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Some of the chemical solutions are even more dangerous.
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Help your body - see below for GREEN ways to kill germs.
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Save time, money and your health with healthier choices.
Wipe Out the 10 Worst Germ Hot Spots
Locations that may surprise you—and how to make a clean sweep.
By Alyssa Shaffer, Prevention Magazine
You may scrub your toilet and countertops until they shine, but when it comes to the war between you and germs, consider yourself outnumbered. Germs (the catch-all name for bacteria, viruses, and other microorganisms) are everywhere. 99 percent of them can't harm us. But the other 1 percent can be annoying, uncomfortable, or downright scary: Most of these pathogens are either viral or bacterial and can cause everything from a runny nose to a potentially life-threatening infection.
You may think you know where germs propagate—the doctor's office, soles of your shoes—but many more germ-friendly locales are unexpected yet no less dangerous. We uncovered a host of surprising new spots where germs like to lurk, and offer easy solutions to keep you and your family safe and healthy.
Hot spot: The kitchen faucet That metal aeration screen at the end of your kitchen faucet reduces water flow, good for the environment, but not for your health: Running water keeps the screen moist, an ideal condition for bacteria growth. Because tap water is far from sterile, if you touch the screen with dirty fingers or food, bacteria can grow on the faucet, explains microbiologist Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., associate professor of community environment and policy at the U of AZ College of Public Health. Over time, bacteria build up and form a wall of pathogens called biofilm that sticks to the screen. Eventually, that biofilm may break off and get onto your food or dishes.
Keep it clean: Once a week, remove the screen and soak it in a diluted bleach solution—follow the directions on the bottle's label. Replace the screen, and let the water run a few minutes before using. (Healthier choice below)
Hot spot: Garbage disposal Raw chicken or spinach is often loaded with bacteria, which can make anyone with a compromised immune system seriously ill. In fact, there are often more than 500,000 bacteria in the kitchen sink—about 1,000 times more than the average toilet has. Although the metal part of the disposal produces ions that can help kill germs, they still grow on crevices in and around the slimy rubber stopper. Your disposal can be party central for bacteria, contaminating whatever touches it—dishes, utensils, even your hands.
Keep it clean: At least once a week, clean the disposal's rubber stopper with a diluted bleach solution—soap and water aren't enough. (Healthier choice below)
Hot spot: The welcome mat It serves to greet not only your guests but also all the bugs on the bottoms of their shoes. One study found that nearly 96 percent of shoe soles had traces of coliform, which includes fecal bacteria. "The area near your front door is one of the dirtiest in the house," says Reynolds. Once bacteria plant their stakes in your mat, anytime you walk on it, you give them a free ride into your home.
Keep it clean: Spray the doormat once a week with a fabric-safe disinfectant. Leave shoes at the door, and avoid resting bags and groceries on the mat, too. (Healthier choice below)
Hot spot: Your vacuum cleaner "Vacuums—including the brushes and bags—are like meals-on-wheels for bacteria," says Charles Gerba, Ph.D., professor of environmental biology at the University of Arizona. "You suck in all this bacteria and food, creating an atmosphere for growth." A recent study by Gerba and his team found that 13 percent 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.
Keep it clean: Change your vacuum bag frequently, and do so outdoors to avoid the cloud of bacteria that filters into the air. (Vacuum bags that feature antibacterial linings are best.) Clean the cavity of a bagless vacuum with diluted bleach and let it air-dry.
Hot spot: A dish towel You know a sponge can harbor nasty germs, but a recent study of hundreds of homes across the United States found that about 7 percent of kitchen towels were contaminated with MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the difficult-to-treat staph bacteria that can cause life-threatening skin infections. Dish towels also rated tops for dangerous strains of E. coli and other bacteria. We often use towels to wipe up spills, says Reynolds, then reuse before washing them, which spreads germs.
Keep it clean: Stick to paper towels to clean countertops, and save the dishrag to dry just-washed pots and plates. Change towels or launder at least twice a week in hot water and bleach. (Healthier choice below)
Hot spot: Your car's dashboard In tests of 100 vehicles from across the United States, the dashboard was found to be the second-most-common spot for bacteria and mold. (Food spills were number one.) The researchers' rationale: When air—which carries mold spores and bacteria—gets sucked in through the vents, it's often drawn to the 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.
Keep it clean: Regularly swipe the inside of your car with disinfecting wipes. Be more vigilant during allergy season—about 20 million Americans are affected by asthma, which is caused in part by an allergic reaction to mold. (Healthier choices below)
Hot spot: Soap dispensers Soap that harbors bacteria may sound ironic, but one recent study found that about 25 percent of liquid soap dispensers in public restrooms were contaminated by fecal bacteria. "Most of these containers are never cleaned, so bacteria grows as the soap scum builds up," says Gerba. "And the bottoms are touched by dirty hands, so there's a continuous culture going on feeding millions of bacteria."
Keep it clean: Be sure to scrub hands thoroughly for 15 to 20 seconds with plenty of hot water. (A drop of Basic H2 kills millions of germs)
Hot spot: Restaurant ketchup bottle It's the rare eatery that regularly bleaches down condiment containers. And many people don't wash their hands before eating, says Reynolds. 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.
Keep it clean: 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 seep right through, says Reynolds. (H2 wipes are nontoxic and work like magic)
Hot spot: The refrigerator seal U of AZ survey of three U.S. cities found the seal around the fridge tested positive 83 percent of the time for common molds. The mold can spread every time the refrigerator door opens—exposing anyone who's susceptible to allergies, and contaminating the food.
Keep it clean: Wipe fridge seals at least once a week with a diluted bleach solution or disinfectant. (H2 is inexpensive and kills germs or try Germicide)
Hot spot: Your cell phone You probably put it down any place that's convenient, but several studies on cell phones and PDAs found they carry tons of bacteria, including staph (which can cause skin infections), pseudomonas (eye infections), and salmonella (stomach ailments). Many electronic devices are sheathed in leather or vinyl cases, which provide plenty of crevices for germs to hide. (H2 Wipes)
Keep it clean: Use a disinfecting wipe a few times a week, and be conscious of where you rest personal items.
Bleaches and chemicals are not the answer.
Women work with toxic chemicals at home. Their physiology is conducive to absorbing these chemicals. The health care cost of women’s environmentally associated diseases is 12.2 billion annually. This is not acceptable. There's more bad news:
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The most common poison exposure for kids is ingesting household products
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Chlorine is the #1 cause of child poisonings in US
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150 Chemicals found in the home are associated with allergies, birth defects, cancer, and psychological disorders.
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90% of Toxic hazards are caused by the inhalation of vapors and absorption of hazardous particles.
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There is a dramatic increases in rate of asthma in women in past 10 years due to longer exposure times to household chemicals.
Shaklee has a solution:
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