It may not come as a surprise that coming into contact with cold & flu culprits is amazingly easy. Why? Because there are many common surfaces that we all touch, but that very few really stop to think about.
For example, did you know that the warm, wet inside of a sponge is prime habitat for bacteria to grow?
The National Sanitation Foundation at the University of Michigan suggests microwaving your sponge for two minutes every day to kill germs growing inside, as well as replacing your sponges once every two weeks.
We know what you’re thinking…what other areas do you touch every single day without even suspecting of being potential germ factories?
7.) Your Money: Yes, those dollars in your pocket have been passed around from stranger to stranger and often contain multiple strains of bacteria.
A quick fix? Wash your hands after receiving change or getting money from the ATM.
6.) Your Purse/Bag. When not on a shoulder, most purses are resting on the desks (see above) or floors of restaurants, restrooms, movie theaters, cars, buses and sidewalks. A joint ABC News and University of Arizona investigation of 50 women’s handbags found that the outside bottom of the purses were teeming with bacteria, including fecal germs and those that can cause skin infections. The researchers found 6.7 million bacteria on one purse alone.
An easy fix? Wipe purses down from time to time with antibacterial cloths.
5.) Your Everyday Public Buttons. The Kimberly-Clark study found that 41 percent of ATMs, 40 percent of parking meters and 35 percent of vending machines contained dangerous levels of bacteria. Debit card touch screens, elevator buttons and grocery shopping carts also have alarmingly high germ counts.
An easy fix? Whenever possible, try to use a tissue, glove, etc. when touching a commonly-used surface. Ideally, use an antibacterial cloth to wipe down a surface, such as a grocery cart, before using it.
4.) Your Toothbrush. Germs thrive in moist environments – such as your toothbrush. Add that to the fact that research in…