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(#9) Kitchen Sponges
Sponges clean things, so by their very nature, they should also be clean, right? Turns out, that's not exactly true. Sponges are a perfect home for bacteria: they're moist and have plenty of holes and crevices where germs can hide. In fact, wiping a sink or counter down with a sponge might actually spread germs around instead of disinfecting the area.
Dr. Neil Schachter, medical director of respiratory care at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, recommends wetting your sponge and microwaving it for two minutes to zap away bacteria. Alternately, you can use disposable options, like Clorox Anywhere Wipes, that are safe to use around food and ditch the germy sponge all together.
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(#2) Computer Keyboards
In a study from a British consumer group in 2008, scientists randomly sampled 33 computer keyboards, and out of these tested, four were considered a health hazard. One was even discovered to possess more bacteria than your average toilet.
Also in 2008, the CDC linked an outbreak of norovirus to a keyboard and mouse in a first-grade classroom.
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(#1) Money
An enormous amount of bacteria resides on every dollar in your pocket. One study at NYU found 3,000 different types of bacteria on a smattering of $1 bills. Scientists found bacteria that causes acne and antibiotic-resistant microbes, among other things.
There's a good chance traces of cocaine exist on your cash, too.
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(#10) Door Knobs
A lot of people wash their hands before leaving the bathroom, but more people than you may think don't. Doorknobs - and other objects - made from copper, silver, and brass, naturally kill germs over time. But it can take hours or weeks to occur.
Steel and aluminum doorknobs, however, don't do much to stop bacterial growth, which means germs can easily spread.
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(#4) Toilets
In terms of germs, you don't really need to worry about toilet seats - it's what happens when you flush that's the real concern. When you flush a toilet, it causes a "toilet plume," and tiny microbes of fecal matter get blasted into the air.
From there, they can settle on your hands or clothing, potentially spreading disease.
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(#11) Fridge Handles
Fridge and appliance handles are hotbeds for bacteria. Think about all those things you touch before grabbing the oven or refrigerator handle: meats, eggs, dairy. And cleaning the visible side of the handle may not be enough to stave off bacteria: make sure you clean the back of the handle, too.
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About This Tool
I have to say that the first thing we do from elementary school is to wash our hands frequently. Handwashing can prevent the spread of many diseases, especially before eating and touching a baby, washing hands is a very necessary step. But many people don't know why washing hands is so important. The reason is that our hands touch a lot of dirty things every day.
The random tool shows a list of the unexpected dirtiest things that we often touch in daily life, including cell phones, toilets, shopping carts, and more. They are covered with bacteria that are invisible to the naked eye, which can cause diseases in severe cases.
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