Given how often they’re on the floor, occasionally inside a public restroom, it should come as no surprise that a third of women’s purses crawl with E. coli.
It’s a dirty world we’re living in, and often our germiest encounters are not where we expect them. Not all germs are harmful, and healthy bodies can resist many illnesses. But the more people are exposed, the greater their chance of becoming infected with or transmitting a dangerous bug, from respiratory viruses to a host of foodborne bacteria. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that each year 48 million Americans, or 1 in 6 people, get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.
“You’re always gambling with germs,” said Dr. Charles Gerba, professor in the department of soil, water and environmental science at the University of Arizona. “The thing is to make the odds in your favor.”
That means reducing exposure to germs, a feat best accomplished with regular hand-washing, using hand sanitizer and keeping your paws off your face, Gerba said.
It also means cleaning those grimy items you rarely think to clean, like remote controls and cellphones.
Need motivation? Here are average total bacteria counts, per square inch, for a dozen common germ-infested items we encounter in our daily lives, according to Gerba, who has tested hundreds of surfaces.
775,460,560
Dish sponge
The dirt: Easily the grossest cesspool in your household, the sponge is often a culprit in spreading germs around when you use a dirty one to “clean” other surfaces. It takes about a week for the germ count to get sky high.
To clean: Some people suggest running sponges through the dishwasher, but Duberg cautions that can contaminate your dishwasher and your dishes. Better to throw them away and buy a new pack at the dollar store, she said. You could also put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to kill germs, Gerba said. Do this weekly or after each time you wipe down surfaces that had raw meats or vegetables on them.
228,854
Kitchen faucet handle
The dirt: There’s more fecal bacteria in the kitchen sink than in the toilet after we flush it, Gerba said, thanks to all the meat and produce remnants that collect there.
To clean: Clean off visible soil first, then wipe with sanitizing wipes. The surface must stay wet for 30 seconds to kill 99.9 percent of germs, Duberg said.
138,000
Shopping cart
The dirt: Exposed to food and infants, as well as birds in the parking lot, shopping carts are dirtier than many other public surfaces. Coliform bacteria were detected in 72 percent of 85 shopping carts sampled in a study. Children have been found to be at higher risk of salmonella infection when riding in a cart, Gerba said.
To clean: Carry sanitizing wipes with you and wipe down the handle and the basket where kids tend to sit. Avoid rubbing your face, and wash your hands afterward.
79,000
Keyboard/mouse
The dirt: Janitors rarely touch your personal space, so if you don’t clean it, no one will.
To clean: Use sanitizing wipes to wipe every surface of the keyboard (use cotton swabs to get between the keys) and mouse and all around your workstation. Do it at least weekly, or more if you are sick or other people use the computer.
17,000
Remote control
The dirt: Given that they pass between many hands, are used while snacking and rarely get cleaned, remote controls are often germ baths.
To clean: Wipe with sanitizing wipes a couple of times per week.
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11,020
Cellphone
The dirt: Pressed against your face and mouth all day, cellphones can give germs easy access to enter your body. It’s particularly hairy if you share your phone.
To clean: Wipe with a sanitizing wipe daily.
8,643
Doorknob
The dirt: Though they get a bad rap, things like doorknobs and light switches usually aren’t so dirty, because people aren’t touching them very often.
To clean: Wipe with a sanitizing wipe at least weekly, more often if you are ill.
4,500
Self-checkout touch screen
The dirt: Touched by thousands of strangers and rarely cleaned.
To clean: Rub your hands with hand sanitizer after using, allowing them to stay wet for 30 seconds to kill bacteria.
