Dirtiest Items In Your Home

Are you aware of the dirtiest items in your home? Your house is the place that you go to at the end of the day to relax and unwind – but it can also be home to all kinds of dirt and bacteria.

You would be surprised by the things lurking in your home that you can’t see with the naked eye. Things such as dust and dirt to mold are the most common hidden dangers in your home that can be harmful.

Many items in our homes need to be maintained and taken care of to avoid adverse environmental effects. These items can vary, but one major category of dirty objects is electronics. 

Let’s take a look at some of these items.

Computer Keyboard

Most people don’t give their computer keyboard much attention. However, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology, your computer keyboard may be dirtier than you think! 

The study found that just using one’s hands to use a keyboard can leave invisible traces of bacteria and yeasts that can be transferred back to the person after touching their eyes or mouth. In other words, it’s not uncommon for some members of your family (or yourself) to catch something like a cold, sore throat, stomach bugs, or even pink eye from dirty items such as keyboards.

If you touch the space bar, enter or backspace key on your computer keyboard, you will have about 60 million bacteria living and growing on your fingertip. The number of bacteria found on a computer keyboard is around 200 times more than on a toilet seat.

Kitchen Sponge

One of the dirtiest items in our home is the kitchen sponge. These sponges are one of the most likely sources of bacteria in your home. A sponge that’s a week old can have more than 200,000 bacterial cells living on it. 

To keep things clean:

1. Put sponges into the dishwasher when they aren’t used to disinfect them.
2. Buff them off with soap and hot water if you’re not using a dishwasher.
3. If you notice any mold or mildew, throw away the sponge immediately!

Despite what some people may think, dish soap isn’t all that effective at cleaning or killing germs. 

The best thing to do is put it in the dishwasher every day or two. You can also get antibacterial sponges to wash and reuse multiple times before getting thrown away.

Cell Phone

Many people have their cell phones next to them at all times. It’s something that many of us reach for before even brushing our teeth in the morning. Unfortunately, our cell phones are prone to dirt and bacteria. 

The most important thing to do is regularly keep your cell phone clean. Make sure you wipe it down with a damp cloth or disinfectant wipes if you work in a filthy setting or area.

We use these devices for everything from taking pictures to communicating with others. The problem is that we rarely clean them so that bacteria can grow on surfaces like the keyboard. The result is a sickening smell emanating from the phone whenever you use it.

Bathroom Sink

A dirty bathroom, especially the sink, can make you sick. A dirty sink is a breeding ground for bacteria and other microbes. The best way to keep your bathroom clean is to regularly wipe down the toilet, bathtub, and shower curtain with natural-based cleaners. 

Keep all liquids out of the sink basin, and use a bar of antibacterial soap for washing hands.

A recent study found that 95% of all bathroom sinks had E-coli and other bacteria. These bacteria make us sick, but it also causes stains and odors on the sink! 

To prevent this, we need to clean the sink with a bleach solution at least once a week, scrubbing it with a brush to eliminate any built-up grime.

Pillowcase

The truth is that the dirtiest item in your home is the pillowcase. Pillowcases hold skin cells, hair, and dust mites, and these are all highly infectious to other people. The best way to clean these items is by washing them at least once a week or every three days with detergent and bleach.

Pillows can retain sweat, skin cells, hair, dead bugs, etc. People who suffer from allergies should be especially cautious about the pillow they sleep on because it can worsen asthma symptoms or trigger a worse allergy attack.

Kitchen Towels

Kitchen towels are one of the dirtiest items in our homes, but we use them. A study found that kitchen towels have a 99% chance of bacteria, including E-coli. The most common way for bacteria to get on it is by coming into contact with raw meats or other foods that have been out too long.

The towel can pick up food particles and spread them wherever it goes. If a kitchen towel is not washed regularly, it can even release chemicals as it dries. To avoid these problems, wash your dish towels at least every other day in a hot water cycle.

Toothbrush Holder

A toothbrush holder is one of the most overlooked places in our home. A study by NSF International found that toothbrush holders are the third dirtiest items in our homes, with a staggering 77% of them being contaminated with some form of bacteria. This can lead to various illnesses like pneumonia and strep throat.

Toothbrushes are often stored in moist areas and not put back into the holder immediately after use. Environmental factors play a significant role in the level of hygiene found on toothbrush holders. 

Many factors influence the cleanliness of these items. These include humidity, sunlight, time spent between uses, and how often they are cleaned.

Coffee Machine

According to a study by NSF International, coffee makers are one of the dirtiest items in our homes. This is because it contains many different types of bacteria that can lead to illness and even death. 

The study concluded that we could be exposed to about 250 bacteria per day by using a coffee maker daily. To reduce the risk of getting sick, sanitation experts recommend running the coffee pot through an extra cycle with a half cup of vinegar or lemon juice.

Final Thoughts On Dirtiest Items In Your Home

There are many things about our homes that make them dirty and unsanitary. This includes surfaces, clothes, utensils, and places like the fridge. 

The dirtiest items in your home are the most common ones that we may not even think of as dirty such as sponges, dish towels, and countertops. When these objects become unwashed over time, they can accumulate a lot of bacteria that spread to other areas of the home.