Many people spend considerable time cleaning their homes, washing clothes and disinfecting personal belongings in an effort to avoid infections. Infectious-disease specialists say, however, that some commonly feared sources of germs pose less danger than people might think.
Jill Roberts, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of South Florida College of Public Health, regularly asks microbiology students to identify the dirtiest surface on campus. Students often choose bathrooms, but shared computer keyboards frequently prove to be a bigger source of microbes because they are handled by many people and cleaned less often.
Experts say the distinction between something being unpleasantly dirty and something that is likely to cause illness is important.
Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious-disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said he pays more attention to indoor air than constantly disinfecting household surfaces. During respiratory virus season, he recommends improving ventilation, such as opening windows and ensuring heating or cooling systems bring in fresh air.
Surfaces still require attention in certain circumstances. Food preparation areas should be cleaned regularly, particularly after contact with raw meat or poultry. Frequently touched surfaces should also be cleaned when someone in the household is sick.
Experts also say most healthy people do not need to wash their bedding constantly. Roberts believes hand hygiene and safe food handling are more important than maintaining an excessively strict laundry schedule.
Antibacterial soap is not considered essential either. Chin-Hong uses ordinary soap and focuses on washing his hands before eating, after using the bathroom, after handling raw food and after caring for someone who is ill.
Winter coats are another item that does not necessarily require frequent washing. Socks, however, should be washed regularly because warm and damp conditions can encourage fungal growth.
Some infectious-disease specialists also continue to eat sushi and other raw foods. Heidi Torres, an infectious-disease physician at Weill Cornell Medicine, chooses restaurants carefully rather than avoiding raw foods altogether.
Reusable grocery bags also do not necessarily need to be washed after every shopping trip. Roberts recommends cleaning them more frequently when they are used regularly, particularly if raw meat or loose produce comes into contact with them.
Travel is another activity experts do not automatically fear. Chin-Hong prepares by checking vaccination requirements and learning about health risks at his destination. Depending on the location, that can include insect protection, malaria medication or food and water precautions.
Phones can carry bacteria, including organisms associated with bathrooms and food handling, but experts are not necessarily disinfecting their devices every day. Cleaning the phone when it becomes visibly dirty can be sufficient for many people.
Hand sanitiser is also considered useful when soap and water are unavailable. However, it is less effective against some infections, including norovirus, and washing with soap and water is preferable when hands are visibly dirty.
Experts say the broader lesson is to focus on realistic risks rather than trying to eliminate every microbe from daily life. Torres warned that excessive concern about infection can become overwhelming, making sensible precautions more useful than attempting to live without any exposure to germs.
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