America's 12 Germiest Places

It's enough to make the hypochondriac in all of us squirm
By Sophie Goldstein,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 1, 2007 2:15 PM CDT

The trash smells worse than the kitchen sinks, but it's not necessarily less prone to germs. Health gives you the 12 germiest places:

  1. Kitchen sink and counters—Use antibacterial product.
  2. Airplane bathrooms—Flushing sprays germs everywhere.
  3. Wet laundry—E. coli, courtesy dirty skivvies. Use bleach, dry high heat.
  4. Public drinking fountains—Up to 2.7 million bacteria per square inch.

  1. Shopping cart handles—Swab with disinfectant wipe.
  2. ATM buttons—Not regularly cleaned.
  3. Purse—And your makeup case.
  4. Playgrounds—Blood, mucous, saliva, urine.
  5. Gym mats, machines—Bring your own or cover.
  6. Tub—You wash your germs off, then leave them in a wet environment.
  7. Office phone—Coated with germs from your hands and mouth.
  8. Hotel remote—Also wipe down phone, clock, door handles, and light switches. Don't think about bedspread.
(More bacteria stories.)

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