(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
The stuff we see in our home and use the MOST are actually the items that have the most germs so make sure you are doing these tips.
Your morning cup of Joe might be brewed with more than caffeine. A National Sanitation Foundation germ study found that coffee reservoirs are the fifth germiest place in homes. So they recommend washing removable components after each use, wiping outer surfaces of the unit daily and cleaning internal components every 40 to 60 brew cycles or at least once a month to combat these pesky spores.
Plastic water bottles
Plastic can crack, get scratched and harbor bacteria, but stainless steel water bottles are naturally anti-bacterial. Using a bottle with a wide mouth makes them easier to clean and according to Shape, bottles should be rinsed routinely with a bottle brush, soap, warm water or a vinegar and water solution.
If you’re guilty of setting your purse on the floor at restaurants, in public restrooms, on the train or at movie theaters — the bottom of your bag likely contains trace amounts of fecal matter and other yucky organisms. A 2015 study conducted by the University of Mauritius revealed that purses from both men and women are potential vectors for transmission of diseases across the community. The most common forms of bacteria swabbed from the bags were Micrococcus and Staph — and they were found more prominently on synthetic and cloth bags, versus leather ones.
More than a quarter of shoes carry Clostridium difficile, commonly known as C. diff — a dangerous bacterial strain that can cause a host of symptoms from diarrhea to fatal infections, a 2017 University of Houston study showed. Avoid going to the public pools, showers, summer camp, spas and locker rooms in the same sandals all summer that you wear into your house because then you are contaminating your floors. So take your shoes off at the door!
The American Dental Association (ADA) advises rinsing a toothbrush after use and letting it air dry — as opposed to putting a moist toothbrush in a closed container, which promotes bacterial growth. The ADA also indicates that toothbrushes can harbor bacteria, including fecal matter when they’re kept close to a toilet.