Flu Season Germ Magnets

Welcome to the cold and flu season once again.

Yep, it’s the time of year when many people feel the need to walk around with a container of hand-sanitizer hardwired to them, and do their best germaphobe imitation again.

If you get as paranoid as I do this time of year about getting sick, there are a few things you can do, short of walking around like Howard Hughes to help shield you from the everyday objects that are germ magnets this time of year.

Here are some of the most popular places that germs like to hang out:

How about soap dispensers. Think about it, that little pump gets pressed BEFORE people wash their hands, and it rarely gets cleaned. And studies have even shown that soap can carry germs. Be sure to scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds and use HOT water.

Watch out for Make-up counter testers ladies. A recent study found that one in five of those sample testers tested positive for things like yeast, mold and fecal matter. Yikes!

All of your tech gadgets and devices. You can imagine the amount of germs that can be found on the average computer mouse, keyboard and the face of your tablet. Then think about all the germs living on your Smartphone.  Remember to sanitize those gadgets often.

And before I forget, don't forget to clean the television remote control, especially when you're staying in a hotel. You don't know who has touched that thing before you picked it up.

Watch out for anything in a restaurant. With more and more restaurants starting to use tablet devices on tables be leery of putting your hands all over them. Also, menus are the worst of all. Everyone is touching them and they never get cleaned. Watch out for that ketchup bottle that's been touched by everyone all day too.

Finally, your gloves. When it's cold, chances are you wear them all the time. Don't forget to wash them every once in a while. Along with your hat and scarf too. All of those items harbor germs.

This is definitely the time of year where you’ve got to lookout for yourself, especially in all those publicly pawed places.

Source: MSN