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34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don’t Realize Are Gross

Interview With Expert

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Sometimes ignorance is bliss. For example, the fact that our phone screens, which we touch on the daily and press up against our faces, have millions of bacteria is something that it can feel good to forget.

Someone asked “What's something most people don't realize is extremely dirty/gross/unsanitary?” and netizens shared the worst examples. We got in touch with Leaders Cleaning Services to learn more. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your own thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

More info: TikTok | Leaders Cleaning Services

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Wearing your shoes inside the house after walking around all day stepping in who knows what.

IAmSoUncomfortable , Bran Sodre / pexels Report

Final score:

94points

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#2

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Children, especially toddlers. I remember a pediatrics paramedic instructor once saying, "Forget aerosol sprays, just contaminate one ball in a preschool and that's it."

Raaazzle , Harry Grout / pexels Report

Final score:

87points

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#3

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross When people lick their finger before turning pages or counting out money.

WoolaTheCalot , SHVETS production / pexels Report

Final score:

75points

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Bored Panda got in touch with the folks at Leaders Cleaning Services in New Zealand who have repeatedly gone viral on TikTok with their cleaning videos. We wanted to hear their take on what can help motivate someone to start cleaning a particularly sizable mess.

“If the area in your house looks very messy and overwhelming, first and foremost, I would suggest motivating yourself with #cleanwithme or #cleaningmotivation videos on popular platforms. We promise, these videos work wonders and always give you a kick. Secondly, I would recommend starting with the hardest area and finishing it, instead of spreading your attention across the overall mess and keeping your rubbish bag next to you.”

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#4

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross In 6th grade we were tasked with going around our school using a cotton swab to collect bacteria samples and seeing what grew on a Petri dish.

People immediately went to the bathroom and began swabbing toilets, urinals, floors, sinks, etc. Turns out those were some of the cleanest places in the school. Those Petri dishes hardly grew anything.

The dirtiest? In order: drinking fountain, phone receiver, and the inside of somebody's mouth.

The drinking fountain news reached parents and they demanded answers. Turns out the drinking fountain wasn't properly cleaned since...ever? The janitors used a Stainless Steel Polish to clean it and that doesn't really kill any bacteria.

SayNoToHypocrisy , Jellaluna / flickr Report

Final score:

71points

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#5

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Kitchen sponges.

These things are gross. Likely one of the dirtiest things in your home.

NeuxSaed , Karolina Grabowska / pexels Report

Final score:

67points

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#6

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Buffets. My husband needs a kidney transplant. Afterwards, he will be immunocompromised for life because of the anti-rejection d***s. They gave him a list of things he can't do again after transplant, and eating at a buffet is on it. Even one that has a sneeze guard, even if it looks clean, even if it's vegetarian. No more buffets, Jimmy.

notreallylucy , Michael Kopp / flickr Report

Final score:

63points

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“If you have a bed, make the bed first; it gives you a feeling of accomplishment that you've already done a "significant" amount of cleaning (just tricking the mind). So once you've finished the area, you could either continue next time with the rest, or most likely, this will keep the motivation going,” they shared.

#7

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Hand air dryers in restrooms. Those Dyson air blade ones are the worst apparently

Tihsdrib , Josh Graciano / flickr Report

Final score:

61points

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#8

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Not washing their hands every time they use the restroom. Even if you haven't actively gotten urine/feces on your hands from yourself, you have touched dozens of things that other people with urine/feces have touched before you by entering that room. Also, this is your chance to keep your hands clean from the thousands of other surfaces, doorknobs, and light switches outside the bathroom.

anon , Ketut Subiyanto / pexels Report

Final score:

56points

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#9

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Flushing with the lid open

kphill325 , Sophie / flickr Report

Final score:

56points

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We also wanted to hear their take on the topic here, of items that are a lot dirtier than one might expect. “Everyone is different; in my opinion, the most neglected things are handles and light switches. Toothbrush chargers are another big one, as well as anything very below or above eye level. If you pay attention to skirting boards, chair/table legs, toilet bases, or lighting/chandeliers, high shelves, and high mirrors, you'll find that these things are not cleaned in a long time in most houses. But that's why people call us!”

#10

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross The space behind your ears if you don’t specifically clean behind them
u/Puzzleheaded-Bet1328
In cosmetology school the amount of elderly people who came in with black gunk built up behing their ears.

They really werent kidding when they said to not forget to wash behind your ears.

Aria_the_Artificer , Karolina Grabowska / pexels Report

Final score:

51points

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#11

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Many fountain soda dispensers and bar gun dispensers never get properly cleaned/sanitized and harbor molds, fungi and bacteria. Drink up!

JasperDyne , Phillip Pessar / flickr Report

Final score:

50points

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#12

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Hotel rooms

Mexicannut , Zak Chapman / pexels Report

Final score:

49points

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“But what we would like to note is that people worry most about cleaning the toilet, but actually, kitchen and bathroom sinks and tapware hold way more bacteria. These are what people disinfect properly less frequently. Definitely prioritize your sinks,” they shared with Bored Panda.

#13

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Cash

carrotwhirl , Suzy Hazelwood / pexels Report

Final score:

49points

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#14

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Your phone screen is probably dirtier than a public toilet seat. Better start cleaning it regularly!

purplelips11 , Plann / pexels Report

Final score:

48points

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#15

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Restaurant menus

FlippyChica , RDNE Stock project / pexels Report

Final score:

46points

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#16

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross New clothes. Often, those clothes have been made from fabric that is dusty or has been sitting in a dirty warehouse. Then the completed clothes are left sit in a dusty/dirty warehouse, often with rats or bugs crawling on them. Then they are handled by sweaty workers with dirty hands who load them into various containers or trucks. Then—for clothes sold in a store—there is a good chance you are not the first person to have tried on that item of clothing.

In short, when you get a new item of clothing, run it through the laundry before wearing it.

putsch80 , Ron Lach / pexels Report

Final score:

45points

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#17

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Bowling ball finger holes.

Alert-Eggplant4654 , Anna Shvets / pexels Report

Final score:

45points

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#18

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Books at the library and keyboards. Source: Used to work in a library.

wannabe_wonder_woman , Polina Zimmerman / pexels Report

Final score:

43points

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#19

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Your keys, you never wash them, drop them a lot, use them with filthy hand... etc... and just think how often parents give them to their babies to play with.

ShadyMyLady , Alena Darmel Alena Darmel / pexels Report

Final score:

40points

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#20

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Your keyboard. It's hard to clean, and is used almost constantly

Ebonyks , RDNE Stock project / pexels Report

Final score:

39points

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#21

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Fast food ice

Kshi-dragonfly , ThatOnePickleLord / reddit Report

Final score:

38points

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#22

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross The condiment bottles at a restaurant.

Jeramy_Jones , Paul Sullivan / flickr Report

Final score:

38points

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#23

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Drinking from canned beverages without cleaning them off. You have no idea what's been touching that can before it touches your lips.

Cobra_Bubbles7 , Karolina Grabowska / pexels Report

Final score:

38points

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#24

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Your steering wheel. Think of all the things you touch when you're out and about then get back into your car and transfer it all to your steering wheel. Especially the gas pump.

DragonsLoooveTacos , Guillaume Meurice / pexels Report

Final score:

36points

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#25

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Ladies, if you bring your bag inside the public bathroom stall with you, don't set it down on the floor. Especially if it doesn't have little metal feet(s).

Many of us don't realize how dirty the floors in bathroom stalls or public area's actually are.

In some cases, the floors are more bacteria ridden than the toilet seats.

NewfoundOrigin , Martha Garvey / flickr Report

Final score:

33points

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#26

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Clean under your fingernails. Use an old toothbrush if you have to. Don’t use the same brush for both.

sunnyspiders , Anna Shvets / pexels Report

Final score:

32points

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#27

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Door knobs

fashionistachica01 , Antony Trivet / pexels Report

Final score:

32points

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#28

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross 1) the filters inside your dishwasher should be washed frequently. I wash/scrub mine once per week.

2) the kitchen sink strainer/stopper can be disassembled and you can clean the upper part of the rubber stopper which will make you gag because it’s so scummy.

_jump_yossarian , Castorly Stock / pexels Report

Final score:

30points

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#29

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Movie theatre seats

fartistry96 , Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels Report

Final score:

30points

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#30

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Here's something no one thinks about - luggage. You're dragging your suitcase, and maybe an attached tote bag, across sidewalks, floors, maybe airport bathrooms...then what? Handling them when putting them in the overhead bins on the airplane (which makes the bins pretty gross, too). I'm still shocked when I hear people say the set their luggage on the hotel bed. Airplane seats are gross, too. Nothing gets sanitized between flights, so there could be all kinds of germs on the armrests, tray tables, etc. I've seen people put their bare feet on the tray tables! The other day as we were deplaning, the girl next to me got up and her seat was wet from crotch sweat.

AstralCath , Andrea Piacquadio / pexels Report

Final score:

27points

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#31

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross That coffee pot/ keurig at work. No, they don't clean it, they only remove the old pods.

Key_Reporter_9316 , Dan_Sai / flickr Report

Final score:

24points

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#32

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Your belt because you tighten it right after taking a dump before you even have the opportunity to wash your hands

Suspicious_Air5950 , Pixabay / pexels Report

Final score:

23points

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#33

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Wearing shoes indoors especially on carpets

carrotwhirl , SHVETS production / pexels Report

Final score:

18points

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#34

34 People Share Disgusting Things People Don't Realize Are Gross Escalator hand rails. They NEVER get cleaned, ever.

yada_u , Sem Steenbergen / pexels Report

Final score:

12points

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Justin Sandberg

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

I am a writer at Bored Panda. Despite being born in the US, I ended up spending most of my life in Europe, from Latvia, Austria, and Georgia to finally settling in Lithuania. At Bored Panda, you’ll find me covering topics ranging from the cat meme of the day to red flags in the workplace and really anything else. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, beating other people at board games, cooking, good books, and bad films.

Viktorija Ošikaitė

I'm a visual editor here at Bored Panda and I enjoy a good laugh. My work ranges from serious topics related to toxic work environments and relationship difficulties to humorous articles about online shopping fails and introvert memes. When I'm not at my work desk, checking if every single pixel is in the right place, I usually spend my free time playing board games, taking pictures, and watching documentaries

I'm a visual editor here at Bored Panda and I enjoy a good laugh. My work ranges from serious topics related to toxic work environments and relationship difficulties to humorous articles about online shopping fails and introvert memes. When I'm not at my work desk, checking if every single pixel is in the right place, I usually spend my free time playing board games, taking pictures, and watching documentaries

What do you think ?

Annik Perrot 6 months ago (edited)

There's cleanliness, and there's pathological germaphobia. Being exposed to à reasonable amount of dirt and germs won't kill you, unless you are severely immuno-depressed. On the contrary, it will help you build your immune system and train your body to recognize those germs and fight them. Or you won't ever be able to leave your house without wearing à mask, and wiping everything you touch with antiseptic.

57points

Diolla 6 months ago

Thank you.

13points

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Kesam 6 months ago

I scrolled down here to write exactly that! 👍

9points

Isabel Galvez 6 months ago

Exactly what I wanted to say. Germs are everywhere and that's normal.

7points

Hannah Taylor 6 months ago

It just so happens that I AM immunocompromised, and have to wear a mask in crowds or when I go out (thanks a lot, chemo/radiation therapy!) But I DO see your point. True, it's good to take precautions, especially when in public, high-traffic places. But when it gets to the point of paranoia, it can literally paralyze you to the point of developing agoraphobia.

0points

Ace 6 months ago

Some (actually nearly all) of these make me wonder how some people even get out of the house each day. Do they wear surgical gloves and masks all the time? And carry anti-bacterial spray to use on every surface the ever come into contact with?

29points

Jan Bowyer 6 months ago

Sheldon Cooper

5points

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Al Fun 6 months ago

I grew up thinking that if my hands aren’t visibly dirty, they are clean. I have survived.

19points

Daniela Lavanza 6 months ago (edited)

You're not wrong, we need to stimulate our immune system. However most of us survived because of modern medicine too. Many harmless, easy to cure diseases today could have killed our ancestors. It's tough to balance hygiene and keeping in touch with a reasonable amount of bacteria.

7points

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Annik Perrot 6 months ago (edited)

There's cleanliness, and there's pathological germaphobia. Being exposed to à reasonable amount of dirt and germs won't kill you, unless you are severely immuno-depressed. On the contrary, it will help you build your immune system and train your body to recognize those germs and fight them. Or you won't ever be able to leave your house without wearing à mask, and wiping everything you touch with antiseptic.

57points

Diolla 6 months ago

Thank you.

13points

Load More Replies...

Kesam 6 months ago

I scrolled down here to write exactly that! 👍

9points

Isabel Galvez 6 months ago

Exactly what I wanted to say. Germs are everywhere and that's normal.

7points

Hannah Taylor 6 months ago

It just so happens that I AM immunocompromised, and have to wear a mask in crowds or when I go out (thanks a lot, chemo/radiation therapy!) But I DO see your point. True, it's good to take precautions, especially when in public, high-traffic places. But when it gets to the point of paranoia, it can literally paralyze you to the point of developing agoraphobia.

0points

Ace 6 months ago

Some (actually nearly all) of these make me wonder how some people even get out of the house each day. Do they wear surgical gloves and masks all the time? And carry anti-bacterial spray to use on every surface the ever come into contact with?

29points

Jan Bowyer 6 months ago

Sheldon Cooper

5points

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Al Fun 6 months ago

I grew up thinking that if my hands aren’t visibly dirty, they are clean. I have survived.

19points

Daniela Lavanza 6 months ago (edited)

You're not wrong, we need to stimulate our immune system. However most of us survived because of modern medicine too. Many harmless, easy to cure diseases today could have killed our ancestors. It's tough to balance hygiene and keeping in touch with a reasonable amount of bacteria.

7points

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