11 Things I've Learned Having A Germaphobic Friend
Start writing a post
Health and Wellness

11 Things I've Learned Having A Germaphobic Friend

"Clorox is a woman's best friend"

1359
11 Things I've Learned Having A Germaphobic Friend
pexels

The sub-headline of this article is a direct quote from one of my friends. Most of us have that one friend. The one that doesn't participate in certain "icky" or "gross" activities. The one that despite it being college and that means you're living in close proximity with people and germs are a thing, they continue to freak out over things like sharing food or drinks. They're a germaphobe and that makes life just a little bit intense sometimes- especially when you take their Nutella without asking (more on that later). One of my best friends in college is a germaphobe and it has made life both interesting and puzzling at times.

So here are 11 things I've learned while having a germaphobe as a friend

1. DO NOT SHARE FOOD

This is an important one. Germaphobes do not like sharing food under almost an circumstance. If nobody else touches it, then it should be fine. Otherwise, do not expect your friend to join in- or let them have the first bite and then call it a day.

2.On the subject of food, no double dipping

We had an incident at some point in the year where I forgot my friend was a germaphobe. She had Nutella (my kryptonite) in her room and I had no Nutella so I was like "I'll casually take some of her Nutella." Her roommate, warned me that that might not be a good idea... Needless to say, I went in for one or two scoops of Nutella and when she came back, I inherited the whole jar because she was not happy.

3. Drinks are a solo venture

Similarly with food, drinks are off limits. If you need a sip of your germaphobic buddy's water, either hard core fountain it or you are out of luck. If you want to show your friend a new drink, let them have the first sip or two- cause otherwise they probably won't touch it.

4. Sharing vitamins is caring

The only edible thing you can expect your germaphobe friend to share with you should be vitamins. I'm 90% positive it's not because of a want to share as much as they're happy you're taking vitamins instead of eating something unhealthy and gross- like brownies.

5. If you're sick, get AWAY

Once or twice during the school year, I got sick. The normal place where our friends would hang out was in my germaphobe friend's room. Needless to say, whenever I was sick, I was not invited to hang out with the group. I was welcome to sit my sick self in the hallway, but I wasn't allowed in the room.

6. No feet... anywhere

Feet are apparently the ultimate carrier of disgusting germs. They do not go on the furniture. They do not go on the bed. And they absolutely do not touch anyone- even for a nice little love tap or to get someone's attention.

7. Get off the bed

In a college dorm, there is limited sitting space. Sometimes you're tired of sitting on the floor. In your mind, what's the big deal of sitting on the bed. That's what beds are made for, right? Maybe every other bed excluding your germaphobe friend's bed.

8. Hand Sanitizer is a necessity

Never fear, your friend will always always always have your back whenever you need hand sanitizer... and sometimes even when you don't. From experience, I'd say it's just better to accept the hand sanitizer- even if you feel like it's unnecessary.

9. When they ask if your washed your hands, it's code for "I love you"

-or sometimes it means "did you wash your hands". Occasionally, it means both.

10. You constantly hear "I need to clean"

And you will regularly be impressed by how often the bathroom is cleaned, how often she vacuums, and yet how somewhat disorganized everything is. But hey it's great to have a relatively clean room in college- especially if you accidentally leave your door open during open floor hours and are singing in the shower when your CFA walks in (and is promptly kicked out by your awesome best friend who saw the whole situation unfolding badly)- true story.

11. They're the one that gets sick the most- due to God's sense of humor

Nobody in our friend group was sick nearly as much as she was. Which was sad. But after the fact, absolutely hilarious, considering who's the germaphobe and all. Maybe the lack of germs she came into contact with seriously affected her ability to fight germs, or God was just getting a good chuckle in.

Meeting and learning from new people who have many different habits and quirks is all part of growing up and exploring the world. I love Fromke, however strange and quirky her germaphobe ways may be. While I think she might be a bit extreme, she does have a few valid points when it comes to cleanliness.

From Your Site Articles
Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

71243
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

133362
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments