According to the article on ABC, Dr. Gerba’s findings on germ counts in the house showed that out of 15 household locations, the toilet seat had the lowest germ count while the kitchen sponge had the highest. “If an alien came from space and studied the bacterial counts,” he is quoted as saying, “he probably would conclude he should wash his hands in your toilet.”
His team also studied five types of bacteria on 12 surfaces in four office locations. Phone receivers had the most bacteria per square inch (25,000) followed by the desktop (21,000), keyboard (3,300), and mouse (1,700). The most surprising result of all was that the toilet seat still emerged the cleanest, with just 49 bacteria per square inch.
While researchers are still theorizing on the possible reason why toilet seats are so germ-free, this doesn’t mean you should start eating your snack in the toilet. Find out what else science has to say about toilet seats and other bacteria-filled locations by scrolling through the gallery below. We’ve also added 10 tips for helping you keep clean in the office and at home.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW
Trending on Network
