February 13th, 2011

Germs are everywhere, and with flu season upon us, keeping those germs away is a top priority.

But surprisingly enough, those tiny microorganisms are in places many of us have never thought about.

Most of us think about germs being in the common places like the bathroom, toilet seats the shower, and even on door handles. But a study by prevention magazine found germs lurking in some very surprising places.

Number one, your kitchen faucet. The running water keeps the screen moist. The perfect place for bacteria to grow. Experts say if enough of those pathogens build up, they can break off and fall onto your food or dishes.

Experts say take your screen off once a week and soak it in a diluted solution of bleach.

Number two: The garbage disposal. Every time you rinse that chicken or dump something down the garbage disposal those germs stick to the rubber ledge inside"

Get this, scientists say there are often more than 500,000 bacteria in the kitchen sink. That's about one thousand times more than the average toilet.

Again keep it clean, using a diluted bleach solution. Soap and water aren't enough.

Number 3: The welcome mat. One study found nearly 96% of shoe soles had traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria. Leave your shoes outside.

Number 4: The vacuum cleaner.

One expert calls the vacuum “meals on wheels for bacteria.” Every time you vacuum the floor, you suck in bacteria and food creating a home for growth. 13% of all vacuum cleaner brushes tested positive for e. Coli, meaning you could spread it around the house every time you use it.

Change your vacuum bag often, and do it outside to avoid the cloud of bacteria that filters into the air.

Number 6: The car dashboard. Mold, spores and germs can blow in through the vents and settle on the dashboard and grow in that nice warm sun. Wipe down the inside of your car often.

Number 7: Soap dispensers? It sounds a little weird, but studies show most soap containers are never cleaned so bacteria grows as the soap scum builds up, and the bottoms are touched by dirty hands.

Number 8: The restaurant ketchup bottle. Just think of all the hands that touch that thing. Bring hand sanitizer and squirt some on the bottle.

Number 9: The refrigerator seal. This one is disgusting. A University of Arizona survey of 160 homes found the seal around the fridge tested positive 83% of the time for common molds.

Again use bleach to clean it once a week.

And last but not least, your cell phone. This little device carries all kinds of germs including the dangerous staph bacteria. Use a disinfectant wipe a couple times a week to keep it clean.