E.Coli on laundry (not for the highly-squeamish!)

[tolivac]

UV flashlight

I beleive it generates primarily LW-which the urine will flouresce under this-and some SW radiation.It was about $54.0 Its an interesting gadget.Carry it with me.I do wear glasses which can filter out the SW radiation.I just don't look directly into its beam.I would think the "micro-bubbler" washers would be too small to use for sheets-many hotels have a laundramat though-guess you could wash the sheets there for a peice of mind-what about the towels??Wonder where they have been.Probably "roundie-roundie" in that picture of a large FL washer in another entry.I too have been known to take some of my own bedding to hotels.Maybe it might give their housekeeping staff a message-And the Hotels should teach them how to load and use the laundry equipment.If that was used right shoudn't be a worry.Yes I wonder how many rats and mice-other critters populate and serve as unpaid "guests" in hotels.The UV light could tell-and you could even show the hotel staff!!Maybe THEY should have and use the UV lamps.
that really GROSS about the lady letting her baby pee into the drinking fountain-guess will have to shine the UV lamp on those too!!Makes you want to stay at HOME!People are sure disgusting these days.Need to show them those old "health" and "personal" care films in schools like what I used to have to watch.The kids on the counter sort of bothered me when I was at a restaurant-saw that and went to another.think the store staff should ask the mom to keep the kids on the floor.Its NOT her home!!Oh-on the UV lamps-you can get other types as well-some much less expensive than the Innova model.Its considered the better and more powerful lamp.Fishermen also use these lamps to "recharge" flourescent fishing lures.Sometimes you can find them in hunting and fishing supply stores.another place to try.

 

[tolivac]

Kiss your dog

Dogs and cats mouths are cleaner than a persons-their saliva has compounds in it that can kill germs-but the thought-of kissing the dog when he has licked his.....???Human mouths are real growth areas for nasties-in fact if your are bitten by another person the doctor will definetly give you shots.Human saliva doesn't have the germ killing agents dogs and cats do.Just food for thought.the nasties are why our teeth are subject to decay.

 

[tolivac]

Other UV lights

I also have some UV lamps from Ultraviolet Products-These were intended for minerology and prospectors nad "rockhounds" many types of mineral ores flouresce brightly under SW UV light. the lamps I have generate either. They also have filters on them to filter out the tubes visible light. these use quartz glass argon-mercury bulbs-look like minitature flourecscent bulbs but without phospors.These are very expensive-most of the cost goes into the filter. The LED lights are less expensive-they don't have filters on their bulbs. The flourecsecnce will still work-but not as clearly as the UV Products lamps. I have a propectors UV lamp that runs on two 6V lantern batteries. It also has a white light in it as well.A word of warning on the UV products lamps-since they generate SW radiation-they can burn eyes and skin-and with the filter--in a brigtely lit room you may not be able to see that the lamp is on unless you point it at an object that will flouresce.These lamps are usually sold from suppliers such as Edmund science,and any "Rockhound"Rock shop,or Lapidary shop in your area. The prospectors lamp will probably run about $300.Its good for those folks who are very serious about UV lighting.A footnote though-the LW lamps sold at novelty stores could be used to look for urine stains.They may have battery powered ones as well.They would use flouresecent style bulbs instead of LEDS-UV Leds are expensive.They are working on ones that can generate SW light.That would sure change the mineroloy and suntan industries-Imagine a booth with hundreds of UV leds!!instead of the UV bulbs.I did look up a website that sold UV suntanning machines-they had one that had over 30Kw of UV lamps-Skin cancer in a box!!

 

[jetcone]

Laundress

Laundress you used a very familiar term in your post yet it is not a usage I hear in the states! You said ;"anywho" for "anyhow"? Do you have lineage back to New Brunswick, Canada???

Jet

 

[fixerman]

Anywho

I don't think it is a Canadian expression. I hear this alot here in the states now. I don't know where it came from. Maybe someone else can enlighten us.

 

[pulsator-power]

Anywho

I'm thinking it's a midwest thing....We don't have a clue being in the Northeast some of these expressions. We wouldn't know what a persimmon festival is, much less what one looks like, maybe we would....Like, whoever heard of Big Red Soda. Not here!
Jerry

 

[launderess]

Sorry guys, far as I know both sides of my family hail from the South and Northeast. Can't recall where I picked up "anywho", just know it.

Launderess

 

[Designgeek]

I use the Canadian "eh?," I picked it up from a boyfriend in college years ago.

Tolivac, thanks for the infos on the UV lights. BTW, the "baby peeing in water fountain" item was about 1967 or so. Though today that kind of behavior probably still goes on.

I have never seen "evidence" of rodent troubles in decent hotels while on business travel. I wouldn't doubt there are otherwise-good hotels that have 'em. With Hanta virus nowadays, rodents are no longer a "cute" pest problem, they are potentially fatal.

Best solution I have seen is called the Rat Zapper. Electrocution trap. Humane (instant kill), clean (no *splat*), doesn't cause other rats/mice to get "trap shy" because they don't see/smell the results of "splat." Easy to empty, you don't touch the little buggers on their way out. Costs about $70 each if I recall correctly, but if you've got a serious rodent problem, it will clean them up in no time flat, and at far lower cost than calling an exterminator.

www.ratzapper.com, and no, I don't have a commercial interest in promoting it.

 

[retromom]

eeeuwwwwww......

When traveling...I usually bring a small spray can of lysol and spray everything that's touchable. The bedspreads get thrown into a pile in the corner. I never walk on the carpet barefooted (yuk). I worry about the pillows. I mean, do they ever change them or clean them? When I was younger, I answered the switchboard at a really great boutique hotel (can I mention also pricey). You wouldn't believe the stories...footprints on the walls and ceilings. So what are they doing with the pillows? >:0

 

[brisnat81]

Resistant Infections

Hi Designgeek,

The most troublesome infestation that I've had is Giardisis, It comes from feacal matter and usually is only contracted when visiting less than 1st world countries.

The number of cases in AU is rare, but it usually comes from Cow poop, which is then injested from dirt on improperly washed vegetables or water.

Giardisis is listed as a notifiable infection and its been found that I was one of 15 cases in Brisbane that year. So that rules out reticulated water. Essentially at some point I've eaten dirt. LOL

The other persistant one is Blastocyctis, it lives in most people's bowls in low numbers and causes few problems. The debate is still raging over whether it is a pathogen or not. The problem it has caused me, is that it keeps colonizing and I end up with 10's of thousands of PPM instead of hundreds of PPM.

With a regimented diet and a healthy lifestyle, I havent gotten rid of them, but its managable.

Sorry if I've been to specific for anyone

Nathan

 

[tolivac]

Mice,rats

so far I haven't had any rodent "visitors" this winter.Had one mouse last year and got him with a regular "snap" type trap.When I get off duty at my night work shift-I eat breakfast about 2:00A.One night while I was eating--that brazen mouse ran out and ate one of the Cheerios I dropped on the floor.So I baited the snap trap with a Cheerio-put it behind one of my Hi-Fi speakers.-then finished my breakfast-while I was eating-heard a muffled snap and saw a lone cheerio roll out from behind the speaker.The trap got him!.Haven't had anymore-that was last winter.where do you get the "Zapper" type traps?-Like the "electric" mousetrap idea-less messy.I was also looking for "Haveheart" style traps that catch the mouse and allow you to put him outside.Guess in the long run you have to do-em in.

 

[Designgeek]

Retromom: Hotel pillows... eeyow! Yes, a can of Lysol to bring along on business travel from now on. I wonder if Homeland Security allows those in checked baggage...? "But, Officer, do you have any *idea* how full of germs those hotel rooms are? They don't even wash the pillows! And my UV light thingie you asked about, that's for detecting pee stains on the sheets. Yes, it really is!" (Officer types into terminal: "Subject is not a security threat. Seems to be a clean-freak though," and says, "Okay, you can get on your plane now.")

Brisnat: Nope, that wasn't too explicit. Heck, the topic has a Squeamish Warning. I hardly travel, so I don't have to worry about catching all those cooties from Third World Water.

Say more about blastocystis, i.e. symptoms, severity and duration, etc. I am wondering if this isn't something that could be knocked out with simple measures that are being overlooked, e.g. a lengthy course of a specific antibiotic as works for treating chronic ulcers & reflux, or something of that nature.

Tolivac et. al., re. "Love them little mousies!"

Brave little bugger, that one was, to snarf a Cheerio with you still in the room. At least he has a war-story to tell to his pals in mouse-heaven.

Personally I'd prefer to use live-catch traps wherever possible. Last time I had a mouse was probably about a decade ago. I put out a live-catch trap and the next morning it was full of mouse. Took it outside, away from the house, opened the trap, and the little critter took off faster than a speeding bullet. Never came back, nor did his pals. He probably told them "don't go in there, they'll put you in jail overnight!" and that was enough to make 'em stay clear.

These days with Hanta virus, one can't be too careful. I suppose for the occasional mouse or two, live-catch is still viable. But if you end up with e.g. a whole nest in your garage or something, I have to think it's best to err on the side of caution & zap 'em. BTW, go to the www.ratzapper.com site and you can probably find someone who sells 'em in your area. At least it's humane.

Glue boards are so cruel they ought to be illegal; essentially the mouse ends up dying of dehydration or a heart attack from overt fear. As in war, it's one thing to do the necessary deed, it's another to engage in gratuitious cruelty.

 

[foraloysius]

Most of the time when I get a bad cold is when there is something going around. My clients probably take this with them into our office and the not so good venting system spreads it through the whole building I think. I never had problems while on holiday, my real problem seems to be the office.

 

[brisnat81]

Blastocyctis

The symptoms are frequent diorrhea, gas and bloating. Its been hanging around now for 2+ years.

I've been on that many courses 3months + at a time of different antibiotics and different combinations of antibiotics and it just keeps colonizing.

For some reason my body cant fight them off, most people if they get a colonization of blastocystis its gone withing a few weeks. Mine has ended up persistant.

 

[partycycle]

Preparation of Chinese food and sausage. I don't want to

Remember 7th grade health class? Common sense. Always wash our hands. Dry with a paper towel. B 4 touching our eyes, nose, face and mouth. I cannot recall the last time I had the “common cold and/or influenza”. Wash our hands thoroughly B 4 handling clean dishes. DW, when supplied with proper hot water temp, was better than hand washing. Hand washing dishes. Let dishes “air dry”. Do not dry with towels.

1968, Ace Hardware, Maytag 2 tub portable clothes washer.
I recall being surprised to discover, at that time, Ace Hardware selling this unique (avocado color) portable Maytag clothes washer. A small town in the mid west. 99% of the households had plumbed - in full size laundry machines.

Stuck on this portable Maytag clothes washer was an info label. Detailed information regarding what Launderess speaks of. How unsanitary a clothes washer can be. Not just machines in the Laundromat. But at home too. Further explanation regarding what to wash with what to yield best possible sanitation. And how to sanitize the clothes washer etc.

 

[Designgeek]

Foraloysius, yeah, the office, I agree. Another benefit of telecommuting: you don't share office-bugges. I'm in and out of clients' offices frequently, to tweak their telephones. I avoid holding the receivers in contact with my ears as well, and wash hands on the way out of each site. Haven't had a cold or flu in over a decade.

Brisnat, I have an idea; check this with your doctor. Take all the refined sugars and simple starches (e.g. sweets, white bread) out of your diet for a month or two. *AND* also avoid all sweetener-substitutes that have any resemblance to a sugar molecule (there are a few). Yeah I know that might be a pain in the butt, but less of one than diarrhoea.

Keep track of whether you have a recurrence during that time, compared to during an average month or two month period. I suspect the bugges are feeding on sugars your body isn't utilizing for some reason. Deprive them of their fuel source and they will die off to the point where your immune system can wipe them out. (I assume your immune system isn't compromised, is that correct?)

Partycycle, twin-tubs are still made (primarily in Asia). I just got one, more about which in another topic when I have time to post the details. Water efficiency similar to a front-loader, and saves 40 - 90% of the energy used to run a conventional dryer (clothes come out of the spinner nearly dry). Costs $250 new, which is about the same as inexpensive conventional TLs. Personally I think these are way cool; "best of both worlds," though with a few limitations. (And I still have the ol' Hotpoint conventional TL here as well.)

That 1968 Maytag twin tub might have had a built-in heater to get the water up to "sanitize" temperature. UK models, e.g. the legendary Hoovermatic and such, heated the water in the wash tub. For various reasons, I think these machines are about to make a big come-back.

 

[tolivac]

mouse catching

Don't like "glue board" traps either. found em at a radio sation I worked at and a mouse in one-was sqeakinbg no end-I managed to free him with needlenose pliers and release him outside-the sticky traps-I rounded em all up and threw them into the tower feild-my job was also to bush hog the tower feild-I took GREAT PLEASURE chopping those sticky traps to bits with the bush hog!!Don't know who ordered them-left a memo not to get anymore.Sadly the bush hog may have gotten some mice too-it did get a few snakes!!

 

[westytoploader]

Designgeek,

Cool that you purchased a twin-tub! Those are really fun machines and you can pretty much come up with your own cycle. I'm guessing yours is the Danby model, since it costs $250. Also, do you have the old Hotpoint or the "plastic" one?

Btw, the Maytag TT did not have a built-in heater. Its washtub was plastic and the heater would have probably melted it. I had an Avocado Maytag TT from the 1970's (made a video of it in action which I still have; unfortunately no pictures), and of course, making a "stupid teenager mistake", I got rid of it. I did save 99.9% of the parts though for use in another machine someday...

--Austin

 

[Cybrvanr]

colored underwear

Okay, this brings up an interesting subject...colored underwear! It's very popular today in both men and women's. Of course, novelty boxer shorts too! Now the issue is washing this underwear in very hot water and bleach to kill germs ends up fading the colors and designs rather quickly. An interesting dilemma for sure. Also, underwear today is being made out of all sorts of interesting new material that's not happy in hot water and vigerous agitation. For instance nylon, and silk. How do you all handle the new underwear types and styles when it comes to effectively washing it

 

[tolivac]

EGWW-don't think i would want to use silk or nylon underwear!would think that would get rather sweatty and unconfortable!

 

[launderess]

Since This Thread Has Drifted WAAAAAAAAAAAY Off Topic

Those traveling and staying in hotels, and even sleeping in their own beds have more to worry about than poorly laundered lines/rodents. Apparently bed bugs have made a major return to North America, especially hotel/motels.

According to reports several factors are to blame and the source of the "bugs" seems to be *sigh* travellers from Europe and other countries that bring the critters with them (in luggage, on their own person or luggage). The bed bugs arrive but do not leave when their transport does, and subsequent visitors to the infested room pick up and take the bed bugs with them.

The next source of infestation is persons "dumpster diving" and bringing home beds, bedding and other furniture that can harbour bed bugs.

Launderess

 

[fixerman]

Like dad used to tell me when putting me at bed. "Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite"

 

[launderess]

You were lucky, we had to say that little prayer which went "...and if I die before I wake....".

Just the last thought for a child to have on it's mind before going to bed! *LOL*

 

[kenmore1978]

mouse sticky traps

"Don't like "glue board" traps either. found em at a radio sation I worked at and a mouse in one-was sqeakinbg no end-I managed to free him with needlenose pliers and release him outside"

In the future, vegetable oil will free them from the sticky traps without any pain

 

[kenmore1978]

mouse sticky traps

"Don't like "glue board" traps either. found em at a radio sation I worked at and a mouse in one-was sqeakinbg no end-I managed to free him with needlenose pliers and release him outside"

In the future, vegetable oil will free them from the sticky traps without any pain

 

[tolivac]

mouse in the trap

The mouse was found a a remote-(very remote at that) transmitter site-no kitchen,no oils,just the tools in my toolbox and the tractor in the garage of the site-was even lucky to get the garage and tractor.The nearest store was several miles away-and I didn't know about the vegetable oil at the time-I saw that on another website-thought of the poor little mouse in the trap.Seems like transmitter sites --mice love them!!lots of warm places for them to build their homes!!when I entered the building-the squeaking he made made me think the transmitter blower bearings were going-he was squeaking that loudly.and transmitter blowers (50Kw AM) make LOTS of noise!