You may think that your toilet is the grossest thing in your home, but it's actually something in your kitchen. According to a new study, kitchen towels hold dangerous amounts of bacteria and germs, making them one of the germiest household items. The bacteria on them can cause food poisoning and skin and soft tissue infections and factors like the size of your family, diet, and what the towels are used to wipe can affect how much bacteria is on a kitchen towel. And these are some of the other disgusting things in your home.
Coffee maker- According to a National Sanitation Foundation germ study,coffee reservoirs are the fifth germiest place in your home. They advise washing removable parts after each use, wiping outer surfaces every day, and cleaning inside parts every 40 to 60 brew cycles or once a month.
Plastic water bottles - Plastic can crack, get scratched and harbor bacteria, but stainless steel water bottles are naturally anti-bacterial.
Handbags- A 2015 studyfound that purses commonly have bacteria like Staph on them from setting them on the floor in restaurants, public restrooms, and trains. And when was the last time you cleaned the outside of your purse? Exactly, so the study advises regularly wiping them down inside and out.
Shoes - If you don’t take your shoes off inside your house, you’re probably contaminating your floors with all kinds of nasties you pick up walking around. According to a 2017 University of Houstonstudy, more than a quarter of shoes carry C.diff, a dangerous bacterial strain that can cause everything from diarrhea to deadly infections.
Toothbrushes - Toothbrushes can harbor bacteria, especially if you put your damp one in a closed container or store it near a toilet. The American Dental Association recommends rinsing the toothbrush after each use and letting it air dry, plus you should change it every three to four months.