Where’s the dirtiest place in your home?
From the ‘yuck’ file comes this on the dirtiest locations in the average home, as measured by total bacteria per square inch:
• Bathtub: Up to 250,000
• Sponge: Up to 250,000
• Kitchen Faucet Handle: Up to 25,000
• Kitchen Floor: Up to 3,500
• Kitchen Counter Top: Up to 2,500
• Bathroom Sink: Up to 2,500
• Pet Food Dish: Up to 2,500
The data comes from this study, and — full disclosure — is being touted by the makers of Lysol as part of a new press release to boost sales of their product.
The take-home message? Beware the bathtub:
A mere 3 percent of Americans believe the bathtub poses the greatest risk of transmitting germs to themselves or their children. However, the bathtub is one of the germiest surfaces in the home. A recent study found staph aureus, the most common cause of serious staph infections, in 26 percent of bathtubs tested, versus only 6 percent of garbage cans.
I guess that means the kids are getting a scrub in the trash bin tonight.
