Tips to Keep Your Home Germ-Free

When asked which place in the house they believe contains the most germs, most people immediately have the same answer: the bathroom. 

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\nSee the latest national flu report from the CDC and get state-by-state flu levels from the experts at weather.com.\n<\/p>\n

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• \nCheck your local flu activity<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n. Two years ago, they conducted a germ study with 22 families, who were asked to swab 30 items in their homes. Three of the top five places for germs in the home, they found, were in the kitchen.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  "These are really timely now, given the recent rise of the flu outbreak," said Rob Donofrio, Ph.D., the director of the NSF microbiology lab, which conducted the 2011 study. "A lot of the lessons of the study still resonate today."
  Here's a list of these hot spots with tips to help keep them germ-free, starting with one that should come as no surprise: kitchen cutting boards.
  Thanks to NSF International, a public health and safety organization for the research information provided in this story.
  

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  #10: Cutting Boards

  

  
  Because cutting boards may come into contact with many different foods, it's important to make sure to thoroughly wash them after each use and between food types.
  "A lot of what we consider high touch areas or frequent use areas," are places germs can easily contaminate, Donofrio explained. Especially with meat, poultry and fish, it's critical to keep clean "the food preparation surface, where you cut the food, where you prepare the food."
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Place your cutting board in the dishwasher after each use or hand wash with hot soapy water, rinse, then apply disinfecting agency such as a bleach/water solution.
  Although not all germs may cause health problems, proper cleaning of neglected or overlooked areas can help further reduce the risk of foodborne illness and infection. Be aware of where the hot spots are in your home and be smart about protecting your family.
  

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  #9: Stove Knobs

  

  
  While not a place that many of us think about, stove knobs are in the top ten for common places for germs to hide in our homes.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Remove knobs, wash in hot soapy water, rinse well, let dry, then re-install once per week.
  

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  #8: Countertops

  

  
  Countertops had coliform bacteria present in 30 percent of the homes tested. Sources of coliform can be traced to many food items, including unwashed produce as well as raw meat and poultry. 
  In addition, coliform can be introduced into a kitchen area through improperly washed hands and through contact with household pets, including pet dishes and toys.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Countertop surfaces should be washed daily. Once all food prep activities have been completed, wash the surface with hot soapy water, rinse with clean water, then apply a bleach-and-water solution. 
  And don't think that because you cleaned your counter the night before, it's still clean the next morning. "Some people let their cats up on their countertops," Donofrio added. "Between the night and the next time you use it, your cat could have walked all over it... there is a lot of pet traffic some places get."
  For specialty countertops, use the manufacturer's recommended cleaning and sanitizing agent.
  

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  #7: Pet Toys

  

  
  Pet toys were a source of coliform, bacteria, yeast and mold in many homes, including Staph bacteria. Encourage your family to wash their hands after playing with the pet.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Hard toys can be gently cleaned with hot soapy water, rinsed with fresh water, disinfected with a mild bleach solution, then thoroughly rinsed to remove any residue. 
  Soft toys can be washed with other laundry on the hot water cycle. Wash monthly or more often as needed.
  

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  #6: Faucet Handles

  

  
  Faucet handles in both the kitchen and bath contained coliform bacteria as well as yeast and/or mold.
  Cleaning tip: Clean daily with disinfecting cleaner or disinfecting wipes.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Also, never pass up a chance to wash your hands and keep them clean, as this is one of the best ways to reduce the spread of germs in your house, Donofrio notes. 
  "Really the take-home idea from this is to wash your hands, clean before and clean diligently after, and don't take things at face value," he said. "Don't give those organisms a chance to establish themselves and grow, and cause nasty sicknesses down the road."
  

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  #5: Coffee Reservoir

  

  
  Rounding out the top five germiest places in the home was the coffee reservoir. Given the dark, damp location, it's a prime location for bacteria, mold and mildew to grow.
  In many people's homes, Donofrio notes, water remains in a coffee maker for days. "Without frequent cleanout, there will be a low initial load of organisms in there," he added. "Over time you will get a bio-film forming on those surfaces – it’s a nice damp area that’s perfect for mold, yeast and other bacteria."
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Follow the manufacturer's recommended cleaning instructions. A common recommendation is to clean by adding up to 4 cups undiluted vinegar to the reservoir, letting it stand for 30 minutes, then running the vinegar through the unit. 
  This is followed by running two to three cycles of fresh water through the unit until the vinegar odor is gone. Most manufacturers recommend cleaning every 40 to 80 brew cycles or at least monthly.
  

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  #4: Pet Bowl

  

  
  If you have a pet in your home, you probably need to know that pet dishes were found to be the fourth germiest place in the homes analyzed.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Pet dishes should be washed daily, either in a sanitizing dishwasher or scrubbed by hand with hot soapy water, then rinsed. If handwashing, place the dishes in a 1:50 bleach rinse (one cap bleach in one gallon of water) and soak for about 10 minutes once per week. Rinse thoroughly and allow to dry.
  

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  #3: Toothbrush Holder

  

  
  The third germiest place in homes wasn't actually in the kitchen, but the bathroom. And while many people would suspect faucet handles or light switches to be a germy place, the toothbrush holders in our test homes revealed more germs.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  "The toothbrush holder had a much higher area of contamination [in the study] than we anticipated," said Donofrio, adding that the pooling of water in the bottom of the toothbrush holder and the aerosol effect from the nearby toilet were the likely culprits for the germs they identified.
  Cleaning tip: If dishwasher safe, place the toothbrush holder in a sanitizing dishwasher and wash one to two times per week. If not, hand wash with hot soapy water, rinse, then wipe with disinfecting wipe one to two times per week.
  

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  #2: Kitchen Sink

  

  
  The second highest concentration of microorganisms was found in the kitchen sink.
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Cleaning tip: Wash and disinfect the sides and bottom of the sink one to two times per week with a disinfecting cleaner. Sanitize kitchen drains and disposals monthly by pouring a solution of one teaspoon household bleach in one quart of water down the drain.
  Wash kitchen sink strainers in the dishwasher weekly.
  

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  #1: Kitchen Sponge/Dish Rag

  

  
  The item most frequently used to clean dishes and countertops was actually the germiest place found in most homes. "This was the material that contained the largest number of organisms," in the study, Donofrio said.
  "It really is the perfect conduit for spreading [germs]," he added. "We talked to a lot of people who'd use their sponge for weeks... if you use a dirty rag or sponge to clean, you're really not accomplishing what you think you are."
  (MORE: Check Your Local Flu Forecast Here)
  Sponges and dish rags can pick up bacteria during the cleaning process, and, if not properly sanitized between uses, they can be a prime spot for germ growth.
  Cleaning tip: Place wet sponges in the microwave for two minutes once per day and replace often - every two weeks or more as needed. Better options for kitchen cleaning are dishcloths, towels and rags. 
  These items can be sanitized by washing on the clothes washer's hot water cycle with bleach. Replace every one to two days.