleaning hands is essential, she suggests an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Dr. Weinstock goes even further. “Children should be allowed to go barefoot in the dirt, play in the dirt, and not have to wash their hands when they come in to eat,” he said. He and Dr. Elliott pointed out that children who grow up on farms and are frequently exposed to worms and other organisms from farm animals are much less likely to develop allergies and autoimmune diseases.
Also helpful, he said, is to “let kids have two dogs and a cat,” which will expose them to intestinal worms that can promote a healthy immune system.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/27/health/27brod.html?em (requires subscription)
Cheers.