What's your hand-washing music/recitation/other timer?

[petra]

How do you time yourself to make sure you're thorough lately? And if it's music, how do you get it out of your head when you're done?

Comments

[petra]

From a Wash Your Lyrics poster that gave multiple options, I went with Chicago:
He had it comin'
He had it comin'
He only had himself to blame
If you'da been there
If you'da seen it
I bet you you would have done the same
Pop, six, squish, uh-uh, Cicero, Lipschitz
Pop, six, squish, uh-uh, Cicero, Lipschitz

As for getting it out of my head when I'm done, it usually goes away of its own accord until I need it again. Sometimes it requires one or more of the recitations -- "And then he ran into my knife! He ran into my knife ten times!" before it will actually leave me alone.

[cynthia1960]

Cellblock Tango is awesome.

[petra]

Agreed!

[via_ostiense]

Oops, I did it again
I played with your heart, got lost in the game
Oh baby, baby
Oops, you think I'm in love
That I'm sent from above
I'm not that innocent

I have to really focus to remember the lyrics, so there's no earworm problem.

[petra]

That's one of those songs whose lyrics I never learned that gets stuck in my head regardless, so I'm impressed you can tame the dragon and only use it when you need it.

[jadelennox]

I just count in any language other than my first (usually, but not always, Hebrew); I've been doing that for several years. Counting in a second language (out loud, so I can work on my pronunciation, except when I'm trying ASL) keeps it from being boring.

My housemate says this is True Neutral on the handwashing alignment chart. 🤷‍♀️

[duskpeterson]

Oh! That's perfect! Because I'm getting bored of counting in English. I can count in Ancient Greek instead, because I already know the alphabet.

http://www.emersonkent.com/history_dictionary/numerals_and_numbers.htm#Greek_Numerals

[petra]

Enjoy your Ancient Greek!

[petra]

I have to agree with the True Neutral diagnosis. Whatever works for you is great, but it's the epitome of utilitarian.

[minoanmiss]

I've been singing the first verses of random hymns from my childhood, and/or reciting the Fear Mantra from Dune.

[petra]

Those both work!

[st_aurafina]

I told lilacsigil my theory that going outside with corona virus was like walking among lions, only the lions are teeny-tiny invisible. And now I sing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" when I wash my hands.

[petra]

Oo, I like that. Thematic and clever.

[hannah]

I use the Steven Universe theme.

[petra]

Empowering!

[daegaer]

I sing a modified Irish traditional song that started on Irish twitter and has spawned at least one hilariously disturbing video that landed on my phone from a dear friend, which repurposes it into a demand to stay the eff at home and wash one's effing hands :-)

This is the actual song

[petra]

I'm glad people are filking old favorites into new forms. My mother called me yesterday to sing me a filk whose chorus was "Stay the fuck at home."

[jesse_the_k]

Ontario pediatrician Nisha Thampi actually studied the efficacy of this variation on Frère Jacques,

Wash Your Hands, Brother John

Scrub your palms
Between the fingers
Wash the back (one hand)
Wash the back (other hand)
Twirl the tips (one hand)
Around (other hand)
Scrub them upside down
Thumb attack (one thumb)!
Thumb attack (other)!

video: https://resani.com/wash-your-hands-brother-john/

[petra]

Oo, that is very useful. I like it!

[jesse_the_k]

After I’d sung it 20 times the instructional aspect was completely installed — so it’s useful for those of us with foggy memory.