Worst Germ Hot Spots
What's the dirtiest place you regularly come into contact with? No, it's not the toilet. According to the Wall Street Journal, the average office desk may harbor 400 times more germs than the toilet seat. And the ATM machine may be no cleaner than the doorknob of a public restroom. Dozens of everyday objects you touch can be crawling with potent viruses and bacteria, poised to make you sick. Read on to discover 17 of germiest places you encounter and how you can clean up your act.
At Home: The Kitchen
The sponges and dishrags you use to scrub counters and plates are actually teeming with bacteria, such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus and E. coli, according to the University of Arizona. To keep your scrubbers (and your kitchen!) germ-free, microwave sponges or run them through the dishwasher. Microwaving sponges for one minute kills 99.99999 percent of bacteria present on them, while dishwashing with a dry cycle kills 99.9998 percent of bacteria, according to a study done by microbiologists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Food Technology and Safety Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland.
At Home: The Bathroom
What's the dirtiest spot on the bathroom? (Hint, it's not the toilet.) The bathtub, shower curtain, sink and even your toothbrush and toothbrush holder harbor tons of bacteria - and don't receive the same scouring your commode does. Disinfect the entire bathroom once a week with an antibacterial cleaner or a bleach solution. Also, change your shower curtain liner regularly, spritz your bathtub basin and tiles daily with a shower cleaner and replace your toothbrush once a month (or after you've gotten over a cold).
At Home: TV Remote
How often do you wipe down the remote? Probably never. Yet you (and every member of your household) curl up with it when you're sick and touch it with food-soiled hands while eating in front of the TV. To keep bacteria buildup at bay, wipe all remotes with a disinfectant wipe every other day, especially if someone is sick. (Don't forget video game consoles, too, if you have one.)
The Office: Your Desk
Whether it's from eating at your desk, pawing the keyboard or phone or grabbing the shared stapler, you can touch more than 30 bacteria-ridden surfaces in your own personal workspace in under a minute, says CNN.com. Some viruses and bacteria can live and potentially infect a person for two hours or longer after being deposited on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks (the flu virus can last up to eight hours!), according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). De-bug your work by cleansing your keyboard, mouse, phone and desk with disinfectant wipes once a week. Also, be sure to clean coffee pot handles, doorknobs and other common surfaces daily.
The Office: Elevator *******
Touched by everyone who works in your high rise and anyone who visits, these ******* are overrun with germs. Politely ask someone else to push the ****** to your destination or, if you're riding solo, use a knuckle to hit your floor and then wash your hands with soap and hot water once you reach your destination.
On You: Money
Research suggests that money can buy you more than material objects; it can buy you sick days, too. Paper currency is commonly contaminated with bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and pneumonia, according to the Southern Medical Journal, while SmartMoney.com has proven that several strains of the flu virus can live on bank notes for 10 to 17 days. Because paper money is traded between hands at a high exchange rate, keep bills inside your wallet to keep bacteria from spreading to your clothes or other objects in your purse. And wash your hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after each transaction.
On You: Cell Phone
You take this little device everywhere - the grocery store, PTA meetings and some even take it into the bathroom. So any germs that your cell phone picks up from a grimy checkout counter, a ***** school desk or the top of the toilet are immediately transmitted to your hands, cheeks, ears and mouth at your first *****. Because disease-causing pathogens can thrive for weeks on your phone, cleanse it with a disinfecting wipe daily.
On You: Handbags and Backpacks
Like your cell phone, your handbag or backpack travels anywhere you do. But unlike your mobile device, your bag spends the majority of its time sitting on the floor of restaurants, bathroom stalls and the bus or subway floor. These places can be hotbeds of germs, like E. coli and Salmonella, which happily hitch a ride on the bottom of your bag and get deposited wherever you put your purse down - like the kitchen counter or dining room table. Whether you're at home or out and about, hang your bag up off the floor and brush off any extra dust and dirt. If possible, wash or wipe down your bag regularly with warm soapy water to reduce germs.
The Gym: Machines
Working out can help boost your immunity, but touching the communal machines at the gym can lead to harmful health issues. According to the National Athletic Trainers' ***********, gym equipment provides the perfect living environment fo