Filthy Habits
How Dirty Are You?
Provided by Glamour
Glamour polled nearly 1,000 women on everything from sitting on public toilets to rewearing dirty clothes, then sent the results to Billy Goldberg, M.D., and Mark Leyner, authors of "Let's Play Doctor." Here, find out which habits are unhealthy -- and which are filthy but fine.
Billy Goldberg, M.D., is a host of the weekly Sirius Satellite Radio show "Doctor Radio," and novelist Mark Leyner is writing a screenplay called Hurricane Jerry.
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How Dirty Are You?
Ever Wear Dirty Clothes? A full 85 percent of women have.
Says Penny, 32: "Isn't that what Febreze is for?" Yes -- just draw the line at underwear (which 52 percent of poll-takers have reworn). According to microbiologist Charles Gerba, Ph.D., there is roughly a tenth of a gram of fecal matter in worn undies; that translates to about 100 million E. coli bacteria, which, in ferreting through your laundry, may get on your hands. Then, if you rub your eyes or, God forbid, eat a sandwich, you could get sick. If you're a regular hamper digger, wash your hands after rooting around in there.
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Have You Ever Peed in the Shower? Almost 75 percent of poll-takers have.
Let's start with a few facts: Toilet flushing accounts for almost 27 percent of indoor water use in a home. The amount used per flush ranges from a gallon in eco-friendly models to a whopping seven in older types. Where are we going with this? We beseech you: Save water. Save the planet! Pee in the shower! OK, we won't insist. But it isn't really that gross. Unless you have an infection, urine is sterile and nontoxic. Proponents of "urine therapy" even believe it can help treat athlete's foot. Heck, Dr. Billy freely admits that he is a shameless shower squirter.
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Do You Follow the Five-Second Rule? More than 40 percent of women eat food that's fallen on the floor.
First, what floor are we talking about? There's a NASA Clean Room floor, and then there's the floor of a restroom in the Port Authority bus terminal near Times Square. But either way, the five-second rule -- which states that if you retrieve a morsel quickly enough, it's safe -- isn't exactly true. Researchers tossed food on grimy flooring and found that it was germy after just a few seconds. Since it takes very little bacteria to make you sick, it's a good idea to toss fallen food into the trash.
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Do You Go Barefoot at the Gym? 32 percent of women admitted doing it.
Sorry, going barefoot is not a good thing to do at the gym. Even if you're not worried about slipping on wet feet, you should be wary of the stuff found in sweaty, steamy places that can cause athlete's foot and plantar warts. If your feet (and the areas between your toes) remain moist, an infection can grow…and grow. So splurge on a pair of $1.99 drugstore flip-flops.
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Do You Brush Your Teeth Every Night? 43 percent of poll-takers said they don't.
Brushing before bed always seemed like a no-brainer to us. Skip it, and you're giving the germs in your mouth time to multiply, especially since the production of bacteria-killing saliva decreases when you sleep. All this can lead to cavities and gum disease -- and many studies suggest that the bacteria responsible for gum disease may also play a role in heart trouble. If that won't get you brushing, consider this: These nasty little germs emit gases called volatile sulfur compounds, which smell like a porta-potty.
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How Often Do You Shower? Almost a third of women said they don't lather up every day.
Grody? Depends on how much you sweat. Unhealthy? Nah. Stink-causing bacteria feast on sweat released by your apocrine glands, which are concentrated in areas like your armpits and groin. The longer these germs are allowed to grow, the smellier you get. They pose no health risk, but you may clear out a row at the multiplex.
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Do You Wash Up After Using the Bathroom? 24 percent of women don't do it every time.
"I'll scrub if I'm about to eat, but if I'm in and out real quick and don't pee on myself, why wash?" asks Alanna, 25. Here's why: When you wipe, your hand is awfully close to the source of stomach-churning E. coli. A little time at the sink will prevent those germs from finding their way into your mouth and causing you -- or a person you shake hands with -- some nasty gastrointestinal distress. Hand washing is the single most effective way to prevent the transmission of disease of almost any kind. So without question, wash up after using the bathroom. And do it right: According to a recent study involving a supposedly "unobtrusive" research-observer hiding in a toilet stall, 63 percent of women washed their hands after using the bathroom, but only 38 percent used soap (a must) and a measly 2 percent did it for 10 or more seconds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends 15 to 20 seconds. (Note: If you ever find someone sitting in a toilet stall with a clipboard, please demand her credentials.)
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Recent Comments
Queenforce 12:15:21 AM Jul 30 2009
My husband and I are the same way dark heart fairy. I have house clothes and then I have going out clothes. As far as dirty goes, I don't wear clothes from the laundry. Think about it for one moment. As adults how dirty do we really get. Most don't sweat thanks to AC and most dont' have jobs that require you to get down and dirty. So really, you aren't that dirty and I doubt your clothes are either. I don't automatically put my clothes in the laundry, I set them aside for later to wear. I do this for a few reasons, one cut down on laundry and water usage, 2 less laundering means less fading and wearing on the clothes, 3 i don't have that many clothes so i need to stretch them out. After about 2 maybe 3 wearing they go into the laundry. I have 4 growing kids and are forever growing out of clothes, shoes etc, so money is tight and kids need newer clothes more than I. Now the kids, I have them put their clothes in everyday, cus they are more active than I and get dirty. Underwear, u
CAVEWOMAN4 10:32:02 PM Jul 29 2009
Hey DacianLLC....maybe you should learn how to write and spell before you criticize anyone else!!
CAVEWOMAN4 10:31:01 PM Jul 29 2009
Hey DacianLLC....maybe you should learn how to write and spell before you criticize anyone else!!
smashedtoes 08:44:33 PM Jul 29 2009
(continued)wear dirty panties or not bathe, then fine. She' probably doesn't care that she smells like butt fish. humm.
DacianLLC 08:41:34 PM Jul 29 2009
O MY GOD, I CANT BELIVE THE WOMEN WOULD TALK ABOUT HOW DIRTY SHE IS.THE FIRST THING LADY HAS TO BE THE MOST CLEAN PERSON IN EVERYTHING UNDES ,CLOTHES WHATEVER. I NEVER HAVE DIRTY CLOTHES IN MY CLOSED, EVERYTHING IS CLEAN, I HAVE 3 KIDS ALL OF THEM ARE WEARING CLEAN CLOTHES EVERY DAY THEY DONT HAVE DIRTY STAFF IN THERE CLOSED NO WAY, I MAKE SHURE EVERY DAY THEY TAKE THERE CLOTHES TO BE WASHED. I SOW IN MY LIFE A ROOM MADE NEVER WASHED HER CLOTHES SHE WILL TROW IN THE FLOOR THEN THE NEXT DAY WILL PUT IT BACK, THESE IS NASTY FOR WOMEN . THEY SHUT BE IMBERESD. MY HUSBAND IS THE CLEANEST MEN I EVER MET, EVERY SINGLE DAY HE WILL SMELL FRESH LIKE SOAP I LOVE THAT. I HAVE NEWS FOR THE LADYS DONT BE LAZY IT IS YOUR BODY.
smashedtoes 08:40:42 PM Jul 29 2009
This is an old article. But I still get a kick out of the funny (and yes some crud comments) by some. The real truth is this.... some people are perfectly content being a slob. They could care less what people think or smell coming from them. Then there are people who do appreciate good hygiene (my self included) and despite the hysterics of germs, if they come from yourself, then you have nothing to be afraid of. Here's a true story: my child (age 16mths old) stuck a tooth brush into their diaper that they had just exploded in and then put it in their mouth! YUK right! Well, I called the Dr and was told as long as it was their own poop, that there is no danger of E-Coli. Except when, fecal matter is contaminating a food source or is on a highly transmited object, (ie door handle, grocery cart, etc) then it's an issue. Most people are not nasty! Well I hope at least not.. but if they are, just be sure to wash your hands before you eat anything. and if some 'chick' want's to
Darkheartedfairy 08:35:40 PM Jul 29 2009
nice klswim... i think you just made the world a better place! lmao
KIswim 08:12:12 PM Jul 29 2009
At least I tunrn mine inside out! or don"t wear underwear at all! Freeballin is great!
Darkheartedfairy 07:46:12 PM Jul 29 2009
lord knows i dont wear the same undies but i will wear some of my jeans and shirts twice.. sometimes i wear them just to go shopping and then come right home and get back in my jammies so they arent dirty. i will never however do the 5 second rule... lol i live in a house with a golden retriver and lord knows once it touches the floor here you are bound to have dog hair on it...lol !!!
