Where is the most germs

Yeasts and molds infested 55 percent of pet toys, and 14 percent also harbored coliform bacteria. Cleaning tip: Scrub hard pet toys with soap, water, and a mild bleach solution. Soft toys? Chuck them in the washer. You know how you can't wash your hands before turning on the sink? No wonder coliform bacteria were found on nine percent of bathroom faucet handles. Not to mention that 27 percent had molds and five percent carried staph.

Dark and damp, the reservoirs of coffee makers are perfect breeding grounds for microorganisms. Fifty percent of reservoirs swabbed for the study had mold and yeast, and nine percent had coliform bacteria.

Cleaning tip: Read the instruction manual. One good cleaning technique is to add four cups of vinegar to the reservoir, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then brew that vinegar. Then run two or three cycles of fresh water through the coffeemaker until the smell is gone.

Rover's bowl ranked 4 on the list, with 45 percent of bowls in the study harboring mold and yeast, and 18 percent containing coliform bacteria.

Cleaning tip: Put bowls in the dishwasher. To hand-wash, use a dilute bleach solution about one cap in a gallon of water , and rinse carefully with clean water. Packages and bags of groceries which were previously on the floor of your car are placed on it, in addition to handbags and backpacks.

And yet, this is also where you prepare food — some of it raw. Keep non-food items off of the countertop, and disinfect it before and after preparing food. How often do you clean your stove knobs? The Nasty 9 are far from being the only germ-ridden places in your home.

He recommends using two cutting boards: one for meats and one for veggies. However, Gerba warns against panicking. Do you have any additional tips for keeping your home clean and manageable? Tell us in the comments. By Terri Williams November 18, 5 min read. Get home decor deals instantly! Related Articles Cleaning. The Best Rust Remover 4 minute read. How to Clean Grout 4 minute read. Here, a host of surprising germ hot spots, and the easy solutions to help keep you and your family safe and healthy.

That metal aerator screen at the end of the faucet is a total germ magnet. Running water keeps the screen moist, an ideal condition for bacteria growth.

Because tap water is far from sterile, if you accidentally touch the screen with dirty fingers or food, bacteria can grow on the faucet, explains microbiologist Kelly Reynolds, Ph. Over time, bacteria build up and form a wall of pathogens called biofilm that sticks to the screen.

Keep it clean: Once a week, remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution—follow the directions on the label. Replace the screen, and let the water run a few minutes before using. In fact, estimates show that there are often more than , bacteria in the kitchen sink—about 1, times more than the average toilet has, says Reynolds. Although the metal part of the disposal produces ions that can help kill germs, they still love to grow on the crevices in and around the slimy rubber stopper.

That means your disposal can become party central for bacteria, contaminating whatever touches it—dishes, utensils, even your hands. You know a sponge can harbor nasty germs, but dish towels are just as gross. Dish towels also rated tops for dangerous strains of E. We often use towels to wipe up spills, says Reynolds, then reuse before washing them, which spreads germs. Keep it clean: Stick to paper towels to clean countertops, and save the dishrag to dry just-washed pots and plates.

Change towels or launder at least twice a week in hot water and bleach. Keep it clean: Simply wipe your keyboard down with a disinfectant wet wipe, the study authors suggest. Clean it regularly, and do your best to get in between those keys. Washing your hands before getting to work can help too.