If you were man enough to lick your palm then I salute you! For all of you who didn’t… you will probably live a lot longer than those of us who did. I am not scared to touch anything and then wipe my mouth and I’m not ashamed. My white blood cells are like Superheroes at this point in my life. However, I may start rethinking what I touch and don’t touch. Forbes.com just came out with a list of the most germ-filled things we encounter everyday. Some you have heard and some I never thought about before now. They have left out the obvious ones like your keyboard, or your phone (which is disgusting BTW). Check out 5 new things to worry about after the jump!
#1.) Gas Pumps. According to one study, 71% of them are contaminated with germs. The best defense is just to keep some hand sanitizer in the car.
#2.) Restaurant Menus. They hardly ever get wiped down. That’s why you shouldn’t wash your hands until AFTER you’ve ordered. The same thing goes for the little drink menus they sometimes have sitting on the table. If you flip through it, you should wash your hands again.
#3.) Lemon and Lime Wedges. Researchers for the “Journal of Environmental Health” went to various restaurants and ordered 21 different drinks that came with either a lemon or a lime. They found a total of 25 different microorganisms living in them, including E. coli bacteria.
#4.) Escalators. According to a study done in New York City, they’re basically covered in bacteria that can cause respiratory infections. And you can expect the same from handrails on busses, trains, and stairways.
#5.) Condiment Dispensers. That includes things like ketchup bottles and salt & pepper shakers. They’re almost never cleaned, and most people don’t wash their hands before they eat.
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