Okay, I confess it--I'm a germaphobe and a clean freak. I'm always washing my hands, obsessively cleaning, and trying to avoid dirty places. I know, however, that I'm not alone. For you, my fellow germaphobia sufferers, this hub features some of the most likely places to encounter germs en masse, and what to do when you find yourself around their unspeakable horrors. Also, now that everyone is so concerned about spreading the seasonal flu and the swine flu, this seems like a great time for a hub about cleanliness!

Kitchen sinks are often dirtier places than bathrooms. Recent studies show ten of the most germ-laden surfaces in your home to be in the kitchen. The sponge you use to clean the counter is covered with bacteria, as are your sink’s faucet handles and basin. To reduce the risk to your health, thoroughly wipe down your sink and kitchen counters with an anti-bacterial product after rinsing or preparing food, especially raw meats, vegetables, and fruit. (These can harbor salmonella and E. coli.) Sanitize your dishcloths and sponges by securing them in your dishwasher's top rack and putting them through the wash and dry cycle. Clean your sink twice a week with a well-mixed solution of one quart of hot water and one tablespoon chlorine bleach. Scrub out the basin and then sanitize the disposal by pouring any remaining solution down the drain.

What, you may ask, can be so bad about clean clothes? Dr. Gerba, a researcher at the University of Arizona, informs us that “anytime you transfer underwear from the washer to the dryer, you’re going to get E.coli on your hands." Just one pair of dirty underwear can spread this nasty bacteria to the whole load, not to mention the machine. To reduce the risk, run your washer and dryer at a minimum of 150 degrees, and wash whites with chlorine bleach (non color-safe), which will kill 99.99 percent of germs. Transfer wet laundry to the dryer quickly so germs don’t multiply, wash underwear separately (there’s about a gram of feces, which is the size of a small pea, in every pair of dirty underwear), and dry for at least 45 minutes. Wash your hands after laundering, and run a cycle of bleach and water between loads to eliminate any lingering germs.

Most drinking fountains are going to be loaded with germs, but school water fountains are usually the worst. Other spots to watch out for at schools are sink handles, desktops, cafeteria trays, and computer keyboards. Kids attract germs due to their dubious hygiene habits, and twenty-two million school days are missed each year due to colds alone. You can reduce the risk if you send your children to school with plenty of beverages to keep them away from drinking fountains. Teach your children to wash their hands after lunch, using the bathroom, and after using computers. Send along hand sanitizer, and remind your kids when to use it before you send them off each day.

Kids are a constant source of bodily fluids, and they spread those fluids around wherever they go. Playgrounds are good places to find blood, saliva, mucus, and urine. Given that children always have their fingers in their noses and mouths, you can see why kids are so often sick. Carry alcohol wipes or hand-sanitizing gel in your purse or pocket and clean everybody’s hands a couple of times during a park visit, especially before snacking. Choose warm sunny days for outdoor play – the sun’s ultraviolet light is a natural disinfectant. Most germs don’t survive very long on a hot, dry surface.

When most guests head into a hotel room, the first thing they do is grab the remote control and turn on the television. That remote, dear bacteria hater, is therefore filthy. Dr. Owen Hendley, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine, led a research team testing various surfaces in hotel rooms for the cold virus after groups of sick people had stayed overnight. They found the virus on the light switches, pens, remote control, door handles, and faucet handles. Make sure you endeavor to clean the remote control, the phone, clock radio, door handles, and light switches with disinfecting wipes. To be safe, put on a pair of slippers and toss off the bedspread. Urine and semen have been found on both carpets and bedspreads. They may not make you truly sick, but I don't want my skin to encounter semen and urine from another person. Oh, and after you take off that bedspread, make sure you wash your hands with soap and hot water!

Some people call them "health clubs", which is quite the misnomer! Antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus can readily be found on exercise mats, not to mention cardiovascular equipment and resistance machines. (Wrestling mats are often the source of staph infections at high schools!) Sanitize all equipment you use with antibacterial wipes before your work-out. If you can, bring your own mat or cover the gym's mat with your (clean) towel. Shower immediately after a workout with soap to rinse off any bacteria to which you have been exposed. This very thorough washing can rid your skin of that disgusting antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus.

I've now added the The Germaphobe's Handbook, Page 2. Keep reading even more facts to make you queasy in our unclean world... and tips to settle your stomach!