Winter is officially here and unfortunately that means that many of us will be reaching for the tissues as the cold germs take hold.A recent US survey has shown that the people suffering from the common cold can transfer their germs onto household surfaces where they can live for up to two days.We reveal the top 10 cold bug hotspots to watch out for.
Bathroom taps
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| You would normally associate the bathroom with cleanliness, as it's a place where you wash after all, but the cold bugs do tend to hang around. Bathroom taps are the main offenders as germs can be transferred from hands and then picked up again by the next person to touch them. Be sure to clean them regularly with disinfectant! |
Cash machines
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Used by thousands of people every day, it's hardly surprising that cash machine keypads are crawling with germs. Make sure you wash your hands after use. |
Door handles
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Another place where germs are easily transferred is door handles. However, should you be lucky enough to have brass, copper or silver ones then bugs will only survive for up to eight hours on them as these metals are poisonous to many germs. |
Light switches
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Turning a light on is something most people do every day, but did you know that the flu virus can survive for up to 48 hours on plastic light switches? |
Computer keyboards
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| A study conducted by Which? magazine in the UK this year found that computer keyboards contain more bacteria than toilet seats - yuck! Those who ate lunch at their desks had the dirtiest keyboards, so make sure you eat your lunch elsewhere and give your PC a good clean with alcohol wipes. |
Fridge handles
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Germs can also be found on your fridge door handle around 40% of the time that you touch it. |
Public transport
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Many of us travel into work on public transport every day, but how many times do the buttons, bars and handles on the buses and trains get disinfected? Our guess is not very many, so be sure to wash your hands after travelling. |
Telephones
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| 25,127 is the number of germs which can live on your telephone per square inch, which makes it even more toxic than your computer keyboard. Not to mention that you hold it close to your face so the likelihood of transferring germs to your mouth is rather high. Time to get a hands-free kit? |
Shopping trolleys
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Your weekly shop might not be the only thing you pick up when you go to the supermarket. Shopping trolley handles are also notorious for harbouring all kinds of germs, some which can cause colds and others which might upset your stomach. |
Remote controls
 |
| Image © Rex Features |
|
| Considering it normally lives on the arm of your sofa, the humble remote control is one of the most germ-covered objects in your home. Using it also carries a high risk of infection as any bacteria living on it can be transferred to your fingertips which can then end up in the your mouth causing a virus or infection. |
** By Monica stylli..
0 Comments
Recommended Comments