How to Avoid Cold and Flu Germs

SUBJECT: Every single day

we touch surfaces that are

crawling with germs.

And the germiest might not

be what you would expect.

For example, this has more

bacteria than this.

Now that I've got

your attention,

here are just a few

of the top sources of yuck

we come across every single day.

Did you know your kitchen sink

often contains 100,000 times

more germs than your bathroom?

One word, bleach.

Products with bleach

will keep those critters at bay.

That load of wet laundry

you just handled?

If it wasn't washed

in hot water, at least 140

degrees Fahrenheit, you could be

touching e.Coli, salmonella,

norovirus, or all kinds

of unwanted gook.

And make sure to put clothes

in the dryer right away,

or you'll need to wash again.

And you might want to wash

underwear in its own load.

Just sayin'.

Most people know

that the bathroom is a breeding

ground for germs.

But did you know a toilet flush

can spray micro droplets

of nasty water

up to eight feet away?

Eight feet.

Our suggestion?

Close the lid before you flush.

You're welcome.

And when you head out

for the day, don't forget

your hand sanitizer.

Every 60 seconds a working adult

touches 30 objects.

Your typical desk, second most

germ-laden

object after the phone.

No wonder work makes us so sick.

Solution?

Wipe it down.

And stop leaving crumbs

everywhere.

They make happy homes

for all kinds of bacteria.

Going out to lunch?

Well, cash is king when it comes

to bacteria.

The average dollar bill may have

up to-- get this-- 3,000 types

of bad bugs.

Consider leaving your money

in the bank and use your debit

card instead.

There's a good chance it has

less germs.

Going to hit the gym?

Remember, health club is just

an expression.

Yoga mats, cardio equipment,

and weights can sport lots

of germs including the MRSA

strain of the staphylococcus

bacteria, which is hard to say,

hard to beat even

with antibiotics.

Make sure to wipe down

the equipment before and after

you use it, and wash your hands.

Truth is, we haven't even

scratched the surface of all

the places germs linger.

But fret not.

Every day millions of us touch

millions of things and all

the germs they carry.

Most of the time we feel fine.

And with a little common sense,

you can stay that way.

It's pretty simple.

Wash your hands.

Yeah, I see you nodding,

but it's been shown that only 5%

of us are doing it right.

Guys, you're especially

bad at it.

Hot water, soap, scrub

for a full 20 seconds.

Then rinse, dry

on a clean towel,

and repeat a lot.

Do that, and those germs don't

stand a chance.