YOUR HOME`S 10 GERMIEST PLACES

Germs, bacteria and viruses are everywhere. Most are harmless, some cause runny noses, and 1 to 2 percent could lead to life-threatening infections. But- worry less- learn more. Once you know the 10 most common places germs linger in your home, you can take simple steps to eliminate them.

1. Sponges and rags - when you wipe down a dish or counter, you are simply transferring bacteria from one place to another. Wash sponges and rags with soap and hot water between uses or replace these items often, also wash your hands after touching them. Or put sponges into microwave for 4 minutes to kill most disease-causing germs. Be careful, sponge will be hot.

2. Cutting boards - salmonella, staph and E.coli are commonly transmitted from cutting board to food, don`t chop vegetables or other ready to eat foods on a cutting board used to trim meat, poultry or fish. Wash boards very well after each use. to wash them, use vinegar, or hot water and dish detergent and replace boards that become deeply scratched. And even better, don`t eat meat and be safe.

3. Kitchen surfaces - just because it looks clean, doesn`t mean it is, bacteria and viruses are invisible to human eye, so, spray sown countertops with a solution of equal parts of warm water and vinegar and wipe dry using a soft cloth. Also clean the faucets, sinks, knobs too.

4. Doorknobs - when you touch a doorknob, you touch the hand of everyone who was there before you. Wash your hands after touching a public doorknob, and regularly clean your own doorknobs with a non-toxic cleaner diluted in hot water.

5. Toothbrushes - brushing transfers plaque, bacteria and more to your toothbrush. After each use, rinse the toothbrush with tap water and shake several times. Store upright to allow the toothbrush to air dry. Replace it every three months.

6. Shared phones - many cleaners are safe to use on electronic devices, unplug or turn off the phone, then spray a cloth with all-purpose cleaner and wipe down the phone. Thoroughly clean the mouthpiece, the germiest part. Use a cotton swab dipped in isopropyl alcohol to clean the number buttons and the spaces between them.

7. Washers and dryers - because clothes are often laundered in cold or warm water without bleach, germs can multiply in the washer. These germs are also transferred when clothes are moved into dryer. To thoroughly clean the washer, start a warm wash cycle(with no clothes) and add 5 cups of white vinegar. Run the cycle as normal. Repeat every si months.

8. The remote - often used, but rearly cleaned. This object can be full of germs, especially if you have kids. Dilute all-purpose cleaner or white vinegar in warm water, then wet a cloth with the solution. Wipe the remote, then dry with aother soft cloth.

9. Shower curtains - bacteria and germs breed on vinyl, cloth and other curtains, and the constant influx of hot water doesn`t help. Spray down vinyl curtains regularly with solution of equal parts white vinegar and warm water; wash cloth curtains according to label instructions at least once a month.

10. The vacuum - vacuum brushes, bags and filters make great hiding places for germs like E. coli. Because food is sucked into the vacuum, bacteria can survive for a long time inside. Change the bags often, remove brushes and filters for a quick cleaning monthly. Clean the cavity of a bagless vacuum with all-purpose cleaner and let it air dry.

and remember KEEP WASHING YOUR HANDS WITH WARM WATER AND SOAP OFTEN AND TELL YOUR KIDS ALSO!!!