Monday I got hit with a major sinus infection/flu bug combo.  I pretty much slept the day away on Tuesday, a rarity for me and usually a sure sign that I’m actually sicker than a dog.  Which, by the way, begs the question – how did that term ‘sicker than a dog’ come into play?  And the other term ‘healthy as a horse’ – are horses healthier than dogs?  Makes you wonder.

But I digress.

After sleeping the day away and feeling slightly better to where I could sort of squint at my too-bright computer screen and going over my list for my bi-monthly grocery shopping trip on Wednesday (that I was debating on putting off another day because of not feeling well), a headline on MSN caught my eye about shopping carts.  I always knew that shopping carts were rife with germs, but a signs of E. Coli found on 50-percent of shopping carts?   Scary.

When Princess Nagger was small enough to actually ride in the carts, I was semi-religious about bringing disinfectant wipes to wipe down the handles and seat to hopefully deter her from getting attacked by foreign germs.  I didn’t do that 100% of the time (since remembering to bring the wipes with me into the store was hit-and-miss at best).  Of the times I did forget, you could guarantee that two weeks later one or both of us would catch a cold.  Pretty much par for the course, since cold germs pretty much take two weeks to ‘incubate’.  Luckily I remembered more than I forgot about bringing wipes with me to keep the recurring cold mode down to a minimum.

Now that she’s in school and I get to do my marathon shopping solo (until summer where I’ll have to make sure I plan for an extra hour for her to peruse the toy section just for fun), I’ve been terrible at remembering to bring wipes to wipe down the handles of the cart to protect me.   When I did my bi-monthly grocery shopping two weeks earlier, I cringed when I noticed that the handle of the cart I had grabbed was sticky.  Gross.  Yet I forgot to put wipes in my car, and then forgot all about the stickiness once the shopping trip was done.  So when I got sick on Monday, I knew I pretty much did myself in.

I won’t be forgetting my disinfectant wipes in the future, you can bet on it.  I hate being sick, especially when I have foggy brain syndrome and am even more of a klutz than normal.  I don’t need that exacerbated by the foggy brain syndrome.  So my question for you this week is:

Do you wipe down shopping cart handles when you shop?

Have a great weekend!

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Happy Aloha Friday!

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From Kailani at An Island Life:
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So on Fridays let’s take it easy on posting, too. Ask a simple question…nothing that requires a lengthy response. It’s a great way to make new blogging friends!

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There are a lot of fabulous bloggers who are 40, so I’m participating in Follow Friday 40 and Over – please be sure to leave a link to your blog so I can come check out your site and follow you, too!

Fun Follow Friday

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I’m also joining in on “Stalk Hop Friday” hosted by Mrs. Marine and the Tiny Troops, Novel Bloggers, Two Peas in a Pie, and Aspergian Tales! This one is a little different from the usual, instead of just following on Google Friend Connect (GFC), you can pick and choose which way you want to stalk follow blogs. Be sure to leave a link in your comment so I can follow you back!

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47 Comments

  1. I use the dog phrase often but not the horse one. Maybe dogs just look really bad when they are sick.

    I think people go over board on wipes and such but the store we typically shop at has a dispenser of wipes by the entrance. I’ve used them on occasion. I went through half my life before I ever touch a wipe.

  2. I use on occasion too! I forget half of the time…duh! Sorry you picked up that sickness and hope you feel better soon!
    I know how you feel…I HATE being sick for sure!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

  3. I’m a total germophobe and hate being sick as well. Most stores here have wipes available for carts, but I usually bring one in anyway, plus I have hand sanitizer in my purse. I always have the kids with me and I make them wipe off their hands every time we leave a store. I’m a bit of a nut, lol.

  4. I never remember to clean the cart but it does always make me cringe thinking of how dirty it is!

    Thanks so much for joining us for Friendly Friday! Have a great weekend!

  5. I never think to but luckily I’m not a germaphob. Wouldn’t help, once our little one comes home from preschool, she probably has more germs and viruses on her than any shopping cart Lol!

  6. newest follower from the hop…LOVE your blog! Ewww those carts are super gross and YES, I wipe down but still feel that it didn’t quite do the job! Now that I know E.Coli is all over them, I’ll try and shop solo as MUCH as possible….soooo gross!

    I have a super cute giveaway going on, stop on by my blogs if you have time!

  7. New follower from hop.

    No! I usually do not take the time to wipe down the cart. But, I am thinking I really should do so. I put mittens on my toddler when it was cold so when he gripped the cart he was covered then I could just throw them in the washing machine after. I tried the shopping cart covers but they were a pain for me. Anyway, I need to remember the wipes.

    http://livingatthewhiteheadszoo.blogspot.com/

  8. Hi! I hope you feel better soon! I most definitely wipe down the shopping carts, but thankfully the stores i shop at provide the wipes for you right where you pick up your carts. So I bring the purex hand sanitizer that is hooked to my key chain for both my son and me. Its a life saver…cost 80 cents at Biglots.

    Anyway I am a new follower from the Social Parade and I’d love for you to follow back! Cute blog and love your blog title!

    Heather From and Mommy Only Has Two Hands! and Lynhea Designs

  9. Yes I wipe down the carts. I get very mad if they run out of whips. I am thinking that it may not be a bad idea to actually take the thin little disposable rubber gloves with you when you shop. Ever since the flu last season I have been on top of the germs!!!

  10. Most of the grocery stores in my area have wipes right by the carts so I always use those before shopping. I’ve become more lax lately though because I’m a bank teller and nothing is dirtier than money!

  11. I wipe the carts down 99.9% of the time. Most of the stores I shop provide wipes near the carts for you to use. For the times when the store doesn’t have them, I carry hand sanitizer in my purse and wipes in my car.

  12. My husband is borderline obsessive when it comes to wiping down the carts. I tend to forget, but I do have hand sanitizer in the car, so I guess that helps cancel out any germs picked up at the grocery…?

  13. I don’t remember to clean them off as often as I should, but do try to most of the time. And when my little guy was a baby I had that big cloth thing that went over the whole top of the cart.

    btw, i’m a big animal lover too. Although I just can’t warm up to reptiles. I’m terrified of snakes.

    Visiting from Follow Me Friday. Nice to “meet” you. And feel better! 🙂

  14. I hope you will feel better soon.
    It’s always hard when mom is sick because we don’t get a break.

    I used to wipe the carts down, but as the kids got older I stopped. I tried to ensure they didn’t have to eat while in the store and remind them often not to touch mouth or face etc.

    The moment we get back to the car, I use sanitizer on their hands and mine too!!!!

  15. No, I don’t wipe them down, but after reading this maybe I should start. I have the same as you I think, but when I get sick I get one thing at a time. First comes being icky, then a cough, then a nose I have to chase, body aches & then fever. Can you believe it. Guess that’s why I’m always sick for so long. Now, I’ve finally got rid of the cough for the most part, but I’ve had this terrible sinus headache & they hurt & the grosses part I’m always having to spit. You know I found out that if you don’t that junks goes in your lungs & that’s how you get pneumonia. So, orange juice & chicken soup. And wiping down carts. Have a great weekend.

  16. No I don’t – I should because it’s gross but the baby is always in the carrier and I never know where the other two are going to end up. We do wash with sanitizer when we leave or wash really good when we get home.

    I use sicker than a dog all the time. LOL!!

    Feel better.

  17. LOL, what a good read. Yes I certainly do try to clean shopping carts of all the funk that has got to be on them. Even with that, I find shopping a filthy undertaking. When I come home and wash my hands, they’re usually so dirty, it’s scary..

    thanks for being here. Loving your blog.

    Keri

  18. When the kids were babies we had one of those shopping cart seat covers — it was really cute and worked great.

    Nowadays I try to remember to disinfect my hands (and theirs if they are with me) but I don’t always remember. It helps that a lot of the stores now have germ stuff right by the carts!

  19. Wow! Our local grocery store has a large container of Clorox wipes right next to the area where they corral the carts. I guess I didn’t realize they don’t all do that!

  20. I have no idea how I ever lived without wipes. I should have invented them because I used to soak napkins in alcohol..before wipes. Darn I could have been a zillionaire. Oh well; shopping carts are serious phobia for me. I usually wipe and cover my hands with my sleeve.
    Thank you for stopping by i really appreciate your time!

  21. I saw that about the shopping carts too…it was a discussion at our dinner table one night…(great conversations we have around here…lol). Anyways, I use to be just like you wiping them down when the kids were little…now it’s just me and no I don’t. I should! 🙂

  22. if/when the store supplies wipes at the door near the carts, I DEFINITELY use them. I have a 2 yr old, so diapers & wipes are still in my bag regularly. I know those aren’t disinfecting, but its better than nothing. I do much better with carrying hand sanitizer, that is also thrown in my bag, & I use that the second I unload the cart!
    ps. LOTS of fecal bacteria on those carts too. aren’t kids great?! 🙂

  23. I inwardly cringe every time I touch shopping carts or put my little guy in them.
    Thanks for following & subscribing. I’m returning the favor.

  24. Hi Stacy, Thanks for stopping by my place…
    you know I went to Punta Cana once a couple of years ago…I went by myself for 4 days and it was lovely…I had been given a round trip ticket to anywhere as an award and my husband did not want to pay so…off I went…I even swam with the dolphins…Good choice! i am yur newest follower…

    Pinkim! TrulySimplyPink

  25. That is so gross about the ecoli! I almost always use wipes but I guess I’ll have to fix the almost part! LOL

    Thanks so much for stopping by! I’m following you back! 🙂

    Kim

  26. No, I do not wipe things down unless they are completely disgusting. Our natural immunity depends on being exposed to things. Don’t get me wrong, I do have wipes and things – but use them for times when it is more obvious.
    Beth would like you to read ..Memories of Bill Nye the Science GuyMy Profile

  27. Thanks so much for joining feed me friday and grabbing our button. I already follow on twitter but I now subscribe to your email. Hope you join us again next week!

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