Anti-bacterial? What if they want to live too?
November 11, 2011 10:38 AM Subscribe
Some products such as ball point pens are touted as being anti-bacterial or as having an anti-bacterial coating. How is this possible? How long does it last? Is it really worth it?
If it really works, shouldn't they do that with toilet seats, steering wheels, keyboards, doorknobs, etc?
If it really works, shouldn't they do that with toilet seats, steering wheels, keyboards, doorknobs, etc?
Might be too obvious but: soap.
Also, I remember being told that newspaper was difficult for bacteria to live on. Might be something for Mythbusters to find out.
posted by trinity8-director at 10:55 AM on November 11, 2011
Also, I remember being told that newspaper was difficult for bacteria to live on. Might be something for Mythbusters to find out.
posted by trinity8-director at 10:55 AM on November 11, 2011
Often it is done with microscopic silver particles.
posted by kindall at 11:21 AM on November 11, 2011
posted by kindall at 11:21 AM on November 11, 2011
Best answer: Is it really worth it?
No. Unless you work as a field agent for the Center for Disease Control, the risk factor of ballpoint pens and other such mundane items as disease vectors is negligible in the first place. It's definitely not worth spending money on from an empirical standpoint, but from an emotional standpoint you'll have to weigh weather the amount of piece of mind it brings is worth knowing you're being exploited by companies who are praying on your fear.
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:28 AM on November 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
No. Unless you work as a field agent for the Center for Disease Control, the risk factor of ballpoint pens and other such mundane items as disease vectors is negligible in the first place. It's definitely not worth spending money on from an empirical standpoint, but from an emotional standpoint you'll have to weigh weather the amount of piece of mind it brings is worth knowing you're being exploited by companies who are praying on your fear.
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:28 AM on November 11, 2011 [4 favorites]
Best answer: If it really works, shouldn't they do that with toilet seats, steering wheels, keyboards, doorknobs, etc?
Several telephone manufacturers are using antibacterial coatings for the telephones. Because of the cost, it's generally limited towards the types of phones that are likely to be used by several people, such as hotel phones, lobby phones, courtesy phones. There hasn't been much of a push to put the coatings on home or office phones. Lifespan for the coatings is rated for around 5 years.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:58 AM on November 11, 2011
Several telephone manufacturers are using antibacterial coatings for the telephones. Because of the cost, it's generally limited towards the types of phones that are likely to be used by several people, such as hotel phones, lobby phones, courtesy phones. There hasn't been much of a push to put the coatings on home or office phones. Lifespan for the coatings is rated for around 5 years.
posted by Mister Fabulous at 11:58 AM on November 11, 2011
Microban and AgIon are the two largest silver-based antimicrobial product and substrate producers. kindall is right, it is done with microscopic silver ions. It is not very expensive for most products; a Microban-coated mousepad is around $5 on Amazon. This technology is also used in things like ice dispensers.
posted by speedgraphic at 2:28 PM on November 11, 2011
posted by speedgraphic at 2:28 PM on November 11, 2011
Response by poster: Thanks for the replies. All good info.
trinity8-director A point of trivia related to your answer: I remember many years ago seeing a movie in which a baby was born in a moving car. The police guy in the movie advised them to wrap the baby in a newspaper's inner pages as it was considered sterile.
posted by Drasher at 4:38 PM on November 11, 2011
trinity8-director A point of trivia related to your answer: I remember many years ago seeing a movie in which a baby was born in a moving car. The police guy in the movie advised them to wrap the baby in a newspaper's inner pages as it was considered sterile.
posted by Drasher at 4:38 PM on November 11, 2011
aw, geez. I got two homophones wrong in that post. Should be "peace of mind" and "preying on your fear". fucking office job just turns my brain to jelly.
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:17 AM on November 12, 2011
posted by Jon_Evil at 7:17 AM on November 12, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by infinitewindow at 10:51 AM on November 11, 2011