Dirtiest Things You Touch Every Day

Time Magazine lists the 5 germiest places in the home

The toilet seat is not the dirtiest place in the home, says University Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba, because we tend to wash that often.

Gerba suggests other places in the home need more care than they are getting. 

1. Towels should be changed out or washed every two days.

“Most people don’t wash their hands properly,” he says. When you towel off you’re rubbing bacteria into an ideal growing environment. 

Photo by Freya Willemoes-Wissing

2.  Toothbrush holders can contain a lot of germs because people don't clean them.

A 2011 report from the public health organization NSF International found 27% of toothbrush holders were home to Coliform bacteria—a sickness-causing family of microorganism that includes Salmonella and E. coli.

3. In the kitchen, the sponge used for washing and cutting board also attract bacteria.

The sponge may be the dirtiest place in the home, says Gerba. The NSF study found that 75% of home dish sponges and rags contained Coliform.

He recommends a dish cleaning brush that can be thrown into the dishwasher every day. Cutting boards should be thoroughly scrubbed or put into the dishwasher, too. 

4. Cellphones carry 10 times more bacteria than most toilet seats. 

"When's the last time you cleaned your cellphone?" asked Gerba. Studies show that one in six phones is contaminated with fecal matter. Wiping daily with a disinfectant cloth will help prevent bacteria buildup. 

 5. Outside the home, shopping carts can be havens for germs. 

“Almost 100% of them are home to E. coli because people are constantly touching the handles after holding raw food products,” Gerba explains. He also says reusable grocery bags can be dirty because they are seldom washed. 

Use wipes at the store or bring your own to clean shopping cart handles and areas where little children may sit.  

Many other everyday items should be added to the list, like shoelaces, purses, keys, and keyboards. Regular house cleaning should also include door knobs, handles, and other places that are frequently touched by many people.