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From Prevention.com, listing 10 surprising places germs lurk, and how and why to disinfect them.
--The aeration screen at the end of the kitchen faucet: Over time, bacteria build up and form a wall of pathogens called biofilm that sticks to the screen. And which could break off into your food. Once a week, remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution, then let the water run a few minutes before using.
--The kitchen sink has about 1,000 times more bacteria than the average toilet has, and they especially love to grow on the crevices in and around the slimy rubber stopper for the sink garbage disposal. At least once a week, clean it with a diluted bleach solution.
--The area near your front door is one of the dirtiest in the house, one study found that nearly 96% of shoe soles had traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria. Anytime you walk on your welcome mat, you give bugs a free ride into your home. Lysol it once a week.
--13% of all vacuum cleaner brushes tested positive for E. coli, which means you could spread it around the house each time you use the appliance. Change your vacuum bag frequently, and do so outdoors, and clean the cavity of a bagless vacuum with diluted bleach and let it air-dry.
--About 7% of kitchen towels were found to be contaminated with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the difficult-to-treat staph bacteria that can cause life-threatening skin infections. Stick to paper towels to clean countertops, and save the dishrag to dry just-washed pots and plates, laundering weekly.
--When air --which carries mold spores and bacteria-- gets sucked in through the vents, it's often drawn to the car dashboard, where it can deposit the spores and germs. Because the dashboard receives the most sun and tends to stay warm, it's prime for growth. Wipe it down with disinfecting cloths often.
--About 25% of public restroom dispensers are contaminated by fecal bacteria. Get your squirt of soap, then scrub and rinse your hands, using a paper towel to open the door to leave.
--Restaurant table condiment bottles: many people don't wash their hands before eating, so while you may be diligent, the guy who poured the ketchup before you may not have been, which means his germs are now on your fries. Squirt hand sanitizer on the outside of the bottle or use a disinfectant wipe before you grab it. Holding the bottle with a napkin won't help--they're porous, so microorganisms can walk right through.
--The seal around the fridge door tested positive 83% of the time for common molds. Wipe fridge seals at least once a week with a diluted bleach solution or disinfectant.
--Cell phones and PDAs carry tons of bacteria, including staph (which can cause skin infections), pseudomonas (eye infections), and salmonella (stomach ailments). Use a disinfecting wipe a few times a week.
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