All people are exposed to millions of germs each day, even if they never leave their home. Thankfully the human body's immune system is designed to fight off infections and illness naturally, but cleaning ten surprising areas in the house where bacteria tend to multiply will also be helpful in staying healthy.
The Kitchen Sponge: A Breeding Ground for Germs
The sponge or cloth used to clean the dishes and counters contains millions of bacteria, which surprisingly, is much more than anything in the bathroom. And people use these disgusting objects to actually clean their dishes! This infestation is the likely cause of many gastrointestinal illnesses, like vomiting and diarrhea.
To lessen this risk, a person can eliminate some germs by running the sponge through the dishwasher. A more effective method is to wet the sponge and microwave it for a minute or two, where the high heat will kill any germs. Allow the sponge to dry between uses, which will also eliminate bacteria. Replace the sponge altogether every couple of weeks.
Kitchen Sinks Contain Bacteria
Another kitchen culprit that is dirtier than the bathroom is the kitchen sink. Because of its wet environment, and its tendency to have food trapped in the drain, bacteria like to live here. Salmonella from meat often ends up here and will stay until cleaned. Clean the sink with a disinfectant daily.
Clean Cutting Boards
Cutting boards are common sources of E. Coli and salmonella. The best option is to have a separate cutting board used only for meat, and to sanitize all boards regularly. Plastic cutting boards can be run through the dishwasher, and use a bleach solution on wooden ones and allow them to dry thoroughly.
The Desk is Dirty
According to Fitness Magazine, most desktops have 400 more bacteria than the average toilet bowl. This is caused mostly because people don't think of sanitizing their workspace. Keyboards, mouses, phones, and the desktop itself should be disinfected regularly, and to avoid illness people should not eat at their desk.
Purses, Makeup, and Money can Cause Illness
Women's purses are carried all over, and set down in public places, but rarely cleaned. Then women often come home and set them down on their kitchen table or counter. These purses contain high levels of bacteria which should be cleaned with an antibacterial wipe daily, and women should be cautious about where they set their handbags.
Women's makeup bags may also contain questionable material. Like the kitchen sponge, the material makeup is made out of is inherently moist, and so bacteria like to breed there. Contaminated makeup can cause infections like conjunctivitis (pink-eye) or skin irritations. Replace makeup every few months and wash applicators regularly.
Money, passed on from person to person, is usually focused on as a germ hotspot, but it may not be as bad as many people think. The dryness factor of money isn't a good environment for germs, and so they don't accumulate as much as one would expect. However, people should always wash their hands if they plan on eating after handling money.
Your Toothbrush Could Make You Sick
According to a Quality Health website, toothbrushes get sprayed with bacteria every time a toilet is flushed. The risk is not extremely high as long as toothbrushes dry between uses so that these bacteria cannot survive, but it may be a good idea to store toothbrushes in the medicine cabinet, or at least away from the toilet. Run them through the dishwasher to sanitize them, and replace them often.
Disinfect Your Cell Phone and TV Remote
Phones come in contact with hands and mouths, so it's no surprise that bacteria lurk there. According to the Healthy Lifestyle website, they could contain 300 bacteria per square inch. Remotes also come in contact with many hands and rarely get cleaned. Using a disinfectant wipe on these items will kill any germs on these surfaces.
All households contain areas where germs lurk and bacteria multiply. Having an awareness of the most prominent places for germs can help people target those areas and stay healthy. One of the best ways a person can stay healthy is by washing hands frequently and avoiding touching his face so the cold and flu viruses don't enter the body.
Sources:
Roufos, Anna, Germ and Bacteria Hotspots: 12 Things You Should Know, Fitness Magazine, accessed February 2010.
Top 10 Germ Hotspots in Your Own House, Healthy LIfestyle website, accessed February 2010.
Rigotti, Jodi, The 5 Biggest Bacteria Hotspots, QualityHealth website, accessed February, 2010.
Laura Wilson - Relatively new to the writing community, Laura Wilson is spending time writing about children, parenting, health, and education. She ...
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