Phillips and Company

 
1.)  YOUR KITCHEN SPONGE.  There could be as many as 20 MILLION microbes on it right now.  And cleaning it with soap and water . . . or even soaking it in BLEACH . . . won't kill them all.

--The best way to clean a sponge is to run it through the dishwashwer first, then MICROWAVE it on high for one minute, which should kill 99.9 percent of the germs. 

2.)  YOUR BED.  The Environmental Protection Agency says BEDBUGS are on the rise.  And you're more at risk if you travel.  They can be tough to get rid of, so if you start noticing mysterious bites, you might want to call an exterminator.

 
--To make sure you DON'T get them, wash everything in your luggage after you travel, and scrub out the inside of your suitcase.

3.)  YOUR LAPTOP.  The average TOILET BOWL contains 41 germs per square inch.  The average KEYBOARD contains 20,000 GERMS PER SQUARE INCH!  That's because toilets get cleaned, and keyboards generally don't.

--To keep it clean, wipe down the keys with disinfecting wipes every day.  Just make sure the wipes you use are computer-friendly.

4.)  YOUR SHOWER CURTAIN.  It can get moldy and gather germs, but the shower curtain ITSELF might be making you sick.  One study suggests that curtains made of PVC . . . which stands for poly-vinyl chloride . . . release harmful chemicals into the air.

--It hasn't been proven, but just to be safe, check the tags on your shower curtain and liner to make sure they're made of vinyl, not PVC.

5.)  YOUR LAUNDRY.  If the water doesn't get hot enough, washing machines can become germ magnets . . . especially the ones at laundromats.  Viruses like HEPATITIS A might be lurking, so make sure you use water that's at least 155 degrees.

--Also, wash your underwear and towels separately, and use bleach whenever you can.

6.)  YOUR HUMIDIFIER.  If it's not cleaned properly, it can GIVE you a respiratory infection.  So, two or three times a week, mix one part bleach with 19 parts water.  Pour it in, let it soak for a few minutes, then rinse it out really well.

7.)  YOUR DOORKNOB.  Everyone carries germs on their hands, and everyone uses doorknobs.  Just think of all the people who come to your front door on any given day.  You don't know where those hands have been, so wipe it down as often as possible.

--Also, researchers say COPPER doorknobs collect 95 percent fewer germs.

8.)  YOUR SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS.  When was the last time you cleaned them?  NEVER?  Well, you SHOULD.  You use them while you're cooking AND when you're eating, which means things like salmonella can easily make it to the dinner table.

 (Glamour Magazine)