The kitchen may be the heart of a home, but health experts notes it’s also the dirtiest room in the house.
According to the National Sanitation Foundation, areas where food is stored and prepared have more fecal contamination and bacteria than other places in a home, like the bathroom. The NSF found more than 75 percent of dish sponges and rags tested positive for salmonella, E. coli and fecal matter. This is a much higher percentage than bathroom faucet handles, 9 percent of which were found to contain these harmful microorganisms.
Kitchens also are vulnerable to additional pathogens. Since food is found in kitchens, there may be higher rates of insect and animal pests, which come with their own health dangers. Pest droppings can be a serious health hazard that contaminate food sources and spread airborne pathogens that can trigger asthma and allergic reactions. Pest waste also can lead to gastrointestinal upset.