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These surfaces have more germs than the average toilet seat, and you’ve likely already touched at least one of them today.
For all you germaphobes out there, you might want to look away because we have some pretty disturbing news. Bacteria and germs are everywhere – even in the places you least suspect. We have collected a list of 10 things that are actually much dirtier than almost anything you’d find in the bathroom. Some of them you come into contact with on a daily basis while others you probably use on a weekly basis. Either way, this list is going to have you looking at certain things you need to use in a really different way. Here are 10 things that are much dirtier than a toilet seat!
Restaurant menus carry an average of 185,000 bacteria. There are probably 100 times more bacteria on a menu than on a toilet seat in the restaurant. After placing your order, it might be a good idea to go and wash your hands before you eat.
Gas pump handles are teaming with loads of bacteria and viruses because no one takes the time to clean them. Make sure to keep hand sanitizer in your car and cover the handle before you pump.
Your kitchen sponge is about 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat. There are reportedly about 10 million bacteria per square inch on a kitchen sponge and a million per square inch on a dishcloth. To kill germs, microwave your kitchen sponge for one minute.
Paper money can carry more germs than a household toilet. They provide hospitable environments for gross microbes. Viruses and bacteria can live on most surfaces for about 48 hours and paper money can transport a flu virus for up to 17 days. After handling money, we recommend washing your hands or using hand sanitizer.
A 2007 study found that nearly 70% of restaurant lemon wedges are covered in up to 25 different types of germs, including fecal matter, E. Coli and contamination from raw meat. Here is some good news – you don’t have to use any lemons or limes that they give you.
Door handles are home to a number of harmful germs and bacteria, including E.coli, Staphylococcus, Aureas, plus fungal and viral infections. Even washing your hands regularly isn’t enough to stop this type of germ breeding from occurring. Using hand antiseptic wipes to touch door handles that are hotspots for harmful bacteria is one way to avoid these harmful germs and bacteria.
Studies have proven that ATM machines are just as laden with bacteria as public toilets. You might want to use some hand sanitizer immediately after using one of these.
Computer keyboards contain a host of potentially harmful bacteria including E. coli and Staph. We’d recommend wiping your keyboard down with a disinfectant wipe every day.
The average toothbrush contains 10 million bacteria or more, including E. coli and Staph. It’s probably in your best interest to hide your toothbrush in a cabinet or run it through the dishwasher to get rid of the germs. Another option is to soak it in mouthwash with cetylpyridinium chloride for 20 minutes.
The average cell phone carries more than 18 times more potentially harmful germs than a flush handle in a men’s public washroom. That’s probably because we take our phones everywhere with us and most us have never thought to clean it.