8 Places Germs Hide in Your Home


By Dr. Charles “Chuck” Gerba” University of Arizona


1. Kitchen Sponges


Microwave the sponge. Your kitchen sponge is the germiest thing in your house. When researchers at the USDA tested common methods of disinfecting sponges—soaking them in bleach or lemon juice, microwaving, or washing in the dishwasher—they found that microwaving for one minute zapped the most germs, followed by a trip through the dishwasher. Every evening, after the last dishes are cleaned, zap the sponge.



2. Kitchen Sink


Scrub the Sink. After the sponge, the kitchen sink is the second most germ-laden place in your house (even worse than the toilet). Keep a spray bottle of cleaner handy, and spritz the sink after each use; then wipe and rinse with hot water.



3. Cutting Board


Scrub Your Cutting Board. There are 200 times more fecal bacteria on the average home cutting board than on the toilet seat, according to research by Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, and a nationally known expert on household germs. To get it clean, run it through the dishwasher; spray it with straight 5 percent vinegar, and let it set overnight; microwave it on high for 30 seconds; or swab it with alcohol.



4. Toothbrush


Protect Your Toothbrush. Store it at the opposite end of the bathroom from the toilet, in an upright position, so the water drains away from the bristles. Never store a wet toothbrush in a closed case. And don’t let the bristles of family members’ brushes touch. Still worried about germs? Consider a dunk in antimicrobial mouthwash. Studies show that a soak can eliminate germs. Don’t reuse the disinfecting liquid or soak more than one brush in it. Finally, if you’ve been sick, replace your toothbrush after you recover so you don’t re-infect yourself.


5. Washing Machine


Wash Laundry Right. Yes, even laundry can make you sick. “If you do undergarments in one load and handkerchiefs in the next, you’re blowing your nose in what was in your underwear,” Dr. Gerba notes. Make your underwear the last load, and at least once a month, run a hot cycle with vinegar to clear out germs in the machine. Also be sure to move washed laundry to the dryer as quickly as possible. Germs that survive the wash can start flourishing quickly.

6. Shower Curtain


Wipe Down Curtain After Showering. They get wet most every day, and they often stay wet, making them a perfect habitat for mold.



7. Indoor Garbage Can


Scrub Your Can. Particularly those in the kitchen and bathroom. Emptying them isn’t cleaning them. Regularly scrub them to make sure germs aren’t germinating.



8. Dishwashers


Watch for Mold. Take a close look at the edges of the door on your dishwasher. Many are breeding grounds for mold and mildew. The same goes for the rubber cushioning that surrounds most refrigerator doors.

Bonus added by Arizona Food Safety: Your telephones are germ magnets. Wipe your handsets daily and ensure all the ear wax is removed from the earpiece. Cell phone...do the same.