In contrast to my post about "10 Things You're Not Cleaning But Should Be," here are eight things you might be spending too much time cleaning when you really don't have to be. So before you whipe out the antibacterial hand sanitizer or the disinfectant spray one more time, check out this list of not so dirty places that get a bad rap according to Good Housekeeping.
Toilet || There's more E. Coli in the average sink than in the toilet after you flush it, says microbiologist Charles Gerba (a.k.a. Dr. Germ), a professor at the University of Arizona's department of soil, water and environmental science. The seat is especially clean. "There's usually 200 times more fecal bacteria on a cutting board than on a toilet seat," he adds. (Unfortunately, that's not the case for telephones, remote controls, sponges and dishtowels!) Because you "perceive" your toilet to be dirty, you're more likely to clean it, says microbiologist Lisa Yakas, a home product certification project manager at NSF International, a nonprofit public health organization. "Those areas they don't think about are the ones that get ignored." Still flush with the toilet seat down to prevent spraying fecal matter and stash toothbrushes in a drawer or medicine cabinet, says Yakas.
Coins || Germs prefer soft, moist environments. “Coins are
made of metal, and metal has some antimicrobial properties,” says
microbiologist Kelly Wroblewski, director of the infectious disease program at
the Association of Public Health Laboratories. “They’re not a good place for
germs to live.” In fact, copper, nickel, and silver are antimicrobial, says Gerba.
“Coinage money, like dimes, nickels, quarters, generally don’t support
bacteria,” says Philip Tierno, director of microbiology and immunology at New
York University Langone Medical Center and author of The Secret Life of Germs.
“Trace metals like silver, nickel, aluminum and cooper don’t allow survival of
organisms. They’re poisonous to organisms.” And like paper money, which has an
antimicrobial coating, coins are dry, says Tierno.
Dog Kisses || Slobber can be gross, but it’s not
necessarily germy. “The dirtiest things around the house are the humans,” says
Larson. “Everything has germs on it.” But not all germs are created equal. “A
human bite is much worse than a dog bite,” she adds. “Saliva has antibacterial
products in it.” And remember the hygiene hypothesis? Kids may get an
immune-system boost from exposure to animals. “Children exposed to greater
microbial diversity are less likely to have allergies,” says Wroblewski. “They
exhibit better immune systems.”
Your Jewelry || Like
coins, jewelry made from real copper, nickel, and silver makes a bad home for
germs, says Tierno. That’s especially true for silver, which is less likely to
be made of a composite and can actually kill germs. (Some bandage companies
have even made products with silver nanoparticles as an antiseptic.) The metal
prevents germs from replicating and dividing, says Tierno. So feel free to swap
silver necklaces with a friend.
The Backyard || “Dirt is dirty, but
that’s different from being germy,” says Elaine Larson, RN, PhD, associate dean
for research at the Columbia University School of Nursing. So what’s okay when
it comes to kids? According to Larson, “unless there’s a lot of poop from
animals,” crawling around in the grass is perfectly safe. “There are lots of
bacteria in your garden, but they’re harmless to human health,” says
Wroblewski. “It’s germy, but the germs are not pathogenic.” Watch out for
sandboxes, though, “because cats poop in them,” says Gerba. “They carry
parasites your kids can pick up.” If your child has a cut or scrape, keep him
out of the dirt, which “usually contains large numbers of bacteria,” says
Tierno. “These ordinarily don’t hurt you unless you have an open wound.”
Sometimes the organisms may even produce antimicrobial results.
Door Handles || Contamination is
all about “high-touch surfaces,” says Sasha Madison, MPH, manager of infection
prevention and control at Stanford Hospital and Clinics. Many people keep them
open, which means the knobs stay surprisingly clean. “Doorknobs aren’t touched
as much as people think,” says Gerba. And they’re usually made of inhospitable
metal. “Bacteria and viruses are not going to live there very long,” says
Wroblewski. One caveat: “The doorknob on the [restroom] entrance has more germs
on it than the exit,” says Gerba. It turns out that only 67 percent of people
rinse their hands with water after using a public washroom, and only a third of
those use soap. Try to steer clear of hand dryers, which can spray around
germs.
Trash Cans || “Bathtubs are
germier than trash cans,” says Madison. “There are many organisms, but they’re
not all dangerous.” To sterilize your wastebasket, or anything else, use a disinfectant like
chlorine bleach, alcohol, and hydrogen peroxide. Experts also recommend killing
bacteria in the kitchen, where you may not want the smell of these products,
with white distilled vinegar. “It’s clear, it leaves a nice shine, and it’s
safe for pets and children,” says Duberg. Trash cans are also generally dry
(assuming you use a liner). “Organisms can’t survive without water,” says
Tierno.
Urine || Yep. That’s right. “Urine is sterile,” says
microbiologist Donna Duberg, an assistant professor of clinical laboratory
science at Saint Louis University. Feces, not urine, are the problem. That’s
why microbiologists worry more about the kitchen and about raw meat, which may
contain E. coli and salmonella from feces.
