No matter how much of a neat freak you are, your house is a germ-ridden minefield. And while most of us are quick to blame the usual suspect — the toilet — you’d be shocked to learn that far nastier things are lurking in your kitchen.
Warning: The following list might turn you into a germaphobe, and you might do an impulse buy of a year's worth of antibacterial cleaning wipes.
Here are 14 household items that are nastier than your toilet seat.
Ironically, the thing you rely on to keep things squeaky clean is a tiny square of filth. A 2017 study published in Scientific Reports analyzed 14 used kitchen sponges and discovered a Bacterial Eden, billing the kitchen sponge as the grossest item in the house.
Other research shows these germy little hubs could harbor pathogens like Salmonella and E. coli. Washing the sponge — the researchers say — won’t cut it. Your best bet is to replace it weekly. Wasteful, yes, but at least you are not washing your dishes with a Salmonella-soaked scrubber.
Every time you flip a switch, a little village of bacteria transfers from your grubby hands. Light switches are rarely cleaned but are touched constantly, meaning they are brimming with bacteria. Wipe them down with antibacterial wipes regularly or include them in your routine cleaning of other commonly used items.
Your cutting board — plastic or wooden — may hide more bacteria than you’d expect. Whenever you chop raw meat or veggies, those tiny grooves made by your knife become a perfect breeding ground for germs. Research suggests while wood may naturally inhibit bacteria growth, once bacteria get into the cracks, it can be tough to clean. Plastic, on the other hand, is non-porous, making it easier to clean and disinfect.
Whichever type you use, it’s crucial to sanitize it after cutting raw meat or poultry. A diluted bleach solution works well for this. And when those knife grooves start adding up, it’s time to sand it down or replace it altogether.
Your TV remote is likely packed with more nasties than you'd expect and 20 times dirtier than your toilet, according to a study that analyzed bacteria, yeast, and mold on household objects. Researchers found that TV remotes harbored 290 colony-forming units (CFU) per square centimeter, while toilet seats had just 12.4 CFU. It’s easy to see why: everyone’s grabbing it, but it rarely gets cleaned.
Next time you settle in for a binge session, wipe it down with a disinfectant.
That’s right. You’re opening the fridge to grab your organic kale, but your hand is picking up enough bacteria to make you reconsider your life choices. Scientists from the University of Virginia studied households where people had colds and found that 40% of fridge handles tested positive for rhinovirus, the common cold culprit. Disinfecting your fridge handle regularly is a simple but effective step.
Here’s a revelation that will probably haunt you for a while: You might be brushing your teeth with fecal matter. We’ll let that sink in. According to Miryam Wahrman, author of The Hand Book Surviving in a Germ-Filled World, your toothbrush could harbor more germs than a toilet seat. The explanation is pretty simple: you store your toothbrush in the bathroom, close to the toilet, and when you flush, you expose it to fecal matter. Lovely, right?
A study by Manchester University additionally shows that over 10 million bacteria could be hanging out on your toothbrush. The American Dental Association recommends rinsing toothbrushes with tap water after use and air drying, as covering them traps moisture and invites even more bacteria.
While doorknobs in public spaces are much dirtier due to the sheer number of people touching them, the ones in your house aren’t exactly spotless, either. A study from the University of Arizona found that viruses placed on a doorknob spread to 60% of workers in an office within just four hours.
So even at home, where your family’s hands are constantly in contact, doorknobs can easily become very germy. Regular disinfecting can help keep the bacteria and viruses in check, especially in high-traffic areas.
The sink is the place for cleaning and washing produce, so naturally, it’s filthy. In a 2011 study on household germs by NSF, an international public health group, researchers tested 30 surfaces in 22 homes and found that the kitchen sink was the second-grossest spot after the dish sponge. A shocking 45% of sinks contained coliform bacteria, the kind linked to fecal contamination, which often comes from unwashed produce, raw meat, and poor hand hygiene.
According to the same 2011 NSF, 32% of countertops tested positive for coliform bacteria. All that chopping and prepping, especially with raw meat, turn your countertop into a germ playground if you’re not disinfecting regularly.
Faucet handles, whether in the kitchen or bathroom, are crawling with germs. The NSF study found that these handles often harbor coliform bacteria along with yeast and mold, making them a prime spot for contamination.
Your washing machine might be cleaning your clothes, but it’s also a germ incubator. Studies have found that harmful bacteria can linger in the machine, particularly around the detergent drawer and rubber seals, and can spread to other items in the wash. To tackle this problem, run an empty cycle with bleach or a disinfectant regularly, and be sure to use your dryer on high heat, as it’s the real germ-buster.
Fido's favorite spot for chow time, but it’s also a hotspot for germs. The 2011 NSF study found that 18% of pet bowls were contaminated with coliform bacteria, and 45% had yeast and mold. Since the bowl is constantly exposed to saliva, food particles, and moisture, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
Your carpet is basically a breeding ground for bacteria and grime. In fact, microbiologists estimate that the average carpet harbors around 200,000 bacteria per square inch — making it 4,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat. Carpets absorb everything from dust and dirt to skin cells, pollen, and whatever your pets or kids track inside. All this organic matter breaks down, sinks into the fibers, and creates the perfect environment for bacteria, mold, and allergens to thrive.
After just a week of use, your pillowcase can host an average of 3 million colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria per square inch, which is 17,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. It absorbs dead skin cells, sweat, saliva, and oils from your face and hair, creating the perfect environment for bacteria, dust mites, and even fungi to thrive. Over time, this can lead to acne, allergies, and other skin irritations. So, if you’re not washing your pillowcase regularly — ideally once a week — you’re basically resting your face on a microbial wonderland.
