I remember this going around and thinking it sounded extreme and finding out pretty quickly that it was. But the lesson is there, and honestly, it should be an obvious thing to wash the can first. You're putting your mouth and tongue all over it! I'm not a germophobe by any means but I've always done that.

I also have always been in the habit of doing a little swishing of the beverage before drinking it, especially if it's outdoors...one of my best friends in high school got stung in the roof her mouth by a bee that was in her soda can. Scary stuff! She could barely close her mouth, the roof of her mouth swelled up so badly.