Research finds kitchen dirtier than bathroom

CLEAN HOUSE STUDY

NEW YORK — If you want to eat dinner from a clean surface, you might try your bathroom.

A recently released study found that kitchen sinks have more germs than bathroom sinks. The study also found that three-quarters of American kitchen cloths and sponges are heavily contaminated with harmful bacteria, meaning proper cleanup can be difficult.

The study was sponsored by the makers of the cleaning product Lysol, but the company did not design the study. Samples were taken by independent environmental scientists in 20 homes with children in each of seven regions, including the U.S., the United Kingdom, Germany, Africa, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and India.

Internationally, 90 percent of kitchen cloths, 46 percent of kitchen sinks, 38 percent of bathroom sinks and 14 percent of children's toys failed the test, meaning they had a bacteria count of more than 100,000 per square centimeter.

The bacteria included E. coli and salmonella, probably carried in by food, young children or pets, researchers said. They can cause diarrhea or infections with flu-like symptons, especially dangerous to young children, the elderly and pregnant women.

"Bacteria find a happy home in sponges. When you wipe, you take up food and drink, and bacteria can feed on that," said Charles Gerba, an environmental microbiology professor at the University of Arizona, which was not involved with the research.

Dean Cliver, a professor of food safety at the University of California, suggests sterilizing sponges with a one-minute high-powered blast in the microwave, washing hands and avoiding rinsing chicken in the sink.

Or forget sponges. Professor Elizabeth Scott of the Simmons Center for Hygiene and Health in Boston recommends cleaning food spills with a throwaway paper towel.

Gerba said his own findings suggest living like a slob is better than meticulously cleaning the kitchen with a dirty sponge. A study he carried out 10 years ago found 10 percent of kitchen sponges contained salmonella. One of his most astounding findings was that bachelors had the cleanest kitchens. They threw their dishes into the sink and didn't spread bacteria by wiping surfaces.