What is the dirtiest place in your house?

The kitchen is the dirtiest room in a house, but germs also collect in the bathrooms, particularly in toothbrushes. Home offices are bacteria-ridden thanks to heavily-touched objects like keyboards and phones. Also on the list is living room carpet, washing machines, and food and water bowls for pets.
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What is the dirtiest place in a home?

Kitchen sponge

According to the 2011 NSF International Household Germ Study, the kitchen is the dirtiest area in the entire home. A family of bacteria that includes salmonella and E. coli was found in more than 75% of dish sponges and rags.
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Where in your house has the most bacteria?

Top Spots for Bacteria
  • Toilet bowl: 3.2 million bacteria/square inch.
  • Kitchen drain: 567,845 bacteria/square inch.
  • Sponge or counter-wiping cloth: 134,630 bacteria/square inch.
  • Bathtub, near drain: 119,468 bacteria/square inch.
  • Kitchen sink, near drain: 17,964 bacteria/square inch.
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Is the toilet the dirtiest place in the house?

His studies have found that on the average toilet seat there are 50 bacteria per square inch. "It's one of the cleanest things you'll run across in terms of micro-organisms," he says. "It's our gold standard - there are not many things cleaner than a toilet seat when it comes to germs."
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Why is the kitchen the dirtiest place in the house?

The kitchen

The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) found that areas where food is stored or prepared had more bacteria and fecal contamination than other places in the home. More than 75 percent of dish sponges and rags had Salmonella, E. coli, and fecal matter compared to 9 percent on bathroom faucet handles.
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The Dirtiest Places In Your Home



What is the dirtiest surface?

What Are America's Dirtiest Surfaces?
  • 71 percent of Gas Pump Handles.
  • 68 percent of Mailbox Handles.
  • 43 percent of Escalator Rails.
  • 41 percent of ATM Buttons.
  • 40 percent of Parking Meters/Kiosks.
  • 35 percent of Crosswalk Buttons.
  • 35 percent of Vending Machine Buttons.
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What is the dirtiest place in the bathroom?

A new study reveals it's not the toilet and it's not the sink. The germiest place in your bathroom is likely the spot where you hang your towels! A study and survey, conducted by electric heating specialists Rointe, reveals the filthiest area in terms of bacteria and grime is either a bathroom radiator or towel rail.
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What is the dirtiest place in the kitchen?

These are the 7 dirtiest places in your kitchen
  • Refrigerator. Your refrigerator harbors bacteria in some surprising places. ...
  • Countertop appliances. Countertop appliances need more intensive cleaning than you might think. ...
  • Countertops. ...
  • The sink. ...
  • Cooking utensils. ...
  • Reusable containers. ...
  • Knife block.
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Is kitchen sink dirtier than toilet?

A home's kitchen sink carries more bacteria than both the toilet and the garbage can, Gerba's research found. "There's more fecal bacteria in a sink than there is in a flushed toilet," Gerba told "Today." "That's why dogs drink out of the toilet.
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What is dirtier than a toilet seat?

Kitchen cloth or sponge

Dishcloths and sponges are dirtier than any other item in the average home, harboring the largest amount of E. coli and other fecal bacteria—mostly because they aren't replaced as often as they should be. Each square inch of these items contains 456 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
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Where do bacteria multiply best?

Bacteria can live in hotter and colder temperatures than humans, but they do best in a warm, moist, protein-rich environment that is pH neutral or slightly acidic.
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Why is the bathroom the most contaminated room in the house?

Bathroom. Unfortunately, some bacteria lingers in the bathroom after every use. To ensure that all types of coliform bacteria are controlled, pay particular attention to light switches, door knobs and faucet handles.
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What are the germiest places?

The Nasty 9: What Are the Germiest Places in Your Home?
  • Dish sponges. “Number one is the household sponge – almost all have E. ...
  • Kitchen sink. ...
  • Toothbrush holder. ...
  • Pet bowl and pet toys. ...
  • Coffee reservoir. ...
  • Bathroom faucet handles. ...
  • Countertop. ...
  • Stove knobs.
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What is the cleanest part of a house?

The most important part of your home to always keep clean is your kitchen and living room area. Because you need it nice and tidy for any surprise visits. And very simple to keep up with tidying up your home is by always starting the day with making your bed.
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How dirty is the floor?

Surprisingly, floors are far from the dirtiest surface areas. They pale in comparison to your bathtub drains (119,468 bacteria per square inch), or your toilet bowl (3.2 million bacteria per square inch).
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Is a cell phone dirtier than toilet seat?

Researchers at the University of Arizona found that cellphones carry ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat. While many bacteria are harmless, some studies have found serious pathogens on cellphones like E-Coli, MRSA, and Strep. To avoid picking up bacteria, don't take your phone in the bathroom with you.
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What are the dirtiest public places?

The Germiest Public Places
  • Grocery Store Cart Handles. (Thinkstock/Noel Hendrickson) ...
  • Table Surfaces and Condiments. (Thinkstock/Stockbyte) ...
  • Laundromats. ( Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) ...
  • Public Restrooms. (Thinkstock/Jupiterimages) ...
  • Gas Pump Handles. ...
  • Children's Playgrounds. ...
  • Women's Desktops. ...
  • The Remote Control.
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Is the bathroom sink dirty?

A recent study undertaken by the bacteria testing department at BioCote shows that bacteria dont always thrive in the places we would expect.
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How dirty is your sink?

"There's more fecal bacteria in your kitchen sink than there is in a toilet after you flush it," said microbiologist Charles Gerba, known as "Dr. Germ."
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How many germs are in a sink?

Out of sight may be out of mind, but lurking down the various plug holes in your home is a myriad of germs. According to research carried out by the Global Hygiene Council , kitchen sinks have over 17,000 bacteria per square inch while a further 13,000 can be found around the handles of the tap.
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What is the cleanest part of the bathroom?

Public bathrooms may be teeming with bacteria, but the toilet seat is probably safe for sitting. But the toilet seat is actually the cleanest part of the bathroom, one expert says.
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What's the nastiest city in the world?

The list of the ten cities with the most severe air pollution according to the AQI:
  • Ghaziabad, India (110.2)
  • Hotan, China (110.1)
  • Gujranwala, Pakistan (105.3)
  • Faisalabad, Pakistan (104.6)
  • Delhi, India (98.6)
  • Noida, India (97.7)
  • Gurugram, India (93.1)
  • Raiwind, Pakistan (92.2)
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Which 3 areas in the kitchen have the most bacteria?

The Top Places Germs Are Lurking in Your Kitchen
  • Cloth towel. Like sponges, cloth towels were the most frequently contaminated article in the kitchen. ...
  • Smartphone or tablet. ...
  • Sink faucet, refrigerator, oven handle, trash container. ...
  • Cooking utensils. ...
  • Hands. ...
  • Fruit and vegetables.
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What is the dirtiest body part?

Keep your hands off your belly button

Did you know that your belly button is the dirtiest part of the body, according to the Public Library of Science? “The belly button harbors a high population of bacteria,” Dr. Richardson says.
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