Handwashing and Germs

These everyday items could be crawling with germs and bacteria that can make you sick. Proceed with caution and wash your hands frequently to stay healthy.

Kitchen Sink – According to the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), 45 percent of kitchen sinks are contaminated with dangerous coliform bacteria (Salmonella and E. coli are a part of this family. Note: Beware the sponge! 75% have coliform bacteria. A tip for cleaning is to sanitize sponges and scrub your sink regularly.

Cell Phone – Research from NSF found that 5% of phones tested positive for coliform bacteria and 23% tested positive for yeast or mold. Clean tip: Wipe your phone down with a lint-free cloth daily.

Wet Laundry – Germs survive cold washes. Use hot water, at least 140° Fahrenheit. Clean tip: Use a detergent with bleach or peroxide in it to kill germs. Or hang your laundry in the sun to dry – the ultraviolet rays kill germs.

Shopping Cart – Food Protection Trends found that of the shopping carts in one study, 72% had coliform bacteria and 51% had E. coli. Clean tip: Grab a disinfecting wipe and wipe down the cart before use.

Weight Equipment – 73% of weight training equipment is contaminated with rhinovirus, according to a study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine.

Only 5 percent of people wash their hands correctly, according to a Michigan State University study. To get your hands clean and help prevent illness, follow these steps from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Step 1: Use clean water to wet your hands.
• Step 2: Work soap and water into a lather all over your hands – the palm, back of the hand, around fingernails and between fingers.
• Step 3: Wash for 20 seconds (long enough to sing Happy Birthday twice).
• Step 4: Rinse off soap under clean, running, warm water.
• Step 5: Air dry or use a clean surface to dry your hands.

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