"keeping kids indoors hermetically sealed away from real dirt makes them sick. "

[Manifestor_of_Light]

31. Mom was well aware of germs.

Mom knew all about germs. We showered daily, washed clothes frequently, and we always had a dishwasher to sterilize the dishes. People who don't have dishwashers think that tap water gets hot enough to kill germs. It gets hot enough to burn you, but that's not hot enough to kill the germs. Dishwashers are a necessity if you want clean dishes. That's why they have a heating coil in the bottom.

A typical example from Arizona state regulations:

"Hot-water sanitizing -- through immersion (small parts, knives, etc.), spray (dishwashers), or circulating systems -- is commonly used. The time required is determined by the temperature of the water. Typical regulatory requirements (Food Code 1995) for use of hot water in dishwashing and utensil sanitizing applications specify: immersion for at least 30 sec. at 77°C (170°F) for manual operations; a final rinse temperature of 74°C (165°F) in single tank, single temperature machines and 82°C (180°F) for other machines. Many state regulations require a utensil surface temperature of 71°C (160°F) as measured by an irreversibly registering temperature indicator in ware washing machines."

Tap water only goes to 120 degrees.

The sheets were clean too. I washed my hands a lot, and the food was always clean. It's just that we had dust and clutter, everything blowing in the windows due to lack of air conditioning, and an 80 pound collie that slept on her own sofa.