Four stealth sources of germs

If you have germophobic tendencies, then you are probably familiar with the most common sources of germs. But have you considered all of the possible routes to infection? Let's face it, germs are everywhere. If you need me, I'll be in my bunker, wearing tissue paper boxes on my feet.

1. The bathroom doorknob
I know a lot of people are familiar with this one, because I see it in action. Fellow germophobes who take an extra paper towel with them to open the bathroom door on their way out. Not everyone washes their hands after using a public restroom, and even if they do, most people do a poor job of it.

The bathroom door handle is probably pretty gross, but keep in mind, those people walk out and then start touching all kinds of other things. Ew.

(Props to public restrooms with doors you can just push open with your shoulder on the exit.)

2. Cash money
Cash is so filthy that as debit card use has risen, entire categories of illnesses are being wiped out. Now that we all just touch our own disgusting debit cards instead of each others' dollar bills, we're healthier than ever.

Consider this: One of the few places that still only takes cash is a stripper's g-string.

3. The remote control
One of the things I will never ever ever touch without disinfecting it first is a hotel room remote control. They never disinfect those things, you know. Your home remote is bad enough, but…!

4. Your purse
Bacteria can grow surprisingly well on the bottom of your purse. Whether you're setting it down on a post office counter or the floor of a restaurant, your purse is getting seriously germy. Most purses are not, strictly speaking, washable. But you can wipe down most materials with rubbing alcohol and cut your risk of exposure immensely.

Image courtesy Flickr/antigone78