According to research from non-profit public health organization NSF International, about 27% of toothbrush holders showed signs of coliform bacteria—where only around 5% of toilet seats did.
Dishcloths and sponges are dirtier than any other item in the average home, harboring the largest amount of E. coli and other fecal bacteria—mostly because they aren't replaced as often as they should be. Each square inch of these items contains 456 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
The item most frequently used to clean dishes and countertops was actually the germiest place found in most homes. Sponges and dish rags can pick up bacteria during the cleaning process, and, if not properly sanitized between uses, can be a prime spot for germ growth.
On average there are 20 billion bacteria in your mouth at this moment in time. With a doubling time of only five hours, skipping brushing your teeth for just one day will result in this number topping 100 billion by tomorrow. That compares with a toilet seat having only 1,200 bacteria per square inch.
Elevator buttons
Those touch points you're exposed to multiple times a day have almost 40 times more bacteria than a toilet. Since these buttons are shared by the public (and you might look odd taking a wet wipe to 'em), just wear gloves when going up or down.
The cleanest part typically, if not overcome with disease, are the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. It's a sterile environment. A vast majority of the human body have bacteria as part of the normal human flora. The mouth being the dirtiest part of the body housing the most harmful bacteria.
Cell phones are 146% dirtier than the minimum hygiene standard of 250. Although still failing the minimum standard of cleanliness, the average card is 38.4% cleaner than your phone. The only dollar bill to pass the minimum standard of cleanliness was the $50 bill.
Bathrooms and kitchens are known as 'wet areas'. These often take the most time to clean. That's why they should be first in the order you clean your house. Once you've done step 1 and 3, dust everything and then get down to work in your bathrooms and kitchen.
Either way, a cover is usually used as a way of protecting our toothbrush from outside germs and bacteria. We all want a clean toothbrush; after all, it is something that we use in our mouth! It's no secret that toothbrushes can harbor lots of germs, including bacteria and viruses.
In fact studies show there is a 60% chance your toothbrush is covered in poop and around 80% chance that the poop belongs to someone else! It is important to put things into context. The average toothbrush can contain 10 million bacteria or more including E. coli.
You know the answer to this one: “Because the toilet bowl is exposed to feces,” Pujol says, “there are likely bacteria living in and around your toilet bowl that can contaminate the water.” So the water from the pipe to the tank is (theoretically) clean, but the bowl water is definitely not.
Many people believe that the bathroom is the dirtiest thing they regularly come into contact with; however, a cell phone can house up to 10 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Lavatories for women were found to carry far fewer microbes than those for men. For instance when staff toilets were compared, door handles for men were found to be around eight times as dirty as those for women. The cleanest of all toilets were female staff toilets, thought to be due to more frequent handwashing.
Toilet plume will be ejected whether the seat is up or down, but scientific studies have found that lowering the lid before flushing can do a lot to prevent toilet plume, and reduce any risk of airborne contamination of the surrounding environment.
And the tasks listed above are just some of the reasons it's a breeding ground for germs and a cesspool of bacteria. Don't just take our word for it. Fecal matter can be found on 1 out of every 6 smartphones, according to a 2011 study done by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
As of June 24, 2024, San Bernardino claims the top spot on the list of the United States' dirtiest cities. With the worst median air quality in the country — often exceeding limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — the city's polluted air and greenhouse gas emissions make life tough for residents.
Kitchen. The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in most homes and also the dirtiest. All of the elements that encourage bacteria to grow—heat, moisture, and food—are readily available.
The cleanest country in the world is Denmark as per the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Its EPI value is at 82.5. Denmark earned the rank due to low emission of carbon dioxide and having the best sewage treatment system in the world.