Help With the Fear of Microbes
The fear of microbes is also referred to as Microphobia. It is known as a constant, illogical fear of things that are so small that they are virtually invisible such as germs or microbes, sometimes both! It can be shown by people that excessively wash their hands, avoid social situations and contact with people or animals, and in many other ways. These are just some of the more common ways that the problem can be visible to others.
Just like any other phobia it is generally caused by a trauma of some sort that has been experienced by the individual that is afflicted with the condition. Some people may have had an illness during their younger years that left them isolated from other people. There are other things that can cause this as well, but this is one of the most common reasons. No matter what the cause is it leaves the person suffering from anxiety and emotional turmoil that can prove to be totally disruptive in their day to day life.
There are ways that a person can overcome their fear of microbes. There are websites all over the internet that over self help techniques that can be used. Support groups for people that suffer from this condition have been established and by joining one a person will realize that they are not alone in dealing with this problem.
In more extreme cases it may be necessary to use anti anxiety medications that are prescribed by your doctor. He/she may also recommend Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a form of treatment as well. No matter what is decided, just keep in mind that there is help out there for treating the fear of microbes effectively and safely. With some time and patience you can be relieved from this affliction.
Kitchen Cleanliness – Keep Your Kitchen Free of Nasty Microbes That Can Make You Sick!
Lately it seems as if the news is filled with horror stories of food-borne illnesses. We’re all familiar with the E. Coli that can lurk in undercooked meat, salmonella in chicken and now even spinach and peanuts are dangerous. These foods are common in our kitchens, and many others are possible carriers of harmful germs.
We can fight back by keeping a healthy kitchen. Food preparation surfaces and cooking utensils must be disinfected regularly to stop cross-contamination. Soap and water alone will not kill germs; they may only spread the germs around. Only a disinfectant can kill harmful bacteria and viruses that may be hiding in your food.
With these “best practices” for kitchen cleaning and maintenance we can prevent our families from getting sick.
1. Isolate potentially dangerous foods, such as raw meat, seafood and chicken, from other foods. Clean and disinfect all surfaces and utensils with which they came in contact before preparing another food. That includes your hands!
2. Clean cooking surfaces, counters, and tabletops with a disinfecting cleaner. Handy single-use disinfecting wipes are good to keep within reach.
3. Use a solution of bleach and water (1 tablespoon of bleach per gallon of water) to wash down refrigerators, freezers, and other appliances that come into contact with food. However, don’t use this on steel or aluminum surfaces. This diluted bleach solution can also be used to disinfect cutting boards, pots and pans, and cooking utensils.
4. Wooden cutting boards should first be washed in detergent, and then soaked for several minutes in a stronger bleach solution (3 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water.
5. If you use sponges, run them through the upper rack of the dishwasher. Or, better yet, replace them with disinfecting wipes to wipe down surfaces.
6. Use a multi-purpose spray cleaner to remove stains on walls, floors and cabinets.
7. If you have grouted kitchen tiles, use a bleach gel pen to remove grout stains.
“This article is brought to you by Gus Woltmann”.