12 Household Surfaces So Gross You’ll Give Up on the Concept of Cleaning Entirely
There are certain things we touch that we know to immediately wash our hands after handling. Trash bags. Dog toys. Doritos.
But unfortunately for your germ-focused peace of mind, there are plenty of other things you touch that are absolutely riddled with nastiness that you don’t even think about. What are you supposed to do about it? Unclear, unless you want to go full Howard Hughes. I guess you just know your hands are forever filthy now.
Keyboards
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Yes, the one you’re resting your dainty little fingers on right now, unless you’re on your phone. Given that they’re constantly touched and rarely cleaned, they can have 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
Cellphone Screens
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Even if you are on your phone, you’re also touching something disgusting. Did you think something you rub your hands all over while pooping was going to be clean?
TV Remotes
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That gross knowledge might be enough to make you want to log off and watch some TV. Unfortunately, to do so, you’ve probably got to touch an absolutely filthy remote.
Car Steering Wheels
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Knowing all that, you’re probably headed straight to the store to pick up some antibacterial wipes, right? Just know that while you do, your hands are rubbing all over horrible little living things on your steering wheel.
Shopping Carts
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And when you get there? You better not be touching a shopping cart handle, unless you're okay with a thoroughly unclean gripping surface.
Reusable Shopping Bags
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You could make sure to bring your own reusable shopping bag instead, but when was the last time you really washed it?
ATMs
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Okay, so no shopping bags at all, just straight to the Clorox aisle and out. Let’s hope you weren’t thinking of paying in cash and need to visit an ATM, because those keypads are filth city.
Money Itself
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Even if you punch your account info in with a latex glove on, that money it spits out? A veritable icky ecosystem.
Purses and Handbags
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So you’ll pay with card? Sure, as long as you don’t have to reach into your never-once-washed leather handbag to do it.
Faucet Handles
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If you managed to somehow sidestep all of this world’s bacteria and have been motivated to clean? Well, the faucet handle on your sink? Deeply compromised.
Sponges
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Even the very object that you’re relying on to clean things up? Disgusting. Disgusting like your whole house!
Light Switches
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It’s enough to make you turn off the lights and hole up in your bedroom with a hazmat suit and a couple piss jars. Well, good luck turning off those lights without touching their switches, covered in creepy-crawlies. You better have a breakdown in overhead lighting, budding germophobes.
