FitSugar

Jo-Sha Yoga Mat Wipes: Keep Your Practice Clean

Michele Foley — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:00:10 PST

I'm a germaphobe - at least when it comes to yoga. I don't like loaning out my mat and won't borrow one unless I know that it's clean. Something about another person's sweat makes me squeamish. Recently, I found myself in a predicament: new yoga studio, no mat of my own, and community mats were not cleaned. Seeing the uncomfortable look on my face, a fellow student handed me a Jo-Sha yoga mat wipe ($13 for 50 wipes).

Jo-Sha wipes are packed in the same way that disposable makeup wipes are, which makes them really easy to travel with. I've used wipes in the past to clean my mat, but they always left a sticky film behind - not Jo-Sha wipes though. What is left behind is the faint smell of lavender that brings a little bit of aromatherapy to my practice.

Are You OK With Lending Out Your Yoga Mat?

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:30:04 PDT

Confession: I am a bad friend. This week when a good friend asked to borrow my yoga mat for her Bikram class, I guiltily said no. The idea of sharing something that is so important to me - and that I sweat profusely on - just didn't sit well. I think I was also a little grossed out by the idea of her using it in hot yoga without a towel. I know that yoga mats are easily cleaned, I guess I'm just squeamish about certain things. It's probably the same reason I'm weird about sharing bathing suits and razors. Days later I am still feeling guilty and wonder if I need to find a way to get over my germaphobic tendencies. Tell me . . .

Are You a Major Germaphobe Like Megan Fox?

FitSugar — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:30:28 PDT

In the June issue of Allure, Megan Fox cops to having obsessive-compulsive disorder, which has turned her into a major germaphobe - especially when it comes to public bathrooms and restaurant silverware.

"This is a sickness, I have an illness. Every time someone uses a bathroom and they flush, all the bacteria is shot into the air . . . Putting my mouth [on silverware] where a million other mouths have been, just knowing all the bacteria that you carry in your mouth? Ucch!"

I'm thinking that Megan must keep silverware on her at all times because in the same interview she said that she'd rather "starve to death" before cooking. I've heard of people who didn't like cooking, but Megan definitely takes the cake on this one.

Tell me . . .

Germaphobes: 5 More Things to Avoid

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

So I've already told you about five places and things that are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. As if that wasn't enough to gross you out and make you never want to touch anything again, here are five more.

Airplanes and flight attendants. They are exposed to thousands of people's germs each day, and it's a great way to catch a cold. Everything you touch from the seatbelt, to the armrests, to the bathroom faucets, can contain stuff you don't want in your body, so keep some of that antibacterial liquid in your carry-on bag and use it often.
Your bed. Yep, it's a haven for dust mites. They live in your sheets, comforter, and mattress, feed on your dead skin cells, and many people are allergic to their fecal matter and dead bodies. So wash your sheets and comforter often, and place an allergy cover on your mattress to prevent dust mites from getting in.
The lemon, lime, or orange wedge in your drink. This seems innocent enough, but in a 2007 study, 70 percent of the fruit slices tested at restaurants contained one or more of 25 different disease-causing microbes, including E. coli and fecal bacteria. So next time, just order plain water.

What else should you watch out for? To find out

Your contact lens case. In a 2007 study, 34 percent of lens cases tested had creepy germs such as Serratia and Staphylococcus aureus. These can cause an inflammatory eye disease called keratitis, which can damage your cornea and result in blindness. So be sure to rinse your case every day with hot water, and it's a good idea to buy a new case every three months.
Your shower curtain. I'm sure you've noticed that layer of nasty brownish soap scum on your vinyl curtain, and aside from looking gross, it's also a breeding ground for germs. Since vinyl shower curtains are a pain to scrub down and clean thoroughly, it's recommended to use a fabric shower curtain instead. That way you can pop it in the washing machine once a month and blast away the germs with soap and hot water.

Source

Germaphobes, Avoid These Five Things

FitSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:00:00 PDT

Germs definitely freak me out because I hate getting sick, especially in the Spring and Summer. If you feel the same way, then you may want to disinfect these five things, or avoid touching them altogether:

Your vacuum. Since you're sucking up germs, dirt, and other nasty things, vacuums aren't exactly clean. Actually, scientists found that 50 percent of vacuum brushes contained fecal bacteria and 13 percent had E. coli. All contained mold. Since the brush is so gross, to avoid contaminating clean surfaces, spray the brush with a disinfectant spray after you're done with it.
Your weightlifting gloves. Staph infections bind strongly to the polyester, which is often used to make gloves. It's best to ditch the gloves altogether, since not only will you avoid bacteria, but you'll also strengthen your grip.
Gym Equipment. If you belong to a gym, you might want to know that a 2006 study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found rhinoviruses (what cause colds) on 63 percent of the gym equipment at the fitness centers they tested. To avoid the germs, try not to touch your face, nose, or eyes while working out, and as soon as you're finished, wash your hands and face thoroughly to prevent getting sick.

What else contains tons of germs? To find out

The grocery cart and basket. Think of all the hands that grip those handles. Eww. A 2007 University of Arizona study discovered that two-thirds were contaminated with fecal bacteria. More eww. Definitely pack disinfectant wipes with you and wipe the handles down before touching.
The restaurant menu, doctor's office magazines, and other public reading material. You think these are ever cleaned? Since cold and flu viruses can survive up to 18 hours on a surface, there's a good chance those germs can get passed on to you. Don't let the menu touch your plate or silverware, and wash your hands thoroughly before your food comes. Remember that the bathroom door handle isn't the cleanest thing in the world, so when leaving the bathroom, open it while holding a clean paper towel.

Source

Any Germaphobes in the House?

GiggleSugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:00:00 PST

Clearly, this isn't for reals, but considering what all of the "legit" PSAs serve up, it's not too off the mark. The giant talking bar of soap pushes it over the edge, but everything else seems pretty accurate to me, especially the part about apples. An apple a day keeps the germs at play, but nachos are still safe, I'm sure . . .

What Kind of Germaphobe Are You?

Leta Shy — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:07:01 PDT

We all know germs can be bad news: they can spread illness and keep us from feeling at our best, and aren't to be taken lightly. But some people are more aware of those little microbes than others, including some celebrities. Are you a germaphobe or not? Find out your germaphobe personality by taking this quiz!

When is it appropriate to bring your own?

Unless it's beer, there's no need to BYO.

Manicure set at a nail salon - There are too many ways to get infections there.

Hairbrush at a hair salon - How many heads have those other ones touched?

Silverware at a restaurant - Too many mouths have been on that fork!

What's your opinion of public restrooms?

They're just like any bathroom.

Don't touch the toilet seat or the doors.

For emergencies only.

You'll never find me in one!

What's your rule for eating dropped food?

As long as it's not covered in mud, I'm game.

I go by the 3-second rule.

I'd throw it away.

I'd throw it away, wash my hands, and desanitize the area.

Shoes or no shoes in your house?

Keep 'em on!

They come off if they are incredibly dirty.

All shoes off at the door!

Hospital booties required.

To (hand)shake or not to shake?

Why handshake when you can hug!

I won't shake hands with someone who's sick.

I'll try to avoid it.

Never - I'm not a fan of touching strangers.

Quick Guide to Borrowing From Friends

Emily Co — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:30:18 PDT

One of the great ways to save your money and the environment is to buy used things, or rent, swap, and borrow items. Borrowing and swapping is probably my top two picks because you don't usually have to pay a cent if you don't have to factor in mailing fees. I know that asking your friend to loan you stuff is a little bit of a dicey situation, so here is a list of borrowing guidelines that I live by:

Well Used: I generally would borrow an item from a friend that she used more than a couple of times. I wouldn't ask for a brand-new item, because people tend to be more sensitive and possessive about newer items.
Borrow From a Borrower: If a pal has asked to borrow things from me, I know she'll be more open to loan me items, and I'd feel more comfortable reaching out to her.
Personality and Relationship: If my friend is a neat freak or a germ-a-phobe, I stay clear of her things. I feel more comfortable to borrow from close friends. They're also more likely to be direct with me.
Non-Essential: I don't want to inconvenience my friend and borrow something from her that she uses every day, so I only borrow items that she uses once in a while.
The Cost: I would stick to low-cost items or ones I can afford to replace, and they also have to be products that I can buy immediately in case an accident happens.

Although it really depends on each individual, the types of items I feel are OK to borrow include sports equipment, tools, reading material, DVDs, kitchenware, and clothes. What items do you borrow from your friends?

31 Days of Spring Cleaning: Clean Your Cell Phone

Kristy Korcz — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 11:32:47 PST

Neglecting to clean your cell phone is a nasty tech habit to break this year. Cell phones have been proven to carry bacteria, germs, even feces. Yes, feces. If there's one new routine to create for yourself this Spring, it's keeping that smartphone shiny and clean. Your health will thank you. Check out a few of our tech-friendly tips to clean that gadget, below.

Cleaning your touch screen smartphone is kind of like cleaning your LCD monitor - you don't want to use any harsh chemicals or, even more damaging, water. Using a tried-and-tested cleaner like iKlear ($21) will ensure you won't damage your phone's sensitive bits. Use the included microfiber cloth (or one of your own) and shine that baby up.
If you don't want to spring for a special formula, a 40/60 alcohol-to-water mixture on solid phone parts and keyboards should be OK for your devices (use a damp cloth and/or cotton swab for small and hard-to-reach places). However you do not want to use any sort of alcohol, ammonia, or harsh cleaning agent on touch screens.
If you're in a pinch and want to quickly rid your phone of dirty crevices and fingerprints, use a piece of Scotch Tape to peel away dirt and dust in between keys, and rid your phone of fingerprints. Perfect for when you're at the office (without a microfiber cloth), but unfortunately it won't help the germ situation.
Serious germaphobes can ensure a clean device with the UV Cell Phone Sanitizer ($50), which wipes your device clean of 99.9 percent of strep, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, and H1N1 viruses in three minutes flat. Just drop it in once a day for germ-free surfing and calling.

In the mood to refresh your tech life? Here's nine more bad tech habits to break this Spring!

Are You OK With Crowded Exercise Classes?

Leta Shy — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:06:58 PST

Recently, I took a crowded yoga class, where we all had to situate our mats close to each other to make room for everyone. The closeness meant we all had to be aware of our neighbors (especially during Sun Salutations), but the space issue didn't really bother me until we began a series of poses that required more lateral space, starting with Seated Straddle. That's when my extremely flexible neighbor plopped her lower left leg squarely onto my mat.

I'm not a complete germaphobe, but the idea of having a stranger's foot all over my mat grossed me out. I let the moment pass without saying anything, but afterward I wondered if other people would be as annoyed about having to share space in a crowded class, or I was making a big deal over nothing. After all, my neighbor was fine with it - she seemed completely oblivious to the fact that she was interfering with my personal practice!

I tend to avoid crowded classes since I like my space, but other people probably love the energy of a full class. What about you?