The dirtiest place in the house is not the toilet seat. Where are the germs, then? In places where people don't pay much attention on a daily basis and which are generally considered clean. Find out where the most germs are in the house.
The dirtiest place in the house is the bathroom, and specifically the toilet seat - most people who are asked will tell you where the most germs are in the house.
Meanwhile, this is one of the cleanest places - scientists emphasize. We are afraid of impurities on the toilet, which is why we clean it so diligently.
Then where are the most germs in our house?
The dirtiest places in the house - toothbrush
The dirtiest place in the bathroom is not the toilet seat, but…. toothbrush. Research shows that there may be at least 200,000 bacteria per square inch on it - much more than on a toilet seat .¹
Where do the bacteria on the toothbrush come from? Bacteria living in the toilet bowl spread freely throughout the bathroom. When draining the water, they are sprayed 1.5-2 meters high, and this peculiar spray, falling down, settles on towels, toothbrushes, wash basin. A damp toothbrush provides the best conditions for germs to grow.
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But that's not all - if we put the brush next to the sink, we contaminate it by washing our hands.
According to scientists from the University of Manchester, a toothbrush may be home to staphylococci and E. coli bacteria, but you don't need to panic because it still contains fewer bacteria than your mouth, the scientists reassure. toothpaste in an area where it can dry out between uses and replace it regularly.
Where are the most bacteria in the house? Dish washing sponge
On the other hand, the dirtiest place in the kitchen are dishwashing sponges and cloths. There are approximately 10 million bacteria per square inch in a sponge cloth. On the cloth - a million .²
This means that the dishwashing sponge is 200,000. times dirtier than a toilet seat, and a cloth 20,000. times .²
Research by prof. John Oxford's virology of the University of Londoncarried out in nine different countries showed that 21 percent. clean looking kitchens were contaminated with E. coli at high levels. They are also full of e.g. kitchen tablecloths .²
The combination of moisture and decaying food debris is the perfect environment for bacteria to multiply. In addition, it is easy to get infected, because pathogens have the opportunity to spread to hands, food, dishes.
However, sponges and cloths are not the only danger in the kitchen. It turns out that about 200 times more fecal bacteria than on a toilet seat are on … a cutting board. They usually come from raw meat.
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So it follows that slicing on the toilet seat is more hygienic. However, experts recommend that you clean the cutting board with the same commitment as the toilet seat.
In turn, it is recommended to wash tablecloths and kitchen towels in hot water. However, it should be remembered that washing at 30-60ºC with ordinary detergents does not always remove all pathogens. A high temperature is needed (this is where towels, tablecloths or bed linen are usually washed), chlorine bleach or a special powder or liquid that removes most bacteria at 40 ° C.
Replace the washing-up sponge once a week. Also, wash your hands thoroughly.
Habitat of bacteria at home - hairbrush
The hairbrush collects bacteria on itself, which is nurtured by dirt from the hair. Scientists' research shows that there are almost 3,500 colonies per square inch. 3 A research team at the University of Arizona tested 30 hairbrushes that were owned by women and used daily by ladies aged 16 to 24.
The hairbrush had an average of 3,419 colonies of bacteria per square inch. This is much more than a bathroom sink (2,733 bacteria colonies per square inch) and a pet bowl (2,110 bacteria colonies per square inch) .³
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Where do so many germs on my hairbrush come from? Every day, air pollutants, various types of dust, styling agents, as well as exfoliated epidermis, dust and much more accumulate on our hair. The build-up of hair, dead skin and care products creates an ideal environment for bacteria and mold to thrive, experts say.
The brush should be cleaned regularly, otherwise dirt and bacteria are reborn back into the hair, which makes them lose their freshness faster.
It's a good idea to do this using a regular oneshampoo and even a toothbrush, which will help remove dirt from between the teeth of the brush.
Where are the most germs in the house? TV remote
The TV remote control is one device that is in constant use. However, hardly anyone remembers about cleaning it. Meanwhile, the TV remote control is not only dusty, but also a hotbed of bacteria.
Most bacteria are found on hospital and hotel remotes (they are the dirtiest items in the room), but home ones also contain a lot of germs.
Therefore, once a week you have to wipe it with special wipes for electronic devices. And try not to take him to the table.
The dirtiest places in the house - the couch
There are more bacteria on the family sofa than the average place in the toilet, American scientists argue.4
7,863 bacteria reside on each 10 by 10 cm section. That's five times more than a typical toilet. There are more bacteria if the family is often naked on the couch.4
How to clean the couch? When there are no stains and the sofa doesn't look dirty, just vacuum it once a week.
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You can also use washing rugs. In one of the Polish stores, the rental costs only PLN 1. However, you need to buy a washing concentrate for about PLN 50.
After vacuuming it with a vacuum cleaner, it is worth wiping the couch with a damp cloth. There is an even simpler way. Just cover the couch with a large, damp sheet dipped in water with a little fragrant fabric softener and lightly whisk it with a carpet beater.
If there are stains on the sofa, use carpet shampoo, a soft cloth or sponge and a cloth that absorbs water well.
Where's the dirtiest at home? Carpet
Carpets harbor bacteria and mites because they are warm, dark, and full of food debris, but not only that. Our epidermis, pollen, dog hair, and even mites and fleas - if our four-legged pet has a problem with them - are also in it. The carpet provides ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria and allergens.5
Microbiological tests have shown that the carpet is about 4,000 times more dirty than the toilet seat - it contains about 200,000 bacteria per square inch.5
Long-pile carpets are especially dangerous.
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How to clean a carpet? Regular vacuuming is essential. You also need to wash the carpet from time to time. Carpet cleaning is recommended every 12 to 18 months (more often if children and pets play on it).
If the carpet is heavily soiled, it is worth entrusting carpet cleaning to a specialized company.
The dirtiest places in the house - the ventilation grille
A lot of dust collects in the ventilation cage and it is cleaned very rarely. No wonder - it is difficult to access and also has many nooks and crannies where dust collects easily. Therefore, they are difficult to clean.
The same happens with fans, farelkis and portable heaters. They should be cleaned with a cloth with a special cleaning liquid each time we clean the apartment. Keep in mind that not only superficial cleanliness is important. The fact that our house passed the "white glove test" flawlessly does not mean that it is really clean. Remember that the most dangers lurk in places that we forget about.