Where do Germs Hide?
A flyer explaining that the bulk of germs are hiding where you least suspect.
| “The bulk of germs are hiding where you least suspect—playground equipment, the phone receiver, ATMS and elevator buttons.” - Charles Gerba, professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona |
Download a print version of this document:
Where do Germs Hide? (PDF: 62KB/1 page)
- A person has more bacteria on their body than there are people in the United States
- 229,000 germs per square inch on frequently used faucet handles
- 21,000 germs per square inch on work desks
- 1,500 on each square centimeter of hands
High on the worst hiding places list:
- Work desk
- Kitchen sink is worse than bathroom
- Dishcloth, sponge
- Garbage can
- Refrigerator
- Bathroom doorknob
- Keyboards
- Escalator handrails
- Shopping cart handles
- Picnic tables
- Light switches
- Remote controls
- Toys
- Bathroom cups
- Pens, pencils and crayons
- Pet cages
“Hand Washing is the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection”
Spotlight
Which Soap is Best?
Antibacterial soap vs. plain soap: Which is better? Liquid soap or bar soap? What about alcohol-based hand sanitizers?
Hand Hygiene Print Materials
Signs, posters, brochures, manuals, curricula, and other hand hygiene materials that you can print and use.
Clean Your Hands! Poster
This 11x17 poster shows the six steps for washing hands with soap and water or two for cleaning with alcohol-based hand sanitizers.
Note:If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer. Wash your hands with soap and water when your hands are visibly soiled.
Food handlers in restaurants, schools, delis and grocery stores must wash their hands with soap and water before applying hand sanitizers. [Minn Rules Chap. 4626.0070 - 4626.0085] See Hand Hygiene for Food Handlers for more information.
If you have questions or comments about this page, please use our Foodsafety Comment Form.
