The dirtiest objects in everyday life

The next time you answer a call on your smartphone, firmly pressing it to your face, think about the fact that you may be touching the feces.

Фото: Depositphotos

Researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found fecal matter on each of the 6 smartphones in the 2011 study of the year. Add to this the work of Charles Gerb, a famous microbiologist at the University of Arizona, who found that cell phones contain more bacteria in 10 times than most toilet seats.

Familiar objects to which we touch every day, from mobile phones to kitchen sinks, contain much more bacteria than our toilets. And although 80% infections occur because of our touches of these items, we rarely clean them the same way as “porcelain thrones”.

Footwear

Over 2 weeks, a new pair of shoes accumulates 421 thousand units of bacteria - the average number of bacteria that Gerba found in his study. Nearly a third of shoes (27%) were found to have E. coli, indicating "frequent contact with fecal material, most likely from the floor of public restrooms or after exposure to animal fecal material outdoors," Gerba said. Washing shoes in a washing machine with detergent eliminates 90% of bacteria, including fecal matter.

Kitchen sink

There are more bacteria in kitchen sinks than in toilets and trash bins, according to a study of the coat of arms. It is even worse when there is a wet kitchen sponge nearby, which is actually a thousand times dirtier than your toilet in 200. Wash the sink with hot, soapy water and wipe it daily with disinfecting wipes. Before wetting the sponge, put it in the microwave for a minute to clean.

Playground Equipment

When playing in open areas outside, children swing and slide on dangerous bacteria. “I won’t let my grandchildren go to playgrounds,” said the microbiologist. “Playgrounds are essentially public toilets for birds, and you’ll never see, say, a soccer ball without E. coli on it.” “If you care for children, carry hand sanitizer for them,” he added.

Reusable Shopping Bags

One study of the Emblem showed that 97% of shoppers never cleaned their reusable bags, creating a breeding ground for potentially dangerous bacteria. Bags of casual buyers who were able to investigate, contained a high enough level of bacteria to cause a lot of serious health problems, revealed the emblem. Children are especially vulnerable. However, thorough washing of the bags killed almost all the bacteria.

Electronic devices

It's not just cell phones that never get cleaned, as Gerba's work shows, but also TV remotes. When multiple people touch a shared item—such as an iPad—owners can get sick, Gerba said. To clean such surfaces, use a simple disinfectant wipe.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Medicine in the USA: expensive and even more expensive

Personal experience: cons of the Medicaid program

5 ways to save on Medicare insurance

Survive without insurance: how to get medical care in the US and avoid huge bills

From the first person. How the US cares about the health of its citizens

How to reduce the bill for treatment in an American hospital

Who can get Medicare and Medicaid

Medical insurance in the USA: how to start a choice

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.