Germ and Bacteria Hot-Spots: 12 Things You Should Know
Pages in this Story:
- Germs: Dangerous or Not?
- Dirty Door Handles
- Unclean Office Objects
- Filthy Floors
- Scuzzy Sponges
- Unsanitary Kitchen Sinks
- Bunking with Bacteria
- Bedbug Elimination
- Toothbrush Trouble
- Bathroom Bacteria Buildup
- Laundry Mildew
- Contaminated Makeup
- Dirty Money
- Should You Use Antibacterial Products?
Bunking with Bacteria
Claim: If you've had the same pillow for years, you're bunking with billions of bacteria.
True. But don't lose any sleep over it. The organisms found on pillows are normally harmless bacteria that live on your skin. "You're more likely to become uncomfortable sleeping on a pillow before you reach a point where you're going to get a serious infection from it," says Brown. Plus, pillows themselves aren't breeding grounds for germs: Bacteria need something to live on to multiply, and they can't do that on the materials in pillows (including the stuffing). Worst-case scenario: If you've got a staph infection with a boil, you could reinfect yourself or transfer it, says Brown. "But the chances are low if the pillow has a clean case, which provides a barrier." Wash pillowcases once a week and pillows regularly (most can go in the washing machine). You can change your pillow every five or six years, but experts suggest this for comfort reasons.
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Don't forget the buffet restaurants where everybody touches the serving utensils before you do and then you get your stuff, go back to your table and start eating. Maybe you cleaned your hands before you got your stuff but don't assume everyone else did!!!!!!!!!!
11/20/2012 10:56:46 PM Report Abuseon the topic of dirty door handles, i again disagree! Someone with damp hands touching a door handle has 500% more probability of cross contamination! However, I have seen in the British press recently that there is a new hygienic door handle from a company called Pure Hold that actually cleans your hands - if these get rolled out in hospitals we will all be better of! Have a look for yourself http://www.purehold.co.uk/
12/31/2011 03:44:01 PM Report Abusetotally disagree with this - inanimate objects such as door handles, phones, money have been proven to transfer germs and viruses - there is a wealth of research on the web that proves this!
12/31/2011 03:35:22 PM Report Abuseis phone funk on the mouthpiece of a phone mean there is bacteria on it? same for the sweaty musty smell that comes from my washing machine?
4/13/2011 03:46:24 PM Report Abusei am throwing out my cleaning sponges pronto. i have used these for several months. i just assumed the cleaning stuff i use was keeping them from harvesting bacteria.
4/13/2011 03:43:45 PM Report Abuse