That's right, sponges and dish rags. The information provided on ModernMom is for educational use only. [1] (Image from Hans at Pixabay) Longer answer: Having the most bacteria doesn't mean being the most infectious. The poll revealed that three out of five people believe children come into contact with the most germs when at nursery or school. Keyboards are rarely cleaned while toilet seats are regularly cleaned with strong disinfectants to kill germs. According to some stats, over 65% of colds are caught in the home, and common household items are often the culprits. Last year, I conducted an experiment about seeing which soaps would kill the most germs. Can I Use Baking Powder to Thicken Sauce? All Rights Reserved. When you think about it, this number isn’t so shocking. The most likely candidate for most of us is our toothbrush. 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The germiest item in your household is - ironically - the item used to keep things clean. Streptococcus spp. But, as Charles Gerba, a University of Arizona microbiologist pointed out, these germs are unlikely to make us sick because most of the germs present are our own. 19 Shares. Children’s teddies and other favoured toys were far cleaner, although still had 2,549 germs per 100cm2. But new research has shown that there are some unlikely sources of grime in the average home - and you can't even see the dirt. Chances are, you've been missing a few key places during your weekly chores. your kitchen harvests more bacteria due to food and food residues as they feed on this. Toothbrushes can become contaminated with bacteria, blood, saliva, and oral debris. Bikes and balls both showed 14,000 per 100cm2. Soap that harbors bacteria may sound ironic, but that’s exactly what research has found. WHEN it comes to cleaning our homes, most of us pay attention to the obvious things – bathroom tiles, ovens and washing the dishes, for example. The average toilet seat has 1,600 germs per 100 cm2, but children's play equipment carried far more germs. Copyright © 2021 Modern Mom. The average games controller was found to have 7,863 per 100cm2, which is nearly five times that of the average toilet seat, the study by Domestos and UNICEF found. There is something your kids and the entire family are bringing into your homes every day that is silently threatening your family's health. Staphylococcus spp. Most disinfecting wipes are effective against bacteria and viruses, including the new coronavirus, on electronics. via GIPHY A story published in the Sci Garden trampolines were the worst offender, with bacterial levels of 640,000 per 100cm2. What you can do: Replace kitchen sponges often, machine wash rags and then dry on high heat, disinfect sponges by putting them in the dishwasher or put a dry sponge in the microwave for 30 seconds and a wet sponge for one minute. This is the item that has the most bacteria in your home. Can You Get Pregnant on Birth Control Pill If You Miss One Day? In fact, research has shown that water fountain spigots often have twice the amount of bacteria as a toilet seat, more than 2,000 microbes on a water fountain compared to … What you can do: wipe your phone daily with a disinfectant wipe. 1.The toilet. Dr Lisa Ackerley said: ‘Hand washing is probably the most cost-effective and simple way to reduce disease whether in the UK or in the rest of the world. 3. The comments below have not been moderated. What you can do: Make sure not to share toothbrushes, replace toothbrushes every 3 months or sooner if the bristles appear worn or damaged, store toothbrush in an upright position after rinsing it so that water will drain away from the bristles. Bacillus spp. The device packs patented purification technology to kill up to 99.9% of germs and bacteria that may be lurking unseen on fruits, vegetables, baby toys, cell phones and other household items. She has 4 children and has taken a long hiatus from her 'real job' as an educational psychologist to spend more time with her kids. And, wiping your counters or dishes with dirty sponges only spreads the bacteria around. Computer game controllers carry five times more bacteria than toilets. not to mention the moister around the sink pluss the warmth from cooking itself. 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