Hygiene

So recently I completed my first Meme and one of the questions was how often you wash your sheets and how often you wash your hair. It got me thinking about hygiene and how different people have different comfort zones with hygiene.

I used to date a guy who would take two showers a day, one in the morning and one before bedtime. This confused me as how dirty could one get overnite sleeping in your bed alone!? But when I was a kid you either had to shower before bed or before breakfast. Okay as a high school-er we had a choice but before that it was always before bed ,, which thinking now was probably like 6pm which is when I now leave work which is just unfathomable!. So I grew up believing it was one or the other..

So it got me to thinking that everyone probably has their learned-comfort zones about hygiene..

Perhaps they are learned from their parents/guardians. Perhaps they are learned from being embarrassed by their peers. (ex. the college room mate who mocks you out for passing the '24 hr rule of showering'). Perhaps they are learned as a part of your occupation/job.

I personally have had copious amounts of Infectious Control training in my work in various medical and school locations. Its important to understand the need for proper hand-washing procedures and have a plan to maintain your workplace and areas you are in contact with clear of your bacteria, others bacteria, and that bacteria which is just passing through your body but is being combated by your immune system (which might not be combated as well in those immune-compromised patients, students coworkers etc)

So hand washing is of utmost importance for me both at home and at work. If I go play with my lil sisters most adorable puppy (Luna), I always wash my hands prior to eating. When I go visit my friends who have lil babies/toddlers I make a point to wash my hands before holding them or cuddling them (this is so hard cuz they are SOO cute!!).

I know when I am at work I am surrounded by more bacteria and I am more aware of my obsessive compulsive self and I sometimes wonder how that translates to my home and how it compares to others's homes. I also wonder how it will someday translate when I have little ones making messes and searching out the 'ick'!

So I wonder what your rules are.. what are the mores you have for personal hygenine and those around you.

Do you have a maximum days that if you do not shower you absolutely cannot stand yourself?

Do you have a maximum number of days that you will let your children go without a tub/shower? Do you have a maximum number of messes you will allow before they cannot be wiped down but instead need to be submerged?



How often is enough to brush your teeth and floss?
Is there a limit as to too much flossing?

How often do you use mouthwash? Is there a too much of that?

Do your OCD's about being messy get put on your children? Are your kids allowed to get messy or is the germ factor too much to allow this to happen?

If you eat an apple can that replace tooth-brushing? (I have heard this before)

Is it not tooth-brushing if there is not toothpaste?