Conventional wisdom ranks the toilet seat as the germiest place in your home. If only it were so! Surprisingly, more common items you handle often make the toilet seat seem sterile. Suppress that shudder and read this list of pathogen purveyors.
Bastions of Bacteria
Germs abound in these seven regularly handled areas:
- Kitchen towels and sponges teem with bacteria from scrubbing dirty dishes and utensils in people’s mouths—and from wiping down counters touched by many hands. Solution: Rinse rags and sponges often in a mixture of antibacterial soap and hot water, and change them out frequently. You can also place sponges on the top rack of your dishwasher and let them get clean along with your dishes. Bonus tip: Heat damp rags and sponges for 30 seconds in the microwave to kill pathogens.
- Your toothbrush, its holder, and travel case are swarming with oral bacteria. Solution: After brushing, rinse the bristles with hot water, douse all three items with hydrogen peroxide, and allow them to air dry.
- Your coffee maker’s water reservoir and brewing basket can grow fungal and bacterial pathogens. Solution: Run a 50-50 mix of water and white vinegar through the coffee maker once a month, removing the lime scale.
- Many touch switches, buttons, and dials of all types, including appliance control pads, light switches, computer keyboards, and TV remotes. Solution: Wipe down all these surfaces with an antibacterial wipe at the end of each day.
- Your sink disposal percolates with bacteria from every food item shoved down inside. When you run the disposal, it “burps” an aerosol mist of grossness. Solution: Run a cup of 50-50 white vinegar and ice cubes through it at the end of each day.
- You handle personal items such as your wallet, purse, keys, and cell phone many times daily after touching countless other surfaces. Solution: Wipe these down every day or two with antibacterial wipes.
Thermal lunch bags collect food residue, which breeds bacteria and fungi. Solution: Rinse with antibacterial soap and hot water at the end of each day.
Related – Cleaning, Sanitizing and Disinfecting: The Important Differences
