Do you hate germs? It’s pretty safe to say that most people don’t like germs and know they’re bad to some degree or another, but do you know exactly what germs are, which ones are harmful and where they tend to accumulate most? Germs are microscopic organisms such as bacteria or viruses. These tiny organisms like bacteria and viruses are the cause of most cases of the common cold or flu. Learning how to kill germs and avoid them before they come into contact with your body will greatly reduce your chances of getting sick.

Bacteria

Bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms that get nutrients from their environments. In many cases that environment can be a living, breathing person whether it’s a small child or an adult. Some bacteria is good for the body in keeping the digestive system working and harmful bacteria out. Bacteria is also used to make medicines and vaccines, but a lot of bacteria can be extremely harmful to the body, causing cavities, urinary tract infections and strep throat.

Viruses

Viruses can’t survive, grow, or reproduce unless there is a person for them to live in. Viruses can only live for a very short amount of time outside other living cells. Germs in infected bodily fluids, for example, can only survive for a short time on a countertop or other surface unless a live host comes along to pick them up. Once they’ve moved into someone else’s body, viruses spread easily and can make a person very sick. Viruses are responsible for minor sicknesses like colds as well as some very major illnesses like HIV/AIDS.

Fungi

Fungi are multi-celled, plant-like organisms that generally aren’t dangerous in a healthy person. Fungi get nutrition from plants, food, and animals in damp, warm environments. Two common fungal infections are athlete’s foot and yeast infections. Those who have weakened immune systems may develop more serious fungal infections.

Protozoa

Protozoa are similar to bacteria in that they are one-celled organisms. Protozoa love moisture, so intestinal infections and other diseases they cause are often spread through contaminated water.

According to a study performed by the University of Arizona in 2002 the kitchen sponge harbors the greatest amount of household bacteria in the entire household. Surprisingly, a kitchen cutting board has 50 times more bacteria than your toilet seat. The bathroom sink is the third worst source of bacteria in the entire house, with the floor, counter, and toilet seat ranking in the top ten as well (in positions 6,7, and 8). Don’t think that you only need to exercise precautionary germ-fighting measures when you are outside of the home. Wipe down surfaces with paper towels sprayed with a disinfectant instead of using clothes or sponges. Spray your hands and kitchen surfaces with disinfectant or hand sanitizer before preparing food. Make sure every member of your family practices good hand hygiene which will include washing their hands frequently and/or using a hand sanitizer spray/gel. Close the toilet lid when you flush it. Clean your bathrooms and kitchen frequently. Even if they don’t look dirty there could be a lot of germs hiding on the surfaces.

Studies have been done on germs in the workplace and the results were equally as surprising as the results in the home. Office toilet seats had 49 germs per square inch, but on average, desktops had almost 21,000 germs per square inch. Phones were worse than desks with more than 25,000 germs per square inch. It can greatly reduce your chances of catching a cold or flu if you are vigilant about spraying down all the surfaces in your work area and continuously washing or sanitizing your hands throughout the workday.