I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I like things clean and I have a particular bathroom routine (obsessive compulsive). I'm hoping to get over this phobia somewhat during my first overseas trip ever in Thailand, including taking part in Songkran where I know the water won't be very clean. It is my goal to calm the constant worries in my mind.

But for now I would like to make sure after a day of adventure/getting dirty, I can have the comfort of my bathroom routine to look forward to and to get comfortably clean. I have a few questions about this in terms of the water.

I keep reading you can't drink the water. But what about washing my hands with it, then handling my prescription contacts for example? Or here in the morning I typically splash water at my eyes and rub out the little white gunk from the eyes. Should I avoid doing that in Thailand? Or perhaps using a rubbing alcohol wipe on my hands beforehand?

Same question for shaving... should I not run my razor in the tap water? Maybe fill a bowl with bottled water to dip my razor in instead?

Should I limit my face washing and shower time? Typically here I like 20 minute warm water showers.

Or am I just being overly paranoid, and only drinking the water is a no-no? I'm crossing my fingers that the shower water won't be brownish. But if it is, I'll just have to deal with it.

Thanks.

May I suggest forgetting Thailand and heading for somewhere like, oh, I don't know, Switzerland....?

May I suggest forgetting Thailand and heading for somewhere like, oh, I don't know, Switzerland....?

Nope.

When you take a shower the water is vaporized. I don't exactly remember the total area of your lungs but it is huge ! So you have this huge area of unprotected body in contact with contaminated vaporized water. Totally unsafe !

The proper way to take a shower in Thailand is to wear a protective suit as illustrated :

^

dont worry you have to die sometimes

Where can I rent one of those suits?

Thailand will fix your phobia or send you crazy. Good luck!

You are a 'germaphobe, and you are going to Thailand for a holiday? Yeah right.....

Water is fine for everything except drinking. Be careful when participating in songkran not to get water in your mouth. Never know where its come from. When in doubt, drink more beer. Does nothing re: contaminated water, but help you forget your worries...temporarily.

I'd go to Pattaya if I was you. Chiang Mai is just too dirty with the moat water and all the square faced people living there. I got pink eye three times there during Song Kran.

You will be fine especially if you participate in the Songkran celebrations,old 45 gallon chemical drums filled with ice cold pond water,what more could you ask for being a Germaphobe

At first glance I actually thought the OP didn't like Germans until I googled it.

Are you aware of hand sanitizing gels that hospitals and doctor clinics use? In the US, every single hospital room has to have that at every door of every room, and every employee is required to use it as they leave the room to protect themselves and other patients.

It's a very fast drying waterless gel that kills most microorganisms on contact, and leaves a protective barrier on the skin. I have a bottle of it on my kitchen counter in case I have guests who are ill. Then I use it after handling their dishes and glasses, etc.

One brand is PURELL Hygienic Hand Rub which is readily available at the supermarket for less than US$5.. It has a pump dispenser on it. No water or towels needed. Just wipe it on well and it's super fast drying and doesn't leave a noticeable film. That one bottle has lasted me for a couple of years because I rarely use it. I need a real reason, like a couple of kids with colds around.

If you're super "paranoid" you could probably shave with it. For sure you could rub your hands and butt with it.

I do some computer network service for some doctor and dentist clinics, and they make me use it every time I leave a room. I'm not paranoid, but I'm happy to use it when I leave a clinic that I know if full of sick people.

Link

Are you aware of hand sanitizing gels that hospitals and doctor clinics use? In the US, every single hospital room has to have that at every door of every room, and every employee is required to use it as they leave the room to protect themselves and other patients.

It's a very fast drying waterless gel that kills most microorganisms on contact, and leaves a protective barrier on the skin. I have a bottle of it on my kitchen counter in case I have guests who are ill. Then I use it after handling their dishes and glasses, etc.

One brand is PURELL Hygienic Hand Rub which is readily available at the supermarket for less than US$5.. It has a pump dispenser on it. No water or towels needed. Just wipe it on well and it's super fast drying and doesn't leave a noticeable film. That one bottle has lasted me for a couple of years because I rarely use it. I need a real reason, like a couple of kids with colds around.

If you're super "paranoid" you could probably shave with it. For sure you could rub your hands and butt with it.

I do some computer network service for some doctor and dentist clinics, and they make me use it every time I leave a room. I'm not paranoid, but I'm happy to use it when I leave a clinic that I know if full of sick people.

Link

But they throw the moat water in your eyes!

At first glance I actually thought the OP didn't like Germans until I googled it.

Funnily enough, so did I, I was expecting a thread about not liking towels on sun-loungers.

At first glance I actually thought the OP didn't like Germans until I googled it.

Funnily enough, so did I, I was expecting a thread about not liking towels on sun-loungers.

The Russians have now taken to this annoying habit. Are Russian holidaymakers the new Germans?

May I suggest forgetting Thailand and heading for somewhere like, oh, I don't know, Switzerland....?

Better then Germ-many.

It's been a long day.

May I suggest forgetting Thailand and heading for somewhere like, oh, I don't know, Switzerland....?

Better then Germ-many.

It's been a long day.

I hear Hambug is a very clean place to visit.

My day has been long too.

I'll get my coat....

Are you aware of hand sanitizing gels that hospitals and doctor clinics use? In the US, every single hospital room has to have that at every door of every room, and every employee is required to use it as they leave the room to protect themselves and other patients.

It's a very fast drying waterless gel that kills most microorganisms on contact, and leaves a protective barrier on the skin. I have a bottle of it on my kitchen counter in case I have guests who are ill. Then I use it after handling their dishes and glasses, etc.

One brand is PURELL Hygienic Hand Rub which is readily available at the supermarket for less than US$5.. It has a pump dispenser on it. No water or towels needed. Just wipe it on well and it's super fast drying and doesn't leave a noticeable film. That one bottle has lasted me for a couple of years because I rarely use it. I need a real reason, like a couple of kids with colds around.

If you're super "paranoid" you could probably shave with it. For sure you could rub your hands and butt with it.

I do some computer network service for some doctor and dentist clinics, and they make me use it every time I leave a room. I'm not paranoid, but I'm happy to use it when I leave a clinic that I know if full of sick people.

Link

But they throw the moat water in your eyes!

Yeah, it's a party, you know. There are plenty of eye disinfectants you can carry in your pocket. Many of them came about for contact lens wearers, but there are others. I'd have a bottle of that too. Actually, many use saline solution which the eyes tolerate well, but there are others too.

I you were serious about getting pink eye, I would be using something.

If you are planning on travelling be aware that the majority of bus station toilet facilities are filthy.

If you end up with a runny tummy and have to use these facilities, you will probably go totally insane if you are a germophobe.

And note, first trip to Thailand you are almost guaranteed to get the trots at some time.

I am relieved to read that Germaphobe has nothing to do with not liking Germans.

Water is fine for everything except drinking. Be careful when participating in songkran not to get water in your mouth. Never know where its come from. When in doubt, drink more beer. Does nothing re: contaminated water, but help you forget your worries...temporarily.

I know someone who got a amoebia (spelling???) from taking shower, from breathing.

Another (myself) got an earinfection (the doc told he knows that infection very well, it comes from the shower water).

One thing is from Koh Samui and the other from Koh Samui or Krabi.

But 12-13 years ago it might has improved.

I have naturally oily skin, so I'm a breeding ground. When I'm in LOS, I use hand sanitizer on my hands, butt and feet after every shower, and on my hands and butt after taking a dump. I put a few drops of saline solution in my eyes and a hydrogen peroxide solution in my ears. Every time after a shower or eventually I get some infection.

I would also clean any cut with a disinfectant immediately. I don't do any of that in the US, but Thailand is already hot and sticky, and I'm a petri dish.

I don't think I'm paranoid. I actually get those infections if I don't disinfect.

I always get dysentery at least once so I go loaded with Imodium and see a pharmacist for an antibiotic.

Germaphobe in Thailand? God help you...

It will either cure you or make you go crazy!

The water is fine to wash in touch contacts afterwards. Just don't drink it.

I'm so screwed.

I'm so screwed.

That will be your next worry.

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

The actual quality of the water varies enormously from one location to the next, especially within Bangkok.

My neighbor teaches at Kasetsart and takes water samples from the tap to their lab and came back perfectly fine to drink nine months out of ten, and the worst it's been has been better than some samples from some delivered drinking water samples.

Since you've admitted to an irrational phobia, rest assured that all your specific concerns and questions are 100% phantasmagorical.

I think most people will confirm that once you've been here for a few years, the frequency of "Bangkok Belly" incidents greatly reduces - I think a result of our immune systems getting stronger. In fact many people believe the huge increase of auto-immune related issues in the developed West often blamed on man-made pollutants are in fact due to over-sanitation and modern medical practices messing with the millions of species living inside us that are in fact allowing us to survive.

So here's your mantra - germs are good for me! Repeat obsessively and compulsively all day long.

And Google 'Probiotics'.

If you read about a young Canadian having a nervous breakdown and/or walking around in a bubble - you'll know who it is.

I also have social anxiety (don't like crowds) and I don't like the heat.

But you only live once, screw it.

Really!? It's hot, its crowded, its dirty, and you smell some god aweful odors coming from the storms drains. And don't forget to watch out for rats bigger than a small dog. Get a nice hotel, watch songkran from afar and order ensuite services for all your needs.