Like Germs

Add your phone to the list of items with more germs than a toilet seat! Both cell phones and office desk phones can harbor bacteria known to cause infection. The problem is most people don't clean their phone screens and often share phones. A Journal of Applied Microbiology study warned that up to 30% of viruses could be transferred from a fingertip to a glass surface, such as that of your cell phone.

Like other public surfaces that are touched by many people, ATM buttons or screens can also be covered in germs. Some ATM companies are looking to develop antimicrobial touch screens that would inhibit the growth of germs. Until then, use a pen to press the buttons when possible, and once again, break out that hand sanitizer.

Unfortunately, not everyone washes his or her hands after using the toilet. A CDC study showed that only 31% of men and 65% of women do so. Further, one study showed only about 5% of people actually wash their hands for the CDC-recommended 20 seconds or more. That means lots of people are walking out of the bathroom and touching the door and k***s with germy hands.