The Germiest Things

Surprisingly, there are worse things your child will touch than the toilet seat.  Here are some of them, and you’ll want to thoroughly clean your kid’s hands after he comes in contact with them.

PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT – Kids always have the most fecal bacteria on their hands when they return from the playground.  In one study, 20% of playground equipment was infested with this contaminant.

SHOPPING CARTS – About 70% have fecal bacteria on them, largely because of kids sitting in those little seats that carts have.

HIGH CHAIRS – Out of 30 restaurant high chairs, 17% were contaminated with E. coli and 10% with methicillin-resistant staph.

RESTAURANT TABLES -”Cleaning” a table can actually make it dirtier.  In an analysis of 10 restaurants, tabletops have 45 times more bacteria, including E. coli on them after they had been wiped: towels used to sponge off tables are not always thoroughly washed.

ELEVATOR BUTTONS – The 1st floor button is always the germiest because everybody has to touch it to get out.

PHONES -  In homes with sick kids, 80% of phones were contaminated with the flu virus.