And the top five filthiest surfaces are .

MANILA, Philippines - Apart from sick people, a number of common objects are notorious channels for transmitting dirt, microbes, and other invisible organisms. “These are everyday objects we come in contact with,” says Clorox brand manager Renelle Delos Santos. “They may look innocent enough, but if you try to run them under a powerful scope, you’ll be more averse to touch them.” 

Clorox lists the top five filthiest surfaces that people usually touch or use:

1. Telephone. What could be possibly dirtier than the toilet and the keyboard? Hello! It’s the telephone, which weighs in at 25,127 germs per square inch! The phone comes in direct contact with the ears and the mouth (which also hosts a multitude of live bacteria). Add to that the sloppy officemates who share the same device with you.

2. Doorknob. Imagine there’s a CCTV camera pinpointed at your front door the whole day. What do you see? Somebody who just came out of the loo touches the doorknob. Then another who is taking out the trash touches the doorknob. In the afternoon, your toddler who was playing in the yard touches the doorknob. And finally, your dog attempts to paw the same doorknob. Indeed, the doorknob is one of the most widely touched surfaces in the house, making it a viable sanctuary to disease-causing microbes.

3. Computer keyboard. One other “seemingly safe” surface is your home computer, but in reality, it is also a major germ carrier. As indicated in the same research, the computer keyboard carries up to 64 bacteria per square inch in terms of bacterial presence. The home computer mouse, on the other hand, can carry up to 50 bacteria per square inch. 

Not surprising since this computer peripheral seems to be one of the last things people proactively disinfect regularly but use frequently. Some of the bacteria experts were able to detect are Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci, Diptheroids and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa which pose a health risk to weak immune systems.

4. Toilet. According to a report by Nancy Long, a nutrition and sales force training and development expert, statistics show that there are 764 bacteria for every square inch of a toilet floor (in front of toilet)  while the toilet bowl itself hosts around 3.2 million of these microscopic creatures.

 5. Elevator buttons. Fingers from all walks of life touch those buttons. Some of those fingers may have been used previously to cover a cough, poke a nose, scratch the buttocks or handle other dirty stuff. You get the picture?

Still the simplest way to reduce the risk of spreading and getting sick from these invisible enemies is to always wash your hands. Not only after touching these objects but often — before and after eating, upon arriving home from the outside, after using the toilet, and before touching the kids. Regularly disinfect any frequently used surfaces and objects not only at home but in the office, too. If cleaning with water and soap is not possible, use cleansing wipes to get the job done.

Clorox Disinfecting Wipes make multi-surface cleaning a snap. They are a quick and easy way to clean and disinfect a variety of surfaces including finished wood. One of its other key advantages is that unlike ordinary moistened towels, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes kill 99.9 percent of germs — including viruses that cause colds and flu. Available in lemon and fresh scent, these textured, pre-moistened wipes don’t contain bleach, and they offer a simple solution for cleaning and disinfecting. They leave a fresh scent, too.

For more information on the product, log on to www.clorox.com. Clorox  Disinfecting Wipes are available at leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide.