Your home and daily routine may seem like safe spaces, but they could be teeming with more germs than you realize.
While most of us fear the bacteria on toilet seats, the truth is that the filthiest objects in our lives are often the ones we least expect. From our smartphones to the gym equipment we use, everyday items harbor alarming levels of bacteria, viruses, and pathogens that can lead to illness if we’re not careful.
In this article, we’ll reveal 8 common items that are far dirtier than you might think, and what you can do to protect yourself.
Smartphones
Your smartphone might be the most portable item you own, but it’s also one of the dirtiest. A study found that smartphones carry 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
These devices travel with us everywhere, including into the bathroom, and they touch surfaces that are often contaminated with germs. Every time you pick up your phone, you’re transferring germs from door handles, money, or public transportation to your hands.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Regularly clean your phone with a disinfecting wipe or alcohol-based solution.
- Avoid using your phone in the bathroom.
- Wash your hands before and after using your device.
Grocery Carts
When you push a shopping cart, you’re likely touching one of the germiest surfaces in the store. 72% of shopping carts are contaminated with fecal bacteria, and half carry E. coli.
The handles are frequently touched by unwashed hands, raw meat packaging, diapers, and even animals. You could be exposing yourself to harmful bacteria if you don’t take precautions.
Gas Pump Handles
It may seem surprising, but gas pump handles are dirtier than most public toilet seats. According to studies conducted by Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist, gas pump handles are often 11,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat.
These handles accumulate a cocktail of germs, from bacteria to mold, due to countless drivers who may not wash their hands before fueling up. When you touch a gas pump, you’re unknowingly transferring all those germs back into your car and onto your belongings.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Use a paper towel or glove to handle the pump.
- Carry hand sanitizer in your car and use it immediately after fueling.
- Avoid touching your face after handling the pump.
Office Coffee Mugs
That coffee mug sitting on your desk may be a haven for bacteria. A study found that 90% of office coffee mugs are contaminated with germs.
About 20% of them carry fecal matter. The contamination often comes from the communal kitchen sponges used to “clean” the mugs, which, instead of removing germs, spread them around.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Clean your coffee mug thoroughly every day with hot water and soap.
- Avoid using the office sponge to clean your mug.
- Consider bringing your own mug from home to avoid shared cups
Elevator Buttons
Elevator buttons, especially in high-traffic areas, are notorious for carrying bacteria. Studies have shown that elevator buttons can have up to 40 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
In hospitals, for example, 61% of elevator buttons were found to be heavily colonized with germs. Given that everyone from the janitor to sick patients uses the same buttons, it’s no surprise these surfaces are teeming with pathogens.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Use your knuckle or elbow to press elevator buttons.
- Clean your hands after using an elevator.
- If possible, use stairs instead of elevators to avoid unnecessary exposure.
Makeup Brushes
Makeup brushes, especially foundation and eye brushes, are often overlooked when it comes to hygiene. Makeup brushes can harbor more bacteria than a toilet seat, with some carrying Staph and E. coli.
This bacteria, combined with dead skin cells and oils, can contribute to acne, skin infections, and even eye problems.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Wash your makeup brushes regularly with soap and water.
- Never share makeup brushes with others.
- Replace old brushes that show signs of wear and tear.
Money and ATM Button
Cash, despite being essential to everyday transactions, is one of the filthiest items you touch. Banknotes are covered with 3,000 different types of bacteria, picked up from countless hands over time.
ATM buttons are similarly contaminated, as people often handle food and then enter their PINs, leaving behind germs that feed bacteria.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Use your knuckle to press ATM buttons.
- Wash your hands after handling cash.
- Use contactless payment methods when possible to avoid touching money.
Cutting Boards
When it comes to food preparation, your cutting board might be a significant source of contamination. A typical cutting board can harbor 200 times more fecal bacteria than a toilet seat, mainly due to cross-contamination from raw meats.
These bacteria, including Salmonella and Campylobacter, can spread onto vegetables, fruits, and other items, making you vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Use separate cutting boards for raw meat and vegetables.
- Disinfect cutting boards thoroughly after each use.
- Replace cutting boards that have deep grooves from knives, as they trap bacteria.
Key Takeaway
In today’s world, the items we use every day may be covered in germs and bacteria. From gym equipment to your smartphone, staying vigilant and cleaning frequently touched surfaces can help protect your health.
Whether it’s using hand sanitizer, wiping down your belongings, or simply being mindful of what you touch, small actions can make a significant difference in keeping you safe from hidden germs
