Keeping your toothbrush on the bathroom sink near the toilet is akin to brushing your teeth with toilet water, say experts. Fecal matter, urine, and millions of bacteria are sprayed up to six feet each time you flush'and they land on your nearby brush. Eew!
But the bathroom sink is only one of a handful of really unhealthy places in the house to keep your personal belongings, reports Prevention magazine. Here are some other major no-nos:
> Leaving your purse on the kitchen counter. The average woman's handbag carries 10,000 bacteria per square inch, so keep it away from your food-preparation area.
> Keeping flip-flops and sneakers in a bedroom closet. Lawn chemicals, pollen, and other allergens on shoes can be transferred to the other clothing items.
> Putting hot leftovers in the refrigerator. This results in uneven cooling, which can lead to food poisoning. Instead, cool on the counter for an hour before refrigerating.
> Keeping medicine in the medicine cabinet. Bathroom temps can reach 100 degrees, far above the recommended storage temperatures for many drugs.
> Setting fruit on the kitchen sink. The kitchen sink has more germs than any other site in your house, even your toilets.
