Mobile phones, computer keyboards, and kitchen faucets are among the dirtiest objects in our daily lives. Several studies have shown that these items carry more harmful bacteria than toilet bowls.
Shocking Everyday Items That Are Dirtier Than Toilets
1. Ice Cubes at Restaurants
70% of ice cubes at restaurants are dirtier than the water in toilet bowls.
2. Refrigerators
Most refrigerators are contaminated with E. Coli. Therefore, you should clean your fridge thoroughly every week.
3. Keyboards
One study found that office keyboards can be five times dirtier than toilets. Not only computer keyboards, but also ATM keypads and public phone keypads can be 200 times dirtier than toilets.
4. Handbags
Handbags can be considered mobile bacteria hotspots. They not only carry bacteria from items like wallets and mobile phones but are also rarely cleaned.
5. Your Bed
Did you know that after eight years of continuous use, your mattress can double in weight? This is due to the accumulation of dead skin cells and dust, which serve as a breeding ground for millions of bugs and bacteria. Therefore, make sure to clean your bed regularly.
6. Desks
Your desk is much dirtier than a toilet, especially for those who eat lunch at their desks and neglect cleaning.
7. Remote Controls
You use remote controls like those for TVs and garage doors every day, but how often do you clean them?
8. Shopping Carts
A study conducted at the University of Arizona found that 72% of 85 tested shopping carts contained E. Coli bacteria.
9. Carpets
According to Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, carpets often remain damp because they are used to wipe feet after bathing. Additionally, the fabric fibers are designed to trap dirt, providing a suitable environment for bacteria to thrive. Furthermore, Gerba notes that bathroom carpets often get splashed with water from toilets if the user flushes without closing the lid. A study from the University of Colorado Boulder found that water droplets containing bacteria can be propelled up to 1.5 to 2 meters when flushing without closing the lid. These droplets can spread in various directions, inevitably contaminating bathroom carpets. The moisture in the carpet and the humid air in the bathroom contribute to making these carpets dirty and filled with bacteria. Therefore, it’s advisable to hang bathroom rugs up at night when fewer people use the restroom to help them dry faster, instead of leaving them on the floor. Studies have shown that your carpet can contain 4,000 times more bacteria than a toilet.
10. Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are used everywhere and rarely cleaned, making them highly contaminated. They can carry 10 times more bacteria than a toilet.
11. Toothbrushes
The damp environment where toothbrushes are stored, along with the lack of cleaning after each use, leads to toothbrushes harboring 10 times more bacteria than toilets.
12. Shower Faucets, Light Switches, and Door Handles
Items that are used by many people tend to harbor a multitude of bacteria.
13. Restaurant Menus
Restaurant menus can contain up to 100 times more bacteria than toilets.
14. Sinks and Dishcloths
Sinks and dishcloths can contain 200,000 times more bacteria than toilets.
15. Money and Receipts
Money changes hands among many people in various situations, making it possible for currency to carry up to 200,000 bacteria.
