When we think of germs and where they may be hiding, some obvious places probably come to mind — like a toilet seat. But what about where viruses, specifically, may be living and hiding?
Viruses are the most common cause of the infectious illnesses we catch and spread while at home, work or school. Most the time, we spread viruses from person-to-person through infectious respiratory droplets, but indirect spread from surface-to-person is also common.
This means that it's possible to get sick by touching a surface contaminated with a virus and then touching your face. This also means that, if you're sick, practicing proper cough etiquette can help reduce the chance that you contaminate surfaces around you.
Your best defense against viruses that can live on surfaces is to:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose and mouth
- Regularly clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces
- Avoid directly touching surfaces commonly touched by many different people
The most common places to find infectious, virus-filled respiratory droplets are on the surfaces that are most frequently touched, as well as on the items and surfaces in high-traffic areas and spaces.
The places viruses hide in your home or office
Frequently touched surfaces and items around your home or office that viruses can live on include:
- Cabinet handles
- Computer keyboard
- Computer mouse
- Countertops
- Doorknobs and door handles
- Handheld electronics
- Light switches
- Keyboard
- Phones (including your smartphone)
- Toilets
- Towels
- Toys
- TV remotes
This means you should frequently clean and disinfect these surfaces, especially if you're sharing your home with someone who is sick.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), proper cleaning and disinfecting of surfaces can be accomplished using common EPA-registered household disinfectants — as long as you're following the label's instructions and using a disinfectant appropriate for the surface you're cleaning. Other options include making your own diluted bleach solution or an alcohol solution that's at least 70% alcohol.
Your goal is to prevent the spread of germs that can occur via high-touch surfaces and items, which may differ from family to family. To help keep your family healthy, you may need to spend some time observing which specific surfaces and items are frequently touched in your home.
Where viruses can hide in public spaces
It's not always feasible to clean and disinfect the surfaces you touch when you're in a public space. Instead, avoid directly touching commonly touched surfaces by using a tissue as a barrier between your hand and the surface.
Frequently touched surfaces and items in public spaces that viruses can live on include:
- Doorknobs and door handles
- Elevator buttons
- Faucets
- Point-of-sale keypads at stores, gas stations and restaurants
- Shopping carts
How to clean your smartphone
Our smartphones go everywhere with us and we touch them a lot. The CDC considers your smartphone a commonly touched surface, and recommends disinfecting your phone every single day. Since you spent a lot of money on that phone, make sure you're disinfecting it according to your manufacturers recommendations.