What’s the germiest stuff you touch every day?

Kimberly-Clark Professional examined everyday objects to see which were the most germy. Then  Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona analyzed their data. Here’s what they learned:

From station KOLD in Tucson:

“They found nearly three-quarters of gas pump handles are highly contaminated with the kinds of germs that can make us sick.

Next on the list, the handle on that mailbox where you drop off your letters and packages.

What you pick up there could send you to the doctor.

The study found 68% of the handles were contaminated.

Here’s one we’ve told you about before.

Vile germs are riding nearly half of escalator rails tested.

What about ATM’s?

You could withdraw more than money the next time you hit the buttons on an ATM.

They were just a bit less icky than escalator rails.

Next on the list, parking meters or kiosks.

And the next time you buy a snack from a vending machine, you’ll definitely want to wash your hands before you eat it.

The study found 35% of vending machine buttons were crawling with germs.

That is tied with the crosswalk buttons we push when we want to cross the street.”

I usually use my knuckles on crosswalks, ATMs and vending machines, but you have to use your hand to open the big mailbox and to pick up the gas pump. I usually keep hannitizer in my car and didn’t have it there the other night after I pumped and I was totally grossed out.

In a related story, a university professor and mother of four has been banned from local McDonald’s for her study of germs on the playground.

From The AP:

“CHANDLER, Ariz. (AP) — An Arizona State University instructor and mother of four received a hand-delivered letter from a lawyer prohibiting her from setting foot in eight Phoenix-area McDonald’s and threatening her with criminal trespassing charges if she did.”

“Chandler resident Erin Carr-Jordan has been on a national crusade to clean up fast-food play areas, claiming the pathogens she found in them threaten children’s health.”

“Carr-Jordan tells The Arizona Republic ( http://bit.ly/s9T4Gb ) the incident she believes led to the lawyer’s letter happened during one of her repeated visits to a Gilbert McDonald’s. Carr-Jordan alleges she discovered antibiotic-resistant Staph or MRSA, known to cause potentially life-threatening infections in the restaurant’s PlayPlace.”

(Read the link – it’s a crazy full story from The Arizona Republic!)

So do you clean your hands after pumping gas or going to the vending machine? Do you think about germs being on the escalator handle, ATM button or mailbox? Do you wash your hands after using these?

What do you think of the mom/scientist being banned from McDonald’s for telling patrons what she found? Does the MRSA make your worry more about restaurant playgrounds?