Where is the most germs in your house

Towels are so thick it's hard to get them really clean. And that means The germiest place. The kitchen is one of the germiest spots in the home. That's because it's where we prepare foods that can spread salmonella and E. The sink is another reservoir for nasty bacteria. Mixing bleach and citrus cleaners may be harmful to you and your pets. Gerba recommends scrubbing cutting boards and the sink with bleach, which he says kitchen cleaning products contain for that reason. If you want to mix it yourself, use one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water.

The National Sanitation Foundation NSF says you should also use that same bleach solution once each month to sanitize kitchen drains and disposals; kitchen sink strainers should be washed weekly in the dishwasher.

And don't forget to wipe down the faucet handles. You should also use the weak bleach solution on your countertops after meal preparation, at least once a day, the NSF says. Germiest items in the kitchen. Considering that you use the kitchen sponge or rag to do any wiping of the sink, surrounding counters and cutting boards, it should come as no surprise that they win the prize as the germiest items in your home, according to Gerba.

Dangerously so. So yeah, I'm really paranoid about them," Gerba said. Did you know that there's probably more E. Or that sponges and dishcloths are like breeding grounds for salmonella? Need more proof? A study found different species of bacteria living in used kitchen sponges; 82 billion bacteria were living in just one cubic inch of space. Bad news: Microwaving didn't help. Nor did boiling the sponge or putting it in the dishwasher.

The bacteria just grew right back. Most manufacturers recommend you clean the reservoir every 40 to 80 brew cycles or at least once per month. You should probably be cleaning your kitchen sink a lot more often than you do iStock.

NSF researchers calculated the kitchen sink hosts 31, average normalized microorganisms per 10 square centimeters. The researchers found coliform bacteria — remember, this is the family that contains E.

At least once or twice a week, you should wash and disinfect the sides and bottom of the sink, according to NSF. Each week, you should wash your kitchen sink strainer s in the dishwasher. And each month, you should also sanitize the drain and the disposal by pouring a solution of 1 teaspoon household bleach and 1 quart of water down the drain. Next on the list were pet toys, with 29, average normalized microorganisms per 10 square centimeters. Where in the house is staph most prevalent?

NSF noted that staph is dangerous because it could be resistant to antibiotics. NSF recommended cleaning hard toys with hot, soapy water, then rinsing with fresh water, disinfecting with a mild bleach solution, and rinsing to remove any residue. Soft toys, on the other hand, can go in the washing machine on its sanitizing cycle.

The organization recommended washing toys monthly or more often. The bathroom sink, especially the faucet handle, hosts all kinds of bacteria iStock.

Almost as bad as pet toys are bathroom faucet handles, which NSF calculated host 28, average normalized microorganisms per 10 square centimeters. Fortunately, faucet handles in the bathroom and in the kitchen where, yes, you should also be cleaning them are relatively easy to disinfect. NSF recommended cleaning them daily with a disinfecting cleaner or even disinfecting wipes, which are a fast, easy way to get the task out of the way and eradicate germs.

Your kitchen countertops should be cleaned daily iStock. Interestingly enough, coliform bacteria can be traced to a wide array of food items. Raw meat and poultry are the obvious culprit, but unwashed produce is another big source, too. That makes us wonder: Is there a good way to just keep pets out of the kitchen altogether?

NSF advised that countertops should be washed daily. Your TV remote and other electronics harbor all kinds of germs iStock. But there are other places, outside of the kitchen and bathroom, where you might want to focus some of your newfound zeal for sanitizing. It's easy to see the obvious dirty spots in a home like spilled food on kitchen counters , soap scum in the shower, or a pile of dirty laundry.

But what about the spots that may not look particularly dirty but are actually the ones that can affect the health of your family? Let's take a look at your home room by room and shed some light on hidden dirt and bacteria and how to get rid of it.

The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in most homes and also the dirtiest. All of the elements that encourage bacteria to grow—heat, moisture, and food—are readily available. Add to that all of the outside elements like raw meats, unwashed fruits and vegetables, and the germs from everyone's purses and backpacks, and the kitchen is teeming with harmful bacteria like E.

The keys areas of concern in the kitchen are:. Unfortunately, some bacteria lingers in the bathroom after every use. To ensure that all types of coliform bacteria are controlled, pay particular attention to light switches, door knobs and faucet handles. Keep some disposable disinfecting wipes handy for easy daily cleaning. Bath towels and mats should be washed in hot water at least weekly and allowed to dry completely. Hand towels should be changed several times per week. Bathroom sinks should be wiped down daily with disinfecting wipes and toothbrush holders and cups should be cleaned weekly.

When cleaning the obviously dirty areas of the bathtub , shower doors, and toilet, take time to wipe down flat surfaces like walls near toilets with disinfectant products. The Shigella bacterium is spread through contact with contaminated feces. As a boil on the skin matures, it typically develops a visible core of pus. Learn when to see a doctor, how to get the core out of a boil at home, and…. Q fever, also called query fever, is a bacterial infection caused by bacteria commonly found in cattle, sheep, and goats.

Humans typically get Q fever…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. The 9 Dirtiest Spots in Your Home. Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. How bacteria and viruses spread. The kitchen. Knobs, handles, and switches. Makeup bag. Home office and living room. Personal items.

Practicing good habits. Read this next. Here Are 5 Ways Spring-Cleaning Can Make You Healthier Experts say giving your home a deep cleaning can bolster your immune system, encourage healthier eating, and reduce stress.

Medically reviewed by Jill Seladi-Schulman, Ph. How to Get the Core Out of a Boil.