Public spaces can house thousands of germs. Light switches, door handles, community coffee pots, sink faucets – you name it, there are probably germs nesting on it. Consider how many surfaces you touch every day. If you touch it, several other people most likely touched it before you. Find out where the most germs in public places exist and how you can avoid them with tips from us.
GERMS IN DOCTORS' OFFICES
Visiting a doctor's office is unavoidable. However, it's not exactly the place you'd want to be if you needed to avoid germs. Offices including your general practitioner, pediatrician, and urgent care are riddled with germs from sick patients. Writing utensils, chairs, doorknobs, and exam tables likely cling to germs, putting you at risk for exposure.
HOW TO AVOID THEM
To avoid germs at a doctor's office, follow these tips:
Pack your own tissues and hand sanitizers.
Sit far away from other sick patients to put space between yourself and their germs.
Bring your own reading material.
When taking your child to the doctor, bring his or her favorite toys to keep them from touching germ-infested toys at the office.
GERMS IN RESTAURANTS
While state health departments may inspect restaurant kitchens to ensure practices are hygienic, the same inspection doesn't occur in the restaurant's seating area. Here, hidden germs can multiply in areas that aren’t sanitized as often as they should be. For example, restaurant menus are quickly handed from one guest to the next. Condiment bottles and salt and pepper shakers typically aren't wiped down in between guests, either. Even the booth you're sitting in may not be completely germ-free before you sit down.
HOW TO AVOID THEM
To avoid germs in a restaurant, follow these tips:
Sanitize condiment bottles or use a disinfectant wipe before you touch them.
Ask the server to wipe down the booth with a sanitizer cloth before you sit.
Never let your menu touch your plate or silverware.
Keep silverware on a napkin or your plate, never on the table.
GERMS IN BATHROOMS
Even when regularly cleaned, public bathrooms harbor plenty of germs. Germs can be found on the toilet seat handle, stall handle, bathroom faucet, and bathroom door, among other areas. To help cut down on the amount of germ transfer, many public restrooms today have installed hands-free devices like toilets, sinks, and dryers. However, germs can still spread.
HOW TO AVOID THEM
If the public restroom you're visiting doesn't have handle-free equipment, you can avoid germs by following these tips:
Use a paper towel to touch handles.
Never set things like jackets or purses on the bathroom floor.
Don't stick around after the toilet flushes, since the force could cause bacteria to fly into the air and land on your clothes.
If you can manage, try flushing the toilet with your foot to avoid touching the handle.
Learn how to wash your hands properly so they stay clean in every public space.
GERMS IN OFFICES
Offices are filled with shared workspaces that build up germs. Surfaces like the printer, fax machine, coffee maker, refrigerator, telephones and desks can go weeks or even months without being sanitized, putting you at risk for illness.
HOW TO AVOID THEM
To avoid germs at work, follow these tips:
Use a printable office cleaning checklist to keep your space neat and tidy.
Sanitize your workstation daily.
Designate an employee in your office to be in charge of sanitizing common areas, like the kitchen or conference room.
Use a professional cleaning service to deeply clean your office and create a healthier work environment.
In order to better combat and avoid germs in public spaces, it's important that you always stay aware of the most common places they hide. If you're responsible for thoroughly cleaning public spaces, make sure you always clean with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered disinfectant. That way, you can fight common pathogens in an efficient, healthy manner.
