These Places Germs Lurk !

The grocery cart

 

The handles of shopping carts are loaded with saliva, bacteria and even fecal matter, making them one of the worst public places for germs. The carts were found to have germs than the public telephones and public restrooms.

Reduce the risk: Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you, especially during the flu season, and wash your hands after you leave.

Your office phone   A typical desk is capable of supporting up to 10 million bacteria -- 400 times more germs than the average toilet seat. And telephones were the worst affected, with 25,127 germs found in an average square inch on the receiver, followed by 20,961 germs on desktops. Bacterial levels spiked during the day, peaking after lunch. Reduce the risk: Crumbs and spills create an enviroment perfect for bacterial contamination, so refrain from snacking at your desk. Simply cleaning your personal workspace once a day will kill 99.9 percent of bacteria and help stop the spread of germs.       Your toothbrush   The yikey truth: Your toothbrush is dirtier than your toilet seat. It is hard to predict exactly which germs are on your toothbrush right now, but staphylococci, coliforms, pseudomonads, streptococci, and at least one fungus, candida, have all been cultured from used toothbrushes. And if you place your toothbrush near the toilet, each time you flush sends a spray of germ-contaminated water droplets into air, some of which inevitably land on your toothbrush. Reduce the risk: Allow your toothbrush to air out and dry between uses, and replace your toothbrush regularly. Also, close the toilet lid each time before you flush.       Your kitchen sink It's hard to believe that the place where you prepare food and wash your dishes is actually germier than the bathroom. The sink, sponge and faucet handle -- are the most contamined with bactera, and the toilet seat was the least contaminated. Reduce the risk: Food, especially raw fruits and vegetables, potentially carry loads of pathogen like salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli, so clean your kitchen counter and sink after preparing food. Clean the sink twice a week by scrubbing the basin and pouring a mix of bleach and water down the drain. Wash your sponge in the dishwasher, or microwave it until steam appears (about 30 seconds). Watch carefully to avoid causing a fire.       The restaurant salt and pepper shakers   These shakers may have been handled by hundreds of patrons and are rarely cleaned. Reduce the risk: Avoid contact between the menu and shaker with your plate or silverware, and wash your hands before and after you eat.       Your handbag   Your purse could, quite literally, carry a dirty secret. The bacteria found can potentially cause bacterial infections, with symptoms that include fever, vomiting and diarrhea. Reduce the risk: Be careful of where you place your tote. Experts advise against sitting your bag on high-traffic floors such as the food courts at the mall, and especially in public restrooms. Wipe the outside of your bag regularly to eliminate bacteria that may accumulate on the surface.       The gym equipment   You hit the gym to shape up and get healthy, but you may be inadvertently exposing yourself to nasty microbes at the same time. Gym equipment were swabbed and found to be contaminated with germs and the highest-risk machines were those used by many people in quick succession, such as dumbbells, or seats where people may bike or sit down. The large number of gym-goers, exposed skin and sweat -- could be a contributing factor. Reduce the risk: Avoid touching your face while you're working out, since eighty percent of all infectious disease is transmitted by contact. Germs also harbor in the shower, so wear your slippers when you enter.       Your TV remote   Anything that multiple people touch and is seldom cleaned is a hotspot for harboring germs. And your telly's remote control, which has practically endured everything from being dropped on the floor to being coughed on, is a dream breeding ground for bacteria. The remote control has one of the germiest surfaces among household items -- about half of the remote controls tested were positive for cold viruses and the germs could live for two days or more. Reduce the risk: Sanitize your remote control on a regular basis using an alcohol wipe.