Thinking of the grossest item in the house, the toilet seems to be at the top of the list.
But the horrifying reality is that items in daily use around the house can harbour even more germs than the toilet.
Here are six items that are dirtier than the toilet bowl!
1. Phone
According to the UK’s Daily Mail newspaper, researchers have found that phones are more than six times dirtier than toilet seats.
In fact, leather phone cases can carry 17 times more germs than regular cases.
To reduce the number of germs on phones and cases clean them regularly with alcohol wipes.
2. Computer keyboard
A computer keyboard can contain up to five times more germs than a toilet seat as it is used more frequently.
People who constantly eat at their computers and inadvertently drop crumbs onto their keyboard can be sure of even more germs lurking there.
Another bad habit is not washing your hands frequently which can lead to even more germs being transferred while one is furiously keying away.
Wash hands regularly for 20 seconds, especially now with the risk of coronavirus transmission.
3. Carpets
About 200,000 harmful bacteria live in each six square centimetres of your carpet, with the potential to trigger allergic reactions and damage your immune system.
If you cannot do it yourself, professionals are available to deep clean carpets, which is recommended at least twice a year.
4. Coffee maker
A coffee maker is a convenient household appliance and it should be cleaned on a daily basis.
A coffee maker that is not cleaned regularly will develop mould and harmful bacteria. Use a vinegar and water solution to wash the coffee maker and kill germs.
5. Refrigerator
According to the public health and safety organisation NSF International, researchers have found that the meat and vegetable compartments of the refrigerator are the two hot spots in the kitchen with the most illness-causing microorganisms.
Use warm, soapy water to clean the refrigerator to prevent food from leaving behind dangerous germs.
Apart from the refrigerator, regularly sanitising the kitchen is important as well.
6. Taps
The bathroom tap can harbour 21 times more bacteria than the toilet seat. Experts have found that drug-resistant bacteria such as E coli can spread from the pipes to the sink and hands.
This article first appeared in kaodim.com
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