You probably expect bathroom surfaces and trash cans to be gross, but most of the germiest things you touch don’t look dirty at all. They’re part of your daily routine—stuff you don’t think twice about using. They harbor microbes despite looking clean. Once you see what’s on this list, you’ll likely change your thoughts about everyday hygiene.
Here’s what’s lurking in plain sight.
Cellphone
A phone goes everywhere: your hands, your face, your lap, sometimes even into the bathroom. That level of contact, paired with warmth from constant use, gives bacteria a stable home. Studies have found E. coli and other microbes surviving on the surface longer than expected. Touching it throughout the day increases the number of germs.
Dish Sponge
A sponge holds moisture, food particles, and whatever it picks up from the last pan you scrubbed. The wetness helps bacteria grow rapidly. Most people don’t replace theirs as many times as they should, and rinsing doesn’t kill the problem. Microwaving or replacing it regularly helps, but it’s mostly overlooked until it starts to smell or fall apart.
Toothbrush Holder
Toothbrush bristles drip water and toothpaste into the holder every single day. That wet, sticky residue doesn’t dry fast, and it settles into the base where it’s rarely cleaned. It consistently shows some of the worst germ counts at home.
Remote Control
There’s no easy way to tell when a remote was last wiped. It gets passed between individuals, dropped on the floor, and pressed by fingers that have just held food, sneezed, or touched the dog. Gunk settles deep into the buttons where regular wiping misses.
Shopping Cart Handle
Cart handles carry bacteria from hands, raw food packaging, and public restroom visits. In one test, researchers found more germs on grocery cart handles than in public bathrooms. Children climbing into carts and sticky food packaging just increase the risk of bacterial spread.
Restaurant Menus
Laminated menus may feel easy to wipe down, but most restaurants don’t clean them between customers. Greasy fingers, coughing, and table spills leave bacteria behind, which can transfer to your hands right before you eat. Researchers found significant microbial presence on frequently used menus.
Dog Toys
Dog toys go through a lot—chewed on, tossed around, dragged through the yard, or under furniture. Along the way, they gather saliva, dirt, and dust, all of which create an easy environment for bacteria to grow. Outdoor toys tend to pick up more grime, but even indoor ones aren’t immune.
Computer Keyboard
Typing with unwashed hands or while eating leads to a steady buildup of germs on your keyboard. Crumbs fall between the keys and stay there. Skin cells and dust collect around the surface. Most keyboards end up covered in grime from fingers alone, especially if they’re never cleaned properly.
Money
Paper bills circulate constantly, changing hands dozens of times in just a few weeks. Moisture and oils cling to the fibers and carry bacteria from one pocket to the next. Germs stay until they’re transferred to whatever’s touched next. Because money moves so fast, it’s almost impossible to trace where it picked up what.
Light Switches
Most people don’t think to clean light switches, despite the fact that they’re touched constantly. In bathrooms, they’re often handled right before or after washing. Pathogens can stick around for longer than you’d expect on plastic surfaces.
Kitchen Sink
It looks clean after a rinse, but the sink sees raw meat, old leftovers, and plenty of greasy dishwater. The drain and faucet handles often have viruses from all that activity. Residue gets trapped in corners and around fixtures. It only takes one raw chicken rinse to make it questionable.
Coffee Maker
The coffee pot usually gets cleaned, but the reservoir where the water sits is often ignored. It’s just the kind of moist, overlooked space that microbes thrive in. Some people refill it daily without emptying it, letting moisture sit inside for days. Over time, residue from water minerals and coffee oils adds to the problem.
Soap Dispensers
Dirty hands press the pump of soap dispensers before washing, and if the container gets refilled without being emptied or cleaned, bacteria build up inside. Some studies even found pathogens in the soap coming out because the dispensers were improperly sterilized.
ATM Buttons
Cash machines harbor microbes from countless fingers, including those carrying traces of raw food, decaying produce, and mold. Some of the worst offenders are found in laundromats and convenience stores. There’s no real way to clean the keypad, so using hand sanitizer immediately afterward is your best defense.
Bathroom Towels
Hand towels stay damp between uses and often sit in the same spot for days. Even if your hands are mostly clean, they’re not sterile, and those bacteria transfer easily to the fabric. Towels rarely dry thoroughly in humid bathrooms, which makes it easier for germs to grow. If more than one person uses the same towel, the bacteria multiply quickly.