WHEN thinking about what room in your house is dirtiest, your mind probably goes to the bathroom.
It's where we go to the loo and wash off the day's dirt, after all.
But according to experts, the grimiest spot in your home is actually your kitchen.
It turns the space where you prepare your food is riddled with germ-laden items – all of which are grubbier than a toilet seat.
The National Sanitation Foundation, a global public health and safety organisation, discovered that kitchens tend to be dirtier than bathrooms after scientists tested 30 surfaces in 22 homes to measure levels of yeast, salmonella, mould, E.coli, and staph germs.
Toilet seats didn't even rank in the top 10 grimiest household articles.
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Instead, it was kitchen items that featured most heavily in the list, and ranked the highest too.
The top 10 dirtiest items in your house:
1. Dish sponges and dishcloths
2. Kitchen sinks
3. Toothbrush holders
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4. Pet bowls
5. Coffee makers
6. Bathroom faucet handles
7. Pet toys
8. Kitchen counters
9. Stove knobs
10. Cutting boards
It comes after a microbiologist revealed that tea towels are teaming with enough bacteria to cause 13 different diseases.
Dyson senior research scientist Karen Holeyman told news.com that "high-touch surfaces such as light switches and TV remotes" tend to be much germier than most people's toilets.
And according to Dr Charles Gerba – who has been studying how bacteria lurks in unexpected places in the home since 1973- "people disinfect their toilet seats all the time, but they don't realise that they really need to pay attention to the kitchen too."
Karen said: “Food preparation surfaces such as chopping boards can harbour the most bacterial contamination."
But the dust milling about your house can also be a concern, the scientist added, as it can contain allergens such as pollen, bacteria and even poo particles.
Much of this dust will end up on on mattresses, bedding, upholstery and carpets, all of which can be found in your bedroom.
But fear not, there are ways to get rid of these germs and minimise bacteria in your home.
Karen suggested you wash and dry your hands frequently – but make sure you're switching out your tea towels regularly and letting them dry between uses.
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You should also scrub away at surfaces that you prepare food on or touch a lot, in order to properly control germs in your house.
A good vaccum and air purifier will also help combat germ-laded dust.
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