You work hard to protect your family from germs and allergens. But did you know that the most dangerous areas in the home are often hidden in plain sight, right under our noses?
It may surprise you to see how some of the most common items you touch—from kitchen surfaces to the couch or carpet—are actually covered in a lot more bacteria than you might think.
10 Dangerously Dirty Household Items
MONEY
Did you know that the average dollar bill touches about 14,000 sets of hands in its lifetime? In fact, money is a common carrier of bacteria, pathogens, and even traces of drugs. Makes you want to sanitize your hands after each cash transaction, doesn’t it? You probably should.
SHOPPING CARTS
Think about it: shopping carts (especially handles) are in contact with so many different hands every day. And how likely is it that they are cleaned at the end of each day? Or ever? Not to mention, carts are filled with food and produce that can easily spread bacteria. Wipe down your cart and sanitize your hands before and after each shopping cart use to help stop the spread of germs.
YOUR COUCH
It’s interesting how most families spend the majority of their time at home on their couch, but it is the least cleaned item in the home. The average family sofa is PACKED with harmful bacteria and allergens that can only be removed with professional upholstery cleaning.
YOUR CELL PHONE
Here is a fact that nobody wants to hear. The device that practically lives in your hands contains almost 10 times more germs than the toilet seat in a public restroom. Yikes. The bacteria that covers and is easily transferred to your cell phone can cause health concerns like pneumonia, food poisoning, infections, and more.
CARPET
Whatever is tracked in from outside either immediately finds its way to the carpet, floats around in the air, or is carried by our bodies and then ultimately finds a home in your carpet. In fact, traces of feces, chemicals, and urine are commonly extracted from carpet. The right carpet cleaning company can remove bacteria and allergens from carpet and make your home a more breathable and safer place to be.
KITCHEN SPONGES & TOWELS
This makes sense, right? Consider how often sponges and towels come in contact with your hands and the food you prepare. One recent study found that kitchen sponges contain about 10 million bacteria per square inch—about 200,000 more than the average toilet seat! Another study found that towels were filled with more E Coli and Salmonella than any other surface tested. Anyone else rushing to the laundry room with all of their towels?
KITCHEN SINK
The kitchen sink, faucet, and handles are commonly crawling with bacteria that make us sick. Actually, the kitchen is probably worse than the bathroom when it comes to dangerous bacteria. If you think about it, it makes sense when you consider the raw food that you prepare in your kitchen. But it’s scary to think that the room where you eat and feed your family is potentially the most dangerous. In fact, a recent study found that almost half of kitchen sinks contain coliform bacteria (a family of bacteria that includes both Salmonella and E Coli).
REMOTE CONTROL
The next time your reach for the remote to catch up on your favorite show, consider that it might be covered in bacteria and mold. Hotel room remote controls are even worse—carrying more than 13 times the maximum acceptable level of bacteria per cubic center allowed in hospitals. Are we making you paranoid?
TOOTHBRUSH & TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER
Our toothbrushes and their holders are filled with the bacteria that is commonly found in our mouths. This combined with the constant moisture they’re exposed to creates the ideal breeding ground for bacteria and can potentially cause illnesses like meningitis. Here’s another kicker: everything within a 6-foot radius can be contaminated when a toilet is flushed with the seat up—that includes your toothbrush.
FRIDGE HANDLE
Bacteria from raw meat, feces, and urine (even when you thought you washed your hands thoroughly after preparing food or using the restroom) is often deposited onto fridge handles. Think about how many times you open and close the fridge while you cook or look for a snack. And think about how many times your other family members probably do the same thing! That is why your fridge one of the most common places for the transfer of dangerous germs.
Carpet And Upholstery Cleaning In Overland Park and Leawood, Kansas
The best way to keep these bacteria-infested areas in your home under control is to sanitize them more frequently and prevent the spread of germs.
There are some areas like carpet and upholstery that, despite our best efforts, will still contain harmful bacteria and allergens without the help of a professional. Vacuum and spot clean these areas regularly and then enlist the help of McGeorge Brothers Chem-Dry of Kansas City. At least once each year to maintain a healthier home.
Did you know that Chem-Dry removes 98% of allergens from carpet and upholstery and 89% of airborne bacteria? Learn more in this recent Home Healthy Study.