The Myth: Toilets are dirtier than airplane seats.The Truth: Research presented at the American Society for Microbiology found that MRSA can survive for 7 days on airplane armrests, compared to 4 on toilet flushers. Wipe both down with alcohol-based disinfectant. MORE: 10 Everyday Grooming Habits That Are Actually Quite Gross The Myth: The microwave keypad is the germiest spot in your kitchen.The Truth: The keypad didn’t even crack the top 10 hot spots in a NSF International study. What did: rubber spatulas, which can harbor microbes in the joint where the handle and spatula meet. Detach and clean separately to kill the bacteria. The Myth: Dish towels are cleaner than sponges. The Truth: Replacing your sponge with a cloth isn’t going to get you very far. A 2014 study found evidence of bacteria commonly found in feces on 89% of dish towels. (Damp ones are an ideal breading ground for pathogens, yum.) Use separate towels for cleaning dishes, hands, and surfaces, and wash towels with a detergent that contains color-safe bleach to effectively kill bacteria. MORE: 8 Ways To Never Get Another Cold
