tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post1601055525816608091..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Are we too clean?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83874936386406574862014-01-09T09:51:36.384+10:002014-01-09T09:51:36.384+10:00I grew up in the late 40s and 50s and we played o...I grew up in the late 40s and 50s and we played outdoors in fields, climbed on rocks, and slid down hills in winter snow. My mother was a big proponent of "You have to eat a peck of dirt before you die". We were rarely sick and never went to the doctor except for yearly checkups. <br /><br />I think the media has made us very afraid of germs...so afraid that many people have no resistance any more. My cleaning products are vinegar based and homemade with no antibacterial products whatsoever.<br /><br />Thanks for this post.Jingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07357961722537445285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-64842822762003598752014-01-08T22:00:04.562+10:002014-01-08T22:00:04.562+10:00Agreed!
My mum is a nurse, and when I was little,...Agreed!<br /><br />My mum is a nurse, and when I was little, on days that I'd been out in the nature, playing, and had gotten dirty, she said "a little dirt is good for you" and I totally believe in that! I see more and more people suffering from skin conditions, allergies and intolerances, and I reckon some of the anti-bacterial products are to blame, not allowing our bodies to be introduced to certain bacteria and fight as possible. back, causing our immune system to grow stronger. <br />I try and not buy anti-bacterial products, but make sure that washing products are as natural as possible. JulesTheNorweegiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18232705655797385196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-21386003103358696442014-01-08T21:26:11.845+10:002014-01-08T21:26:11.845+10:00I brought home my new born son to an old leaky car...I brought home my new born son to an old leaky caravan where flying ants infestations often occurred. Caravan living was the order of the day till the house was built. While the house was being built there were piles of dirt and sand around the house. My bottom-shuffling son was always in the soil and his face was often covered in dirt. He had a ball - and ripped endless nappies tearing along on the ground. <br /><br />Bottom line: apart from winter colds, he's never been sick - never!! Must have been all that good dirt - hehe. Through My Kitchen Windowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17300798774076098054noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-56933558382857142692014-01-07T01:28:16.671+10:002014-01-07T01:28:16.671+10:00Hallelujah! My kids are 12 and 8, and I swear tha...Hallelujah! My kids are 12 and 8, and I swear that they are healthy *because* we didn't try to remove every germ from their lives. Clean, sure, but germ-free??? In addition to this, so many parents are running to the MD for antibiotics where it's not necessary for their kids, and also feeding them meats pumped up with antibiotics. Our poor kids' systems just can't learn how to fend off illness like that! Sorry for the soap box drama here, but it just amazes me how overly simplistic people try to make this...and, as usual, it's got a lot do to with the *profits* that chemical cleaning product manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies have to make from the fear of germs... anyway: thanks for addressing this. eeochttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06779964240236804405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-73290504456453241792014-01-06T22:24:20.137+10:002014-01-06T22:24:20.137+10:00I reckon every one of your readers will agree with...I reckon every one of your readers will agree with you on this, Rhonda, and many of us remember playing outside in the dust in summer and mud in winter, with our pet dogs, cats, chooks, mice, etc. I don't remember kids at school having asthma - only the occasional vomit!Gina E.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07532527261977368083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-50846887418501259362014-01-06T21:31:01.226+10:002014-01-06T21:31:01.226+10:00I understand. Not that I have ever been that I'...I understand. Not that I have ever been that I'll. I don't like touching handles, trolleys etc. friends say I'm a bit fussy, asking me what do I think will happen, but I can't help it.<br />I do believe too many anti bacterial cleansers aren't good, hot water & soap applied thoroughly should be enough.<br />By the way, been to Perth a couple of times. Loved it!<br />Best wishes,<br />Angela ( south England) UKAngelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514068136782167469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-29591886048657616992014-01-06T19:16:09.931+10:002014-01-06T19:16:09.931+10:00I change my dishcloths daily (mainly to stop them ...I change my dishcloths daily (mainly to stop them getting too grubby), they dry on top of the boiler overnight and are then put in the laundry bin. A few people I have converted to laundry gloop say they don't like it as there whites are no longer white so have gone back to powder even though they don't like that either. I have oxywash which I put in my whites if and only if it is necessary but really, I don't care if my whites are not whiter than white and I rarely buy whites anyway!Dchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02490191919855219024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-61988716111546188372014-01-06T17:47:09.512+10:002014-01-06T17:47:09.512+10:00I avoid any anti-bacterial cleaners- not only are ...I avoid any anti-bacterial cleaners- not only are they unnecessary, they may be contributing to the rise in drug-resistant bacterial infections.<br /><br />When antibiotics were first invented, bacteria were wiped out by them. As they are repeatedly exposed to the same drugs, the bacteria begin to adapt to withstand the attack. Bacteria now are constantly bombarded by low levels of non-specific anti bacterials, meaning they can 'bounce back' stronger than ever and making it harder to kill them when it's really needed. <br /><br />As well as kitchen sprays and hand wash, check your toothpaste for triclosan, an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent in most commercial toothpastes. Do we really need to be exposed to it twice a day?Hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05388175819512214533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-72633206035620439912014-01-06T17:07:07.685+10:002014-01-06T17:07:07.685+10:00What a timely and common sense post! There are hu...What a timely and common sense post! There are hundreds of bacteria on our skin that do valuable work, when we kill them we have all kinds of skin disorders, When we rid our environment of all germs we weaken our immune system - if you don't believe it ask parents whose kids have just started school! (they turn into little typhoid Mary's!) Clean but not attempting sterile is practical. Thanks for reminding us!Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18209722078916803400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-57940107677752669752014-01-06T16:18:23.575+10:002014-01-06T16:18:23.575+10:00Hi Rhonda, and Happy New Year to you and Hanno and...Hi Rhonda, and Happy New Year to you and Hanno and your whole family! <br /><br />I have to agree with you on this matter. I don't pay the extra money for anti-bacterial soaps for hand washing etc; I believe that if we just make a habit of washing properly with soapy water for longer than just a few seconds we eliminate all that can infect us. <br />I recently (early December) went to the doctor with my son in law and 2 1/2 month old grandson, he had gotten his first sniffle and was having a cough due to sinus drainage. I was super impressed with the young (but thorough) doctor that came in to see the baby. He told my son in law, that on average a child fights off one infection a month until about age 3 and that my grandson wasn't croupy, but that the drainage was creating the hoarseness we were hearing. He instructed us to only give the him small amounts of infant drops for pain to relieve discomfort-- and gave instructions for preparing and administering homemade saline solution to help break up the mucus and remove it from the baby. <br />Now, I wish I'd been given such great information when my children were babies. They were all born in the late 80's and early 90's ---when the 'anti-bacterial' movement was coming on strong! I'm positive my children receive more than ample amounts of antibiotics ...half of which, looking back were probably unnecessary. <br />...there is too much of a good thing, when it comes to germ warfare. :/ <br />PatPatricia @ 9th and Denverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04786692442689958889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-54427000600509316452014-01-06T15:22:56.407+10:002014-01-06T15:22:56.407+10:00I agree in principle with all you say, but I am ex...I agree in principle with all you say, but I am excessively pedantic with cleaning hands before touching anything I eat. 2 years ago I picked up an uncommon stomach illness, most likely from contact in public ie shopping trolley, door etc. I was extremly ill for 5 months and my weight went down to 45kg. This illness and weight loss also affected me emotionally and brought on anxeity. As a result of all this, I now find myself so much more concerned over cleanliness than I used to be, I guess I don't ever want to be that sick again. Logically I know that I'm unlikely to get that illness again but it's almost like self protection now. I hope one day to let the anxiety go and be able to relax more when it comes to germs.Leianihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06651088113108495463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-45170340541459292482014-01-06T12:58:11.460+10:002014-01-06T12:58:11.460+10:00You know, was just thinking the other day how sad ...You know, was just thinking the other day how sad it is that children aren't out much unless for organized sports and activities. When l grew up in the 80's newly fallen snow was full og childrens footsteps in just a few hours, now, the snow lies untouched. Trying to bring up my boys loving the outdoors. Pam Winkel's Crazy Ideashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17934679165455175289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68737885127263672512014-01-06T06:56:27.361+10:002014-01-06T06:56:27.361+10:00Happy new year Rhonda,
I do put a blob of bleach o...Happy new year Rhonda,<br />I do put a blob of bleach on my dish cloth daily, but I agree overdoing the cleaning isn't doing us any favours.<br />Looking forward to another year of posts.<br />Best wishes,<br />Angela (south England)Angelahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17514068136782167469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-26386710557973343102014-01-06T06:44:54.950+10:002014-01-06T06:44:54.950+10:00Oh Rhonda,
The saddest part of this post is how ...Oh Rhonda, <br /><br />The saddest part of this post is how children on average do not play outdoors as much. I loved outdoors and when raising my children now 18-24, outdoor time was an extension of indoor time. The kids loved it . In fact on the 25th of December the kids and all their special sweeties met at the house and we played a game of stickball. <br /><br />It seems that time with laughter, sunshine, a bit of dust and dirt made for a lovely day. I wonder how things will be down the road for say my great grandchildren? Will we come full circle and return to the outdoors? <br /><br />As to sterile environments inside the homes, I prefer clean and cozy. Living near the White Sands of New Mexico, I learned practically from the first day at our home, dust and sand coexist inside with us!<br /><br /><br />JenniferHumble wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02823200562312609670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-1081604221420958462014-01-06T06:37:25.237+10:002014-01-06T06:37:25.237+10:00Three cheers for common sense! :)Three cheers for common sense! :)Lisa Richardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00567160304529796810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-50420440331861537522014-01-06T05:05:06.719+10:002014-01-06T05:05:06.719+10:00How I agree with you! We are far too clean! & ...How I agree with you! We are far too clean! & I dread how much illness that is actually causing.Mad about Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02544300326099671122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-18849792063668318522014-01-06T04:40:49.228+10:002014-01-06T04:40:49.228+10:00We had stopped using antibacterial hand soap and b...We had stopped using antibacterial hand soap and bars of soap in the shower years ago because we were concerned that they were a gimmick, or possibly even harmful, and just recently the FDA here in the US announced that antibacterial soap manufacturers have to "prove" that their products work better than regular soap and water do for washing. I was so excited to see this, because it confirms what we already believed to be true about it. I would love to see it go away, or at least be used less widely.Jennifer Hayshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685253944514672324noreply@blogger.com