tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post1514773404600762910..comments2008-08-04T16:07:45.247+09:00Comments on My So-Called Japanese Life: Germ FactoryUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-45198854396805668872007-03-11T08:54:00.000+09:002007-03-11T08:54:00.000+09:00Microwaving the sponge seems to be more dangerous ...Microwaving the sponge seems to be more dangerous than I thought. ;-)<BR/><BR/>In the past, I've cooked it just after washing dishes. It's wrung out but not dry and the soap is still in it. The main problem I have with the soap you can get in Japan is that it's pretty anemic. That may or may not be enough to kill bacteria but I refuse to go on the "anti-bacterial" soap craze since I think that it's likely to breed stronger bacteria.<BR/><BR/>Thanks to both of you for all the advice!Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17419851636570519145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-78708861885418685962007-03-11T08:19:00.000+09:002007-03-11T08:19:00.000+09:00By the way, I just thought of another important po...By the way, I just thought of another important point about the microwave disinfecting issue. We heard that some people didn't understand that the material being disinfected should be wet when microwaved. <BR/><BR/>Apparently doing it dry can cause the material to ignite.<BR/><BR/>TitoAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01006875583024446769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-16446684327897019072007-03-10T20:22:00.000+09:002007-03-10T20:22:00.000+09:00Hi Shari, Hi Tito,Some bacteria form spores when c...Hi Shari, Hi Tito,<BR/>Some bacteria form spores when conditions change from good to bad, for example, when the sponge begins to dry out. The baceria respond by making a thicker outer wall to slow water loss and slowing down their respiration rate. Bacterial spores can be very hard to kill, so it is probably better to microwave your sponge while it is still wet than to allow it to dry. Also, detergents are great at killing bacteria so you might want to leave the detergent in the sponge rather than rinsing it out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-20301570980723150422007-03-10T16:27:00.000+09:002007-03-10T16:27:00.000+09:00Thanks for the information, Tito. You can bet I'll...Thanks for the information, Tito. You can bet I'll be taking it to heart!Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17419851636570519145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-62962273611311491742007-03-10T15:54:00.000+09:002007-03-10T15:54:00.000+09:00Hi Shari,The article about microwaving your sponge...Hi Shari,<BR/><BR/>The article about microwaving your sponges and washcloths that I read said 2 minutes on high for most bacteria, but 10 minutes to kill bacterial spores.<BR/><BR/>I have no idea what bacterial spores are but they sound deadly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-19376305627476982642007-03-10T12:22:00.000+09:002007-03-10T12:22:00.000+09:00Hi, Milton, and thanks very much for your comment....Hi, Milton, and thanks very much for your comment.<BR/><BR/>I think managers are only interested in avoiding extra hassle for themselves (like finding coverage for sick workers). <BR/><BR/>At my former company, the president held the notion that it was a failure on the part of the employee if he or she got sick. He expected people to work overtime which caused them not to be able to eat well or get enough sleep but felt they were irresponsible for not taking care of themselves. :-p<BR/><BR/>I wish companies would take a more realistic approach to illness and just accept that it's going to happen to everyone sometimes.Sharihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17419851636570519145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33409496.post-73478030074610624632007-03-10T11:57:00.000+09:002007-03-10T11:57:00.000+09:00Hi Shari,Your comment about people who insist on g...Hi Shari,<BR/>Your comment about people who insist on going to work when they are sick is to the point. The problem never seems to be with coworkers, they never seem to mind when you call in sick. The problem is that managers never seem to care when people come to work sick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com