Jason was over one night and I was getting ready to clean the cat box and I put on a pair of rubber gloves. He laughed and said “what are you doing?” So I told him I was doing litter. He thought my rubber gloves were hilarious. I told him I use them all the time. Sometimes upwards from 5 pairs a day. He looked at me like I had three heads and told me I was nuts!! I should note that I cared less.
I know I probably do carry it to the extreme but I find these gloves mighty useful though I have often thought of the waste. I do recycle them however.
I use these things for many things. First on the list would be when cleaning the bathroom. Understandable right? Cat litter understandable too. But I use these things when I do the dishes. Not so much in the summer months but my skin gets so dry in the winter that I have to. I also use them a lot when handling meat. Chicken especially. I also use them when I fill my bird feeders. I mean I have more than 20 feeders and also have a lot of suet ones and that stuff gets gross.
But he made me feel I was crazy. I will admit I’m not the type to see Oprahs’ show on bed bugs or those “type” shows. I obsess HUGELY somewhat over things like that. Ask my brother. I made a cross country trip with him last year and was armed in each and every hotel room with my rubber gloves and Clorox wipes. I know normal germs are necessary and I don’t use them all the time but for messy, dirty or really gross things, why not?
I hate the other rubber gloves that are reusable. They don’t stay on and are very hot. Besides, then I have to wash them. That’s the point of these, use them, toss them. Do you find anything wrong with this or do you do the same? Any compulsions anyone??
Us Girls..Our Views 
Well, personally I’m a little OCD about chemicals and plastics – which would include rubber gloves. I’d be wondering about all those particles getting under my skin or into my food. I have read that some folks develop a horrible allergy to all plastics as a result of using rubber gloves. Personally, I never use them at all. So, here you have the opposite extreme!
I am weird about many things, and I know it. I have to be sitting in a certain spot or I can’t enjoy my food. All the cupboard doors have to be kept closed. I can’t stand unnecessary use of electricity, such as the light being on when the sun is coming through the window. I can’t abide the flourescent light in our kitchen. The only thing worse is CNN droning in the background. (Ugh! My skin is crawling now.) I won’t cook in a nonstick pot and I avoid using the nuker for most things. I am afraid to eat seafood unless I’m certain it’s been VERY recently harvested (alive). I could go on, of course, but I won’t. Funny thing is, I am very laid back about some things, and very picky about others.
Oh, and I used to be compulsive about having a certain morning routine – making my bed, stretching, spiritual and intellectual reading, etc., all to certain pleasant music. I insisted I could not function properly unless I was left alone to do my morning things for at least an hour a day.
Then I had kids. Need I say more?
I am with you on this one Joy, although I don’t have access to latex gloves I do tend not to go near anything really dirty and if it looks like major germs, sorry but I just can’t do it. I am squeeeeemish beyond words with some things.
I can understand using them for chemicals and the bathroom, but the cat litter and handling meat is just a little bit weird. I hardly ever wear gloves even when I probably should.
I think it is really smart to use gloves.. to protect the hands. In that way you have to wash the hands less wich is good since soap and water is not so good for the hands if you do it a lot. I developed a really bad hand eczema 4 years ago – probably mainly because I exposed my hands to much to water and different kinds of soap.. kind of regret that now.. I still have the eczema. The problem with gloves is that I’m also allergic to latex. And latex-free gloves cost at least ten times more than regular ones.
Like SKL said there can be horrible allergies caused by latex.. now I mean on the level somebody with latex allergy eat chicken that you touched with latex gloves – and gets a reaction that makes him need to go immediately to the emergency room.
I don’t use those latex ones, but sometimes the ones that look like this one ( http://www.medisave.co.uk/images/shermond_1275_polythene_gloves.jpg ) .
Among the crowd that I hang out with I am considered one of the most compulsive about germs just because I don’t touch shopping cart handles, escalator rails, door handles etc. with a finger grasp. I use a barrier whenever possible but often resort to elbows or my butt to back through a door!
Sorry if this is disappointing but I’m thinking yes to the OCD question!
Germs are a concern for many people nowadays; not something that I focus a great deal on, but then again, I like to take baths……. need I say more!!! I do many cleaning type things and never wear gloves, but Jamie prefers them whenever possible. Whatever suits you Joy!! V.
I call ‘quirk’ (but then I’m skeert of chickens.) ;0)
i dont think its weird for the cat liter at all.. thats gross.. I dont use rubber gloves often but I do when it comes to the kids or dh having a sore/wound/cut etc because i’m just a lil ocd about that.. The one thing i’m MAJOR ocd about is drinking after people.. My dh laughs at me because I refuse to drink after anyone.. especially my kids! I’ve seen what goes into their mouths.. Where they put their hands and then put those nasty little hands into their mouths.. If someone takes a drink of my drink they can have my drink or i’ll pour the entire thing out and get another.. I can’t help it.. I dont care how thirsty I am.. I can’t bring myself to drink after anyone..
I don’t use the gloves but I am thinking of getting a box of the latex free ones. I carry in my bag about three different kinds of anti bacterial products that I use after grocery shopping etc. I wash my hands a lot. I would definitely use them for the kitty litter and bathroom cleaning.
I love feeding the birds. You must get a ton of them with 20 feeders. I only have 3 and a suet feeder. I also hate using public bathrooms and would prefer going in the woods.
Who cares if it’s OCD. Whatever makes you comfortable is the way to go.
You have your quirks but we love you anyway. Maybe I should get some of those gloves so I don’t have to wash my hands so much. I’m a tad OCD about clutter. I hate it. Makes my mind go crazy. I’m looking around my house right now and see the newspaper has piled up, the laundry needs put away, and I have toys ALL over my living room floor. But it’s my birthday and I’M not cleaning it!
Oh Nikki, your such a rebel!!
I sometimes use gloves to clean the bathroom other than that never. I would say im compulsive about closing cupboard doors, Have you ever walked into an open one? Some germs are good for you c’mon stick those bare hands into the toilet, my cat drinks out of it he’s still alive. OK i’v never done it either.
LMAO!!! Yes I have walked into an open cupboard!!!Not cool!!
No, I don’t see anything wrong with wearing gloves for these tasks. Now, if you were to visit a friend’s home that was clean etc., and insisted on using your own bed linens etc., Id say there was an issue. I know several people like that. They travel with their own towels and bed linens and pillows. They think its gross to sleep on anyone else’s sheets even after being washed. Umm …. that goes too far.
I buy gloves like these by the case. I also have them that come go to the elbow! I won’t say what they’re used for. It’s kind of gross!!!
Anyway, I don’t think your nuts. To each their own and I have plenty of “quirks” (I like that word) that I’d just as soon not get into right now!! LOL!
Ha ha, Amber’s comment reminds me of a friend’s sister. She lives in India and if she is going to stay away from home, she brings her own toilet seat. I am serious! When she comes to the US to visit, her sister buys a new toilet seat and installs it when her sister arrives, to dissuade sis from packing a spare one in her international luggage! Talk about OCD!!
That is funny Amber, and SKL, I thought I was bad!! LOL!! That’s a new one. I do bring my own pillow wherever I’ll be sleeping but that’s no OCD, I just like my own.
I keep a single pair of latex gloves in the house if I’m working with chemicals that are harsh on the hands. I wear gardening gloves outside because I hate spending 30 minutes cleaning dirt out from under my nails when I’m done. Otherwise I don’t worry about germs. Germs help to keep you healthy. I clean my house when it needs it, I cook my food to the proper temperatures but otherwise I don’t worry much about it.
Maybe a little OCD, but really, the gloves are a smart idea!
SUE!!! Glad you said “little.”
We can understand for the litter, but the meat thing is weird!
I just hope it’s not anti-bacterial chemicals you use when cleaning everything! They wipe out all germs, and some you need to keep the immune system strong! You’re funny Joy, we love you anyways!
When Eric gets to cleaning, key word when, he gets very OCD! Perfectionist in the house…the sheets on the bed have to be perfectly flat and not wrinkled up for Eric, drives me crazy cuz I don’t care! lol