Do you know which places have the most germs?
There are places where it is easier to get germs that can cause infections. Despite sounding paranoid, it is better to always be cautious and carry antibacterial gel to avoid any type of illness.
At work, in restaurants, schools, stores and other public places, they are usually where most germs are on objects, so you should wash your hands after having any type of contact.
The public places with the most germs
Water parks and swimming pool
In these places, there are usually thousands of children and a large part of them could leave excrement in the water.
The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than half of the pools analyzed in a study tested positive for E. Coli, the cause of various gastrointestinal infections.
One of his most important recommendations is that you should not swallow the water in the pools, especially in water parks.
Restaurant menus
Restaurant menus are usually never cleaned. These contain Staphylococcus aureus or E. Coli bacteria, according to a study by the Basque Culinary Center (BCC).
Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona, stated that letters have 100 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
For this reason, it is recommended not to place cutlery on top, and to clean your hands after touching them.
gym machines
A study conducted by FitRated, the main focus of bacteria are gyms, being dangerous to health by 70%.
An exercise bike has 39 times more bacteria than a cafeteria tray. Weights have 362 times more germs than a toilet seat and a treadmill has 74 times more germs than a faucet.
Money
Every day money is manipulated when making purchases or when withdrawing from an ATM (these keys are also a source of bacteria), without knowing that the flu virus can survive up to 17 days on a bill.
And, it is evident that gloves are going to be used every time that cash is going to be handled.
However, it is recommended to disinfect your hands after holding bills or coins, to avoid any type of contagion.
supermarket trolley
At the University of Arizona, a group of scientists conducted a study and found that 72% of the carts used in the supermarket contain fecal bacteria, which are susceptible to causing diseases such as salmonella.
The use of antibacterial wipes is a hygiene measure that can be used at the time.
Lemon slice from soft drinks
Some drinks are accompanied by a slice of orange or lemon, in certain establishments. In a study carried out, it was detailed that 70% of these slices contain diseases that cause digestive discomfort.
Public restroom area
In toilets in public places, people usually leave without having washed their hands.
In one statistic, 70% of men and 35% of women, when leaving the service, touch the door and the dryer with dirty hands.
For this reason, it is recommended to use disinfectant wet towels or antibacterial gel, after leaving the public bathroom.
phone and office
If you work in an office where you have to share touch devices or a landline phone, you should take into account that these usually accumulate a large amount of saliva particles.
Charles Gerba, a microbiologist, assures that a desk can have up to 400 times more hidden bacteria than a clean toilet, especially on the computer keyboard.
In addition to this, elevator buttons and stair railings also harbor germs.
What are those household items where germs stay?
toothbrush cup
Just as the toilet seat and shower are constantly washed, the toothbrush cup should be washed.
According to a Michigan-based nonprofit public health group called NFS International, this is one of the germiest items in the home.
To keep it clean, you should close the toilet lid before lowering the lever, since the germs that are released into the air could remain in the toothbrush cup.
There are 10 million germs in the toothbrush, so it should be replaced every three or four months.
Lavatory
In a study carried out in 1,000 Spanish homes, it was determined that only 56% of those surveyed clean the toilet daily. Of them, only 32% disinfect it.
kitchen rags
The kitchen is another place that contains more germs, especially in sponges and rags.
One researcher pointed out that this happens because these items are not usually cleaned daily and many times, they are not even drained.
Germs can stay for two weeks on a sponge that remains moist.
Sink
Compared to the sink, the sink could hold up to 100,000 times more germs.
More than a million bacteria are housed per square meter, since most of the time many dishes accumulate, with dried up food remains.
Chopping boards
20% of foodborne infections are contracted at home. Commonly the pathogens that cause them are Salmonella, Campylobacter and Eschericha Coli.
They are usually stored in refrigerator tires and damp cloths.
However, food cutting boards are a perfect environment for the incubation of germs.
Toys
Lying on the floor, being moved while on the floor, passing from child to child, makes them a major source of germs.
A study carried out by the University of Barcelona, showed in its results that 17% of those consulted have never washed their toys.
The University of Buffalo in New York indicated that toys often harbor Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
When to wash your hands
Before, during and after preparing or handling any food.
After contact with body fluids.
After changing a diaper.
After going to the bathroom.
After touching animals, their leashes, their droppings, and their toys.
After coming into contact with something that might be contaminated.
Before giving medicine, dressing a wound, or putting in contact lenses.
Do it constantly when there is a sick person at home.
When they look dirty.
For effective hand cleaning, it should be done for 20 seconds. This is how long it should take to sing the Happy Birthday song.
In case you have to wash your hands and do not have access to water to do it, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, this way is also effective.
Also, be sure to use enough to cover your hands completely and rub the solution in until it dries completely. This process normally takes between 15 and 20 seconds.