Germs....

What do restaurant menus, hands-free faucets, ATM machines and your physician's scrubs have in common? They are all among the "germiest" objects on Earth.

Yes, really.

As much as you might like to give the gold medal to toilet seats when it comes to squeamishly germ-ridden locations, science suggests there are much "germier" places that you're probably frequenting daily.

For example, one study found that each key on an ATM keypad harbors 1,200 germs, including E. coli and cold and flu viruses. The worst button is the "Enter" button, because everyone has to touch it. Flu viruses can survive on hard surfaces such as restaurant menus for as long as 18 hours, according to an article in Mental Flossⁱ. Some of the other dirtiest places and objects might surprise you:

Hospitals Lemon Slices in Restaurant Drinks Hotel Room Glasses Kitchen Cloths and Sponges Faucets and Sink Drains Toothbrushes Food Court Tables Fitting Rooms

Restaurant Condiment Toy Stores Hotel Bedspreads and Pillows Light Switches Drinking Fountains Wet Laundry—after it's been washed Escalator Handrails Shopping Cart Handles

Handbag Bottoms Gadget Shops Remote Controls and Computer Keyboards Door Knobs and Handles Cutting Boards Playground Equipment (Swings, Slides and Monkey Bars) Shopping Cart Handles Makeup Samples