Is it normal that i hate paper napkins and towels?

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6 Comments

Ever since I can remember, I've hated using paper napkins and towels. Something about them is just so profoundly gross to me and I don't want to touch them or even see them. I can use toilet paper, but only if it's immediately after it comes off the roll and then its gone, I can't sit there with a handful of it. I keep cloth handkerchiefs in my jacket so I never have to use a tissue. At an old workplace the break room was always a mess and had paper napkins strewn about so I would eat in the bathroom instead, it was that bad.
My friends and family make fun of me but i can't help it. My gf doesnt understand but when we eat at a restaurant they always take my napkin and put it under their plate so I don't have to see it. I can live with this but I want to know if anyone else has this aversion.

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Based on 10 votes (3 yes)
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Comments ( 6 )
  • MissWolf
    4 years ago

    Not sure what to say but I do got to say one thing.
    You got a sweet girl, even though she dont understand she wont tease you and she will hide the napkins? 👏 she cares for you

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  • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
    4 years ago

    i aint cleanin up the kitchen with the same nastyass rag every day

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    • Boojum
      4 years ago

      Sensible decision.

      I recalled reading years ago that sponges that live in kitchen sinks and cloth dishtowels contained the highest microbial counts of anywhere in a typical home (including the toilet seat) because the warm, damp conditions were ideal for bacterial growth, so I just Googled this.

      Below is a link to a study of the bacteria present on 82 cloth handtowels from households in five North American cities. The researchers found that faecal coliform bacteria were on 89% of the towels and E. coli on 25%.

      The fact is that washing alone is not really enough to remove bacteria from skin, because they tend to stick at a molecular level. The abrasive action of towels is responsible for removing a lot of the bacteria, and they're then obviously left behind on the (apparently clean but damp) towel.

      If the OP wants to use cloth snot-rags and incubate in his pocket cultures of whatever bacteria happen to be living in his nose, that's his choice, but I hope I never have to shake his hand.

      https://www.foodprotection.org/files/food-protection-trends/Sep-Oct-14-Gerba.pdf

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      • Anonymous Post Author
        4 years ago

        I do swap out handkerchiefs, usually every day. I understand many people dont want to use things with bacteria lingering on them, but for me it's better than the alternative.

        (btw im she, not he)

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      • donteatstuffoffthesidewalk
        4 years ago

        i dont use sponges neither

        i got a dishsoap dispensin oxo goodgrips dishwarshin brush

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  • LifeIsWhatever
    4 years ago

    I'm trying not to sound rude (really I am) but you sound picky...

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