Eight germ hot spots worse than your toilet seat

You may consider yourself a clean freak, never touching bus poles or the buttons at pedestrian crossings and all that, but there are plenty of places where germs lurk that you may have never thought about. Da da da dum! Approach these spots with caution…

1. Fridge seals

Considering what you keep in there, you want to keep your fridge spick and span, right? The University of Arizona surveyed 160 homes to find that 83 per cent of fridge seals tested positive for mould and mildew. The same goes for the rubber cushioning that surrounds your dishwasher. Take a close look at the edges and make sure you wipe them at least once a week with disinfectant or a bleach solution.

2. Cracks in crockery

Ever noticed a crack in your crockery? That old dish may look clean, but that crack is likely to harbour thousands of germs and bacteria. The same applies with chopping boards. If it starts to develop deep marks from knife cuts, it’s time to replace.

Just because it’s a cleaning machine, doesn’t mean it’s clean. Photo: Stocksy

3. Vacuum cleaner

You may associate your Hoover with cleanliness, but it’s one of the most germ-laden appliances in your possession. Your vacuum chamber houses much more than harmless hair and dust bunnies.  A study published in the journal of Applied and Environmental Microbiology shows that vacuum bags and brushes are riddled with spreadable bacteria – with some even carrying antibiotic resistance genes. Thoroughly clean any compartments and attachments with dish soap and warm water, run an old comb over the brush and clear residue from the filter.

4. Reusable shopping bags

You may be saving the environment, but you could also be harming yourself. A 2012 Berkeley University study found an increase in emergency room admissions due to food poisoning in San Francisco following the city’s 2007 ban on plastic bags, suggesting a possible correlation. Another study found E.coli bacteria present on 12 per cent of bags sampled. Don’t go throwing yours out just yet. Just make sure you wipe them down with a paper cloth sprayed with all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar (and let them dry completely) to prevent cross-contamination.

5. Welcome mat

Don’t even think about resting your bags on the welcome mat as you fiddle for your keys. The area around your door is the filthiest in your house. Just think about where you traipse and what you scrape your shoes against throughout the day – airports, train stations, public restroom puddles. One study found that nearly 96 per cent of shoes had traces of coliform, including fecal bacteria. You don’t just greet your guests, but also the army of germs that accompany them on their footwear. Keep shoes at the door, if possible, and give your welcome mat a a spray with disinfectant whenever you can.

Don’t even think about resting your belongings on the welcome mat. Photo: Stocksy

6. Oven knobs and handles

They may not look particularly dirty, but they’re easy targets for contamination, frequently touched and exposed to pathogens such as E. coli and staph, which can make the whole household sick. The bacteria from your hands and grease from your cooking creates a grotty buildup you don’t want anywhere near your food. Don’t forget them in your cleaning routine! A regular wipedown with white vinegar or antibacterial spray will do the trick.

7. Toothbrush holder

Your toothbrush holder is so filthy it gives your toilet bowl a run for its money. They’re perpetually moist and typically situated near the toilet, catching the floating particles of fecal bacteria that catapult into the air every time you flush. (N.B. The same applies to your toothbrush.) Additionally, toothbrushes holders are often neglected in the cleaning process, providing an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Throw yours into the dishwasher tonight.

8. Washing machine

If you put something ridden with bacteria in the washing machine, where does that bacteria end up? Lower temperature cycles aren’t strong enough to kill it, encouraging breeding and transferring germs from your undies to your tea towels. Yuck! They may smell fresh, but don’t be lulled in a false sense of security and cleanliness! Always wash towels, household linen, socks and underwear on a higher temperature, sanitising your dirtiest items with a 10 per cent bleach solution. Take wet laundry out as soon as it’s done and leave the lid open between washes.

Keep those pesky bacteria in mind. Photo: Stocksy