health inspectors

Thank goodness for them. We need more.

simplehuman

Modern living, the right way. 

bridesmaid

Being a bridesmaid means a lot of different things but the one that stands out the most to me is my assumption that the make up artist uses the same makeup brushes and make up on everyone. I hope not but I'll bring my own stuff to play it safe.

shabu restaurant - no place for the germ aware?

Shabu restaurants need signs to remind people not to dig their chopsticks into the pot of shared food.

public events

When I'm at big public events I am reminded of all the things that could possibly happen, such as enjoying my seat at a basketball game until someone with extremely bad b.o. sits next to me. The worst part was when he lifted up his arms... I nearly passed out. Then the smells from another person in front floated up to my seat. He definitely hadn't showered in days. He was a mixture of heavy cologne, unwashed hair and poor hygiene. I couldn't take it. 

today's observation

I observed the chef to touch her face with her hands a lot while I placed my order. I hate when I catch chefs/food service workers doing that. This chef probably doesn't even know what she has done and won't wash her hands before she prepares my food. Blah.

found hair in deli pasta

I was ready to enjoy some pesto pasta but the first forkful ruined it for me. A long strand of hair was entwined within the pasta. I know for a fact the hair wasn't mine. See for yourself in the photo. Why does this have to happen to me? In the words of the wise, "At least it's straight hair." Somehow I'm not comforted by that thought.

spider roll

While I was eating lunch, I saw a little white spider dance across my plate. I don't know whether or not the spider walked out of my sushi (no, it was not supposed to be the spider roll), or if the spider fell from the tree above the patio. He died a swift death.

cold sores

What's worse than a cold sore? A person with a cold sore digging into community food with his/her personal chopsticks. You just can't make this stuff up.

nose pickers

I felt so welcomed as I walked through the doors into a clothing store where I was greeted by a security guard who was deep into picking his nose.

the dirty art of sandwich making

I hate going to sandwich places where the sandwich makers don't wear gloves. I guess that's one more place I can't get sandwiches from. I'm glad someone else handled the money though. I have a very nauseous reaction when I see the sandwich maker handling money and sandwiches with bare hands. A law must be passed. Write your local congressperson.

bowling tips

Buy your own ball and shoes.

If that is not an option, then bring a change of socks so that you don't end up wearing home the socks that have had contact with dirty bowling shoes.

unwanted guests

Unwanted guests are bad, especially in my cup of water. Hope he learned his lesson.

bread

Have you ever purchased those loaves of artisan bread in open bags from grocery stores or bakeries? I can't bring myself to eat the ones from the grocery stores. They're open and not under any supervision. You have no idea who has touched then and how. I was told that some news segment said that the most common thing found in those bread bins at the end of the day are fake acrylic nails. Gag.

apple

How can people put their fruit on a dirty public table and then eat the fruit? I watched in horror as the table's bacteria crawled all over the apple that then went into her mouth.

sushi chef

Keeping my eyes on where the sushi chef puts his hands when he hugs his customers. I don't mean like if he's inappropriate or not but rather, is he touching something and should wash his hands. So far so good. Appropriate distance from touching anything with his hands.

socks

While I was at a training, I noticed someone in attendance walking around with only socks but no shoes. I thought that was a bit strange until someone pointed out that he was walking around everywhere, including the public restroom with only his socks. I am grateful he kept his socks on though. I don't want to see his bare feet. A photo would have delineated this so much better. Unfortunately my phone makes a very loud sound when I take photos.

spaghetti with a side of bug

Finding a bug or non food item in your food is always disgusting, no matter how big or small. My poor friend was traumatized when she found a "huge bug" in her baked spaghetti today. She described the bug as one with "eyes staring at me and wings soaked in the sauce." Great image. Glad it wasn't me.

feet and food

When I think about food, I don't want to have images of feet but that's what I see every time I pass these two stores that are next to each other: one a restaurant and one a place for feet... stuff. Reminds me of the time I witnessed someone massage her feet right before grabbing shared potluck food with her hands.

tomatoes

This is very unappetizing.

cat

My cat wakes up in the middle of sleeping to clean himself. Then goes right back to his nap after. Atta boy.

yoga

I went to a yoga class where the instructor had us use a small ball on our feet. A ball I'm sure was used by many other students. I suppose I could've refused to touch the ball. Let's never speak of this again.

wontons

I will never eat wontons again. I don't like how they are prepared/wrapped on a restaurant table without any tablecloth or anything to protect the wonton from all the disgusting sprays and bacteria on the table. I don't care that it gets boiled or fried. I just can't shake that preparation image.

flies

I don't like flies. I don't like watching them crawl on people, especially when I'm trying to eat. Damn, one just landed on me.

kids at school

I'm really glad to know that some schools have their young students wash their hands before snack or meal time. Way to go, schools!

batting cages

I really enjoy batting cages except when helmets are required. I suppose I could purchase my own helmet but I don't go often enough to want to keep a helmet around the house. The thought of having to wear the lice-infested public helmet is enough to suck the joy out of fun with batting cages. Note to self: bring three shower caps. Even then, I don't know if I'll be protected against the filth in those helmets.

fumigating my appetite

Dear Restaurant Staff:

The smell of toxic cleaning products while you mop down the kitchen floor does not enhance the flavor of the food I am trying to enjoy. If your intention is to get patrons to finish their food quickly so that you may close for the night then you have succeeded. This intervention is highly effective. However, I do appreciate you cleaning your floors and hope you don't get any on the kitchen counter or in food.

Sincerely,
Germ Rambler

swiffer

Everytime I use the Swiffer I think the same thing: greatest invention ever.

when dishes break

This one isn't about germs. I was out eating dinner and heard dishes break in the restaurant's kitchen. It dawned on me that the pieces could potentially fly into food that is lying around.

theme park observation #2

There are many violations in theme parks. I try to turn off the spidey sense of germ awareness but sometimes blatant acts are too difficult to ignore. 3D glasses. I imagine these things are crawling with bacteria and then we proceed to put them onto our faces. I tried to push these thoughts aside until I observed a man in front of me cough into his hands as he put on his 3D glasses.

theme park observation

People don't need to step on the seats as they exit the ride yet they do and spread more disgusting bacteria onto my seat. It's like if they rubbed their feet on my butt... not a pleasant thought.

tongs

This is not the first time I've spotted tongs in a public restroom. Not sure what they use this one for but I sure hope it doesn't find its way into the kitchen.

public hand sanitizers

I approve. These are popping up every where. The state is becoming so much more germ aware.

dining experience

Maybe it's just me but something feels ominous when the restaurant host takes a fly swatter to the table she's leading you to..

hotels

I leave hotel rooms cleaner than when I first walk into them.

bare feet in restaurant

I was enjoying my meal when I noticed that the girl sitting at the next table had taken off her sandals and propped her bare feet up on the chair. So the next time you sit down at a restaurant or any public seat, take a second to think about how many pairs of bare feet have transferred fungus to the chair that you are going to sit on and all the lovely organisms you will bring home. Just think about that.

another buffet violation

When I went to a salad bar buffet last week, I witnessed a woman touch a piece of bread then put it back in the buffet. I went to that salad bar buffet again but a different location. This time I witnessed a woman use her fingers to push food from the scooper onto her plate. What is wrong with people?!

I should stop eating there.. but I'll give it one more chance. Three strikes, and then no more for me.

paper towel dispenser

This is poorly designed. The trash is too close to the new towels. I don't want to wipe my hands on some contaminated towel!

drinks

I watched a waitress prepare a drink for a customer. She used her hands to push the ice into the glass.. I know this is very common practice but I still think it's disgusting. More reason to not drink at bars where bartenders handle money and touch your ice at the same time.

public restrooms

Public restrooms are already dirty enough but to see flies hovering over the toilet seat while you're in there just makes it that much worse.

buffet line violation

What makes someone think it is okay to touch food with their hands in the buffet line? Then use bare hands to put the piece back? See below for a photo of the violated piece of bread.

Buffet etiquette: don't use your bare hands to touch or put food back at the buffet.

Lesson of the day: if you don't like eating food that random strangers (not chefs) have touched then don't choose loose, separated pieces of food at a buffet.

midnight bugs

I despise bugs especially when they are buzzing around me and crawling on my head when I'm trying to sleep. I thought I felt something on my face. When I sat up, I saw a shadow of something black on my pillow. It went away before I could catch it. No amount of hair brushing helps me fall back asleep. Wide awake and creeped out!! I can't find it... this is why I show no mercy when it comes to bugs. I don't care if they eat other bugs. I don't want them around me.

candy dispensers

I can only imagine the types of bacteria crawling all over this dispenser. Think about all the different hands that reach into the bottom part to retrieve the candy. I don't think the part that holds the candy ever gets washed either.

my hair

I really don't like it when people touch my hair. I don't know where your hands have been. If you have to touch me, touch an appropriate part of me that is covered by clothing.

toilets

I'm always learning new ways to become more germ-aware. I'm appreciative of those who share their wisdom! Believe it or not, there are things I don't think of when it comes to germs and bacteria.

Today I learned that I should put down the toilet seat cover when I flush so that all the bacteria and other particles do not float/fly up to my bath and face towels.

the list

A complete guide for the germaphobe in you

I would like to thank whoever took the time to compile this informative list. I have so much to learn. The first thing I did was put my dish sponge in the microwave.

finger... foods

I'm never pleased when the wait staff's fingernail is digging into my ginger on a plate of sushi.

mcdonald's

Read an article recently involving the Golden Arches and its ball pit. A mom claims her son coughed out an used condom after playing in McDonald's ball pit. I've experienced some disgusting things in my food but I am so thankful that I never found used condoms in there. Read the article for yourself: ARTICLE

toe pull

Is this real? Whether it is or not, what a brilliant concept! I want to see these in bathrooms - TOE PULLS. Thank you to whoever posted it on 9gag.

good ol' starbucks

Click on the photo to enlarge the image. Thanks to E for sending me this photo, and thank you to Starbucks for teaching your employees the proper way to wash hands. Make a note of #6!