chowking
03-02-2008, 11:47 PM
Subject: Soap up!
The 12 germiest places in your life
Sure, there are outbreaks of microbes and viruses across the
country, but
some of these germs are lurking where you least expect
them. "Health"
magazine senior editor Frances Largeman-Roth pinpoints the 12
germiest
places you're likely to encounter during an average day and devises
ways
for you to keep clean. After all, the fight is in your hands.
Literally.
Eighty percent of infections are spread through hand contact. So
wash up,
people, and get ready to wage a bit of germ warfare of your own:
1. Your kitchen sink
Kitchen sinks are dirtier than most bathrooms. There are typically
more
than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain alone. Plus your
sponge, basin and faucet handles are crawling with bacteria as well.
Reduce the risk: Clean your kitchen counters and sink with an
antibacterial product after preparing or cleansing food, especially
raw
fruits and vegetables, which carry lots of potential pathogens like
salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli. Wash your hands as well with
warm,
soapy water for 20 seconds (long enough to sing "Happy Birthday").
Sanitize sponges by running them through the dishwasher's drying
cycle,
which will kill 99.9 percent of bacteria on them. As for the sink,
clean
it twice a week with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine
bleach and
one quart of water. Scrub the basin, the pour solution down the
drain.
2. Airplane bathrooms
It may not be a shock that there are a huge number of germs in most
public bathrooms, but experts agree the cramped and overused ones on
airplanes are the worst. There are often traces of E. coli or fecal
bacteria on the faucets and door handles because it's hard to wash
hands
in the tiny sinks. And the volcanic flush of the commode tends to
spew
particles into the air, coating the floor and walls with whatever
had
been swirling around in it.
Reduce the risk: Toilet seats are surprisingly clean, but use the
paper
cover when available. After using the toilet, wash and dry your
hands
thoroughly, and use a paper towel to handle the toilet seat, lid,
tap and
doorknob. Put the lid down before you flush. If there's no lid,
turn your
back to the toilet while flushing and beat a hasty retreat.
3. A load of wet laundry
Any time you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you're
getting E. coli on your hands. Just one soiled undergarment can
spread
bacteria to the whole load and machine.
Reduce the risk: Run your washer at 150 degrees (you can check the
temperature of your washing-machine water with a candy thermometer)
and
wash whites with bleach (not the color-safe type; it doesn't pack
the
same punch), which kills 99.9 percent of bugs. Transfer wet laundry
to
the dryer quickly so germs don't multiply, wash underwear separately
(there's about a gram of feces in every pair of dirty underwear)
and dry
for at least 45 minutes. Wash your hands after laundering.
4. Public drinking fountains
Drinking fountains are bound to be germy, but school fountains are
the
worst, with anywhere from 62,000 to 2.7 million bacteria per square
inch
on the spigot.
Reduce the risk: Send your child to school with plenty of their own
beverages and tell them to wash their hands throughout the day.
5. Shopping cart handles
Saliva, bacteria and fecal matter are just a few of the substances
found
on shopping cart handles. Cart handles rank high on the yuck scale
because they're handled by dozens of people every day and, of
course, raw
food carries nasty pathogens.
Reduce the risk: Many stores have dispensers with disinfectant
wipes near
the carts. If your store doesn't, bring your own wipes and give the
handle a quick swab. Or carry along a cart cover like the Grip-
Guard or
Healthy Handle.
6. ATM buttons
If you're not careful, you might pick up more than quick cash from
your
local ATM. These buttons have more gunk on them than most public-
bathroom
doorknobs! ATMs aren't frequently cleaned, and are regularly
touched - a
perfect combination for a lot of germs.
Reduce the risk: Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and
rub
it on hands after visits. Also be sure to do it after you handle
paper
money, which actually carries quite a few germs, too.
7. Your handbag
Recent studies found that most women's purses had tens of thousands
of
bacteria on the bottom and a few were overrun with millions. Another
study found bugs like pseudomonas (which can cause eye infections)
and
skin-infection- causing staphylococcus bacteria, as well as
salmonella and
E. coli.
Reduce the risk: Instead of slinging your bag on the floor, hang it
on a
hook whenever possible - especially in public bathrooms - and keep
your
bag off the kitchen counter. Stick with leather or vinyl purses,
which
are typically cleaner than cloth.
8. Playgrounds
There's just no way to put this delicately: Children tend to ooze
bodily
fluids and then spread them around. When researchers sampled
playgrounds,
they found blood, mucus, saliva and urine. Pair those findings with
the
fact that children put their fingers in their mouths and noses more
than
the rest of us, and it's easy to understand why Junior (and maybe
his mom
or dad) has the sniffles.
Reduce the risk: Carry alcohol wipes or hand-sanitizing gel in your
purse, and clean everybody's hands a couple of times during a park
visit,
especially before snacking. Pick warm sunny days for outdoor play:
The
sun's ultraviolet light is actually a very effective disinfectant.
Most
bugs won't survive long on surfaces that are hot and dry.
9. Mats and machines at health clubs
Antibiotic-resistan t staphylococcus has been found on yoga mats and
cardio and resistance machines. At high schools,
antibiotic-resistan t-staph infections have been transmitted through
wrestling mats. The same thing could happen at health clubs.
Reduce the risk: Wipe down machines with antibacterial wipes before
working out. Bring your own yoga mat or cover a loaner with your
towel.
Shower after a workout and soap up your skin to rinse off any
bacteria
you may have been exposed to, as thorough washing gets rid of
antibiotic-resistan t staph.
10. Your bathtub
Shocking, but true: The place you go to get clean is quite dirty. A
recent study found staphylococcus bacteria, a common cause of
serious
skin infections, in 26 percent of the tubs tested, as compared with
just
6 percent of garbage cans. Tubs typically had more than 100,000
bacteria
per square inch! You're washing germs and viruses off your body and
the
tub is a fairly moist environment, so bacteria can grow.
Reduce the risk: Once a week, apply a disinfecting cleaner to the
tub and
actually scrub. Then you need to wash the germs down the drain with
water
and dry the tub with a clean towel. If you leave the tub wet, germs
are
more likely to survive. If someone who uses the tub has a skin
infection,
scrub it afterward with a solution of two tablespoons bleach in one
quart
of water.
11. Your office phone
This is enough to make you dial 911: Office phones often have more
than
25,000 germs per square inch, and your desk, computer keyboard and
mouse
aren't far behind. Phones, including cell phones, can be pretty
gross
because they get coated with germs from your mouth and hands.
Reduce the risk: Simply cleaning your desk, phone and keyboard with
a
disinfecting wipe once in the middle of the day will kill 99.99
percent
of the bacteria and viruses.
12. The hotel-room remote control (and yes, specially in a
cruiseship)
What's the first thing you do when you settle in at a hotel? You
grab the
remote control and switch on the TV - you, and the hundreds of other
guests who've stayed there. How dirty is it? A recent study tested
various surfaces for the cold virus after a group of sick people had
stayed overnight and found the virus on the remote, door handles,
light
switches, pens and faucet handles.
Reduce the risk: Clean the remote control, phone, clock radio, door
handles and light switches with germicidal wipes.
The 12 germiest places in your life
Sure, there are outbreaks of microbes and viruses across the
country, but
some of these germs are lurking where you least expect
them. "Health"
magazine senior editor Frances Largeman-Roth pinpoints the 12
germiest
places you're likely to encounter during an average day and devises
ways
for you to keep clean. After all, the fight is in your hands.
Literally.
Eighty percent of infections are spread through hand contact. So
wash up,
people, and get ready to wage a bit of germ warfare of your own:
1. Your kitchen sink
Kitchen sinks are dirtier than most bathrooms. There are typically
more
than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain alone. Plus your
sponge, basin and faucet handles are crawling with bacteria as well.
Reduce the risk: Clean your kitchen counters and sink with an
antibacterial product after preparing or cleansing food, especially
raw
fruits and vegetables, which carry lots of potential pathogens like
salmonella, campylobacter and E. coli. Wash your hands as well with
warm,
soapy water for 20 seconds (long enough to sing "Happy Birthday").
Sanitize sponges by running them through the dishwasher's drying
cycle,
which will kill 99.9 percent of bacteria on them. As for the sink,
clean
it twice a week with a solution of one tablespoon of chlorine
bleach and
one quart of water. Scrub the basin, the pour solution down the
drain.
2. Airplane bathrooms
It may not be a shock that there are a huge number of germs in most
public bathrooms, but experts agree the cramped and overused ones on
airplanes are the worst. There are often traces of E. coli or fecal
bacteria on the faucets and door handles because it's hard to wash
hands
in the tiny sinks. And the volcanic flush of the commode tends to
spew
particles into the air, coating the floor and walls with whatever
had
been swirling around in it.
Reduce the risk: Toilet seats are surprisingly clean, but use the
paper
cover when available. After using the toilet, wash and dry your
hands
thoroughly, and use a paper towel to handle the toilet seat, lid,
tap and
doorknob. Put the lid down before you flush. If there's no lid,
turn your
back to the toilet while flushing and beat a hasty retreat.
3. A load of wet laundry
Any time you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you're
getting E. coli on your hands. Just one soiled undergarment can
spread
bacteria to the whole load and machine.
Reduce the risk: Run your washer at 150 degrees (you can check the
temperature of your washing-machine water with a candy thermometer)
and
wash whites with bleach (not the color-safe type; it doesn't pack
the
same punch), which kills 99.9 percent of bugs. Transfer wet laundry
to
the dryer quickly so germs don't multiply, wash underwear separately
(there's about a gram of feces in every pair of dirty underwear)
and dry
for at least 45 minutes. Wash your hands after laundering.
4. Public drinking fountains
Drinking fountains are bound to be germy, but school fountains are
the
worst, with anywhere from 62,000 to 2.7 million bacteria per square
inch
on the spigot.
Reduce the risk: Send your child to school with plenty of their own
beverages and tell them to wash their hands throughout the day.
5. Shopping cart handles
Saliva, bacteria and fecal matter are just a few of the substances
found
on shopping cart handles. Cart handles rank high on the yuck scale
because they're handled by dozens of people every day and, of
course, raw
food carries nasty pathogens.
Reduce the risk: Many stores have dispensers with disinfectant
wipes near
the carts. If your store doesn't, bring your own wipes and give the
handle a quick swab. Or carry along a cart cover like the Grip-
Guard or
Healthy Handle.
6. ATM buttons
If you're not careful, you might pick up more than quick cash from
your
local ATM. These buttons have more gunk on them than most public-
bathroom
doorknobs! ATMs aren't frequently cleaned, and are regularly
touched - a
perfect combination for a lot of germs.
Reduce the risk: Carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you and
rub
it on hands after visits. Also be sure to do it after you handle
paper
money, which actually carries quite a few germs, too.
7. Your handbag
Recent studies found that most women's purses had tens of thousands
of
bacteria on the bottom and a few were overrun with millions. Another
study found bugs like pseudomonas (which can cause eye infections)
and
skin-infection- causing staphylococcus bacteria, as well as
salmonella and
E. coli.
Reduce the risk: Instead of slinging your bag on the floor, hang it
on a
hook whenever possible - especially in public bathrooms - and keep
your
bag off the kitchen counter. Stick with leather or vinyl purses,
which
are typically cleaner than cloth.
8. Playgrounds
There's just no way to put this delicately: Children tend to ooze
bodily
fluids and then spread them around. When researchers sampled
playgrounds,
they found blood, mucus, saliva and urine. Pair those findings with
the
fact that children put their fingers in their mouths and noses more
than
the rest of us, and it's easy to understand why Junior (and maybe
his mom
or dad) has the sniffles.
Reduce the risk: Carry alcohol wipes or hand-sanitizing gel in your
purse, and clean everybody's hands a couple of times during a park
visit,
especially before snacking. Pick warm sunny days for outdoor play:
The
sun's ultraviolet light is actually a very effective disinfectant.
Most
bugs won't survive long on surfaces that are hot and dry.
9. Mats and machines at health clubs
Antibiotic-resistan t staphylococcus has been found on yoga mats and
cardio and resistance machines. At high schools,
antibiotic-resistan t-staph infections have been transmitted through
wrestling mats. The same thing could happen at health clubs.
Reduce the risk: Wipe down machines with antibacterial wipes before
working out. Bring your own yoga mat or cover a loaner with your
towel.
Shower after a workout and soap up your skin to rinse off any
bacteria
you may have been exposed to, as thorough washing gets rid of
antibiotic-resistan t staph.
10. Your bathtub
Shocking, but true: The place you go to get clean is quite dirty. A
recent study found staphylococcus bacteria, a common cause of
serious
skin infections, in 26 percent of the tubs tested, as compared with
just
6 percent of garbage cans. Tubs typically had more than 100,000
bacteria
per square inch! You're washing germs and viruses off your body and
the
tub is a fairly moist environment, so bacteria can grow.
Reduce the risk: Once a week, apply a disinfecting cleaner to the
tub and
actually scrub. Then you need to wash the germs down the drain with
water
and dry the tub with a clean towel. If you leave the tub wet, germs
are
more likely to survive. If someone who uses the tub has a skin
infection,
scrub it afterward with a solution of two tablespoons bleach in one
quart
of water.
11. Your office phone
This is enough to make you dial 911: Office phones often have more
than
25,000 germs per square inch, and your desk, computer keyboard and
mouse
aren't far behind. Phones, including cell phones, can be pretty
gross
because they get coated with germs from your mouth and hands.
Reduce the risk: Simply cleaning your desk, phone and keyboard with
a
disinfecting wipe once in the middle of the day will kill 99.99
percent
of the bacteria and viruses.
12. The hotel-room remote control (and yes, specially in a
cruiseship)
What's the first thing you do when you settle in at a hotel? You
grab the
remote control and switch on the TV - you, and the hundreds of other
guests who've stayed there. How dirty is it? A recent study tested
various surfaces for the cold virus after a group of sick people had
stayed overnight and found the virus on the remote, door handles,
light
switches, pens and faucet handles.
Reduce the risk: Clean the remote control, phone, clock radio, door
handles and light switches with germicidal wipes.