OCD?

I buy quite a lot of board books in charity shops, on library discard shelves, always give every page a good going over with either a wipe of a suitable spray. Just covers otherwise for children's books. Only wipe adult books if there's an obvious reason.
My mother never let me have public library books as a child. I now perhaps understand why. She contracted both scarlet fever and then diptheria around 1920.

No, I don't give it a thought. After all, when you're choosing the books from the shelves of the library or any shop, there are bound to be germs on them. Like most of us, I have good hand hygiene, so I think that's enough, really.

I always use antibacterial wipes on any library books, of course, you can only do the outside covers but better than nothing.It's not OCD just sensible.

I meant to type NOT OCD

I have never given it a passing thought - and certainly not prepared to encourage bug resistance by using antibacterial wipes. As my gran used to say "You have to meet a peck of dirt before you die."

I run the village library - I would be rather busy with the wipes if I were to do this!

I agree with Luckygirl. That never crossed my mind. Was brought up to share germs to help the immune system.

WhAt with toilet doors and love Barry books I am surprised I keep so well.

No! I don't wipe or wash library books.

I am sure spraying or wiping the books will not do them much good!

I doubt if one tomato seed stuck to a page will do you any harm.

How do you think the human race continues to expand in numbers?

Yes! I do think it is OCD.

Well you did ask!

I agree, it's way OTT!

Anybody remember the days when library books would have a sticker inside the cover, instructing the borrower to bake the books in the oven before returning them, if there was any communicable disease in the house?

Seems like a very long time ago now!

I always go over the covers with a dettol wipe, but it's daft really when you consider some of the interesting stains and splashes you often find inside!

I never gave it a thought. My mum never let us join the library because 'you never knew who had had the book before you'. Her cousin was the librarian!

I didn't think books could carry germs. Nothing harmful, anyway.

Thanks for all your replies. Seems it's not just me, thank goodness! I don't really do it to remove germs, it's to get rid of the sticky/grimy feel.

Yes Greyduster, I know just what you mean. Some marks make you turn the page quickly!

It's honestly never occurred to me . We touch all sorts of things that other people will have touched before us. If I sprayed/wiped library books I'd have to start wiping all the shop door handles, the bus grab handles, chip and pin readers, ATMs, the buttons at pelican crossings, lift buttons. The list is endless. So no, of course I don't wipe library books!

It's never crossed my mind either , somehow I've survived!

The only thing I don't much like coming across in a library book/second-hand book is a hair! Easily got rid of usually, but if I'm reading in bed...

So I conclude, slightly OCD, but I'm not the only one.

Oh Ana I have to agree there! There is just something about someone else's hair [yukemoticon]

Carrying that idea through you would have to wipe paper money as well....!

Luckygirl, my family has been getting it wrong! Our granny used to say, quoting her granny, 'You'll EAT a peck of dirt before you die!' Oh dear!

I have never given anything one that any thought at all! I suspect one either worries about bugs or one doesn't! I don't - never have!

Though I was slightly horrified when I was in a JL loo once and saw a very elegant lady turn on a tap and hold just the tips of her fingers under the water and sort of brush them with the tips of the other hand!

When I used to get library books I always wiped the outer covers with disinfectant. I used to do it to my children's library books too. It is OCD. Although, of course, it seems very necessary to me.

My daughter wouldn't dream of wiping her library books. She gets loads of colds. Possibly unrelated.

kitty it's the posh ones that are the worst. (Seriously)