Article created by: Viktorija Ošikaitė

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

#1

Child's messy hand with spaghetti, highlighting unnoticed gross mess. 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

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    #2

    Close-up of a hand touching a book page, illustrating unnoticed gross habits. When people lick their finger before turning pages or counting out money.

    WoolaTheCalot , SHVETS production / pexels Report

    #3

    Yellow-gloved hand holding a soapy sponge, highlighting unnoticed gross items. Kitchen sponges. These things are gross. Likely one of the dirtiest things in your home.

    NeuxSaed , Karolina Grabowska / pexels Report

    #4

    Dyson Airblade hand dryer in public restroom, illustrating hygiene versus perceived grossness factors. Hand air dryers in restrooms. Those Dyson air blade ones are the worst apparently

    Tihsdrib , Josh Graciano / flickr Report

    #5

    Person washing hands in a sink with soap and water, highlighting hygiene's hidden gross aspects. 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

    #6

    Person flushing a toilet with the lid up, highlighting common unsanitary habits. Flushing with the lid open

    kphill325 , Sophie / flickr Report

    #7

    Close-up of an ear, highlighting unnoticed gross aspects discussed in the topic. The space behind your ears if you don’t specifically clean behind themu/Puzzleheaded-Bet1328In 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

    #8

    A soda fountain with various drink options, highlighting common but unnoticed gross public surfaces. 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

    #9

    Twin beds with decorative pillows in a clean, well-lit bedroom setting. Hotel rooms

    Mexicannut , Zak Chapman / pexels Report

    #10

    British currency including pound notes and coins, highlighting something people often overlook as gross. Cash

    carrotwhirl , Suzy Hazelwood / pexels Report

    #11

    Person browsing gallery on a smartphone, unaware of gross details in photos. Your phone screen is probably dirtier than a public toilet seat. Better start cleaning it regularly!

    purplelips11 , Plann / pexels Report

    #12

    Person pointing at a menu with coffee beside, discussing overlooked gross things. Restaurant menus

    FlippyChica , RDNE Stock project / pexels Report

    #13

    Clothes neatly arranged on hangers in a stylish wardrobe display; pastel pinks and greens dominate the color palette. 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

    #14

    A hand touching bowling balls, illustrating common overlooked gross things. Bowling ball finger holes.

    Alert-Eggplant4654 , Anna Shvets / pexels Report

    #15

    Crowded library with shelves filled with various books, showcasing a seemingly disorganized collection. Books at the library and keyboards. Source: Used to work in a library.

    wannabe_wonder_woman , Polina Zimmerman / pexels Report

    #16

    Hand holding a set of keys, highlighting common items people don't realize are gross due to bacteria buildup. 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

    #17

    Typing on a keyboard with a chart, highlighting unnoticed gross habits at work. Your keyboard. It's hard to clean, and is used almost constantly

    Ebonyks , RDNE Stock project / pexels Report

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    #18

    Ice machine filled with ice cubes, a common overlooked source of germs in public places. Fast food ice

    Kshi-dragonfly , ThatOnePickleLord / reddit Report

    #19

    Condiment rack with ketchup, salt, and pepper shakers on a diner table, highlighting commonly unnoticed gross surfaces. The condiment bottles at a restaurant.

    Jeramy_Jones , Paul Sullivan / flickr Report

    #20

    A person drinking from a soda can, highlighting unnoticed gross habits. 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

    #21

    Audi car steering wheel close-up in a parked vehicle. 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

    #22

    Women's restroom sign on a wooden door, illustrating common things people might not 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

    #23

    Washing hands under running water, highlighting hygiene practices often overlooked as 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

    #24

    Hand touching a doorknob, a common object that may be considered gross due to unnoticed germs. Door knobs

    fashionistachica01 , Antony Trivet / pexels Report

    #25

    Open dishwasher with clean racks, illustrating unnoticed gross spots where people store kitchenware. 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

    #26

    Empty theater with red seats, highlighting cleanliness concerns people overlook. Movie theatre seats

    fartistry96 , Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels Report

    #27

    Couple walking with suitcase on sidewalk, unaware of common gross habits. 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

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    #28

    Keurig machine pouring coffee into a white mug, highlighting overlooked gross elements in everyday items. 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

    #29

    A black belt with a silver buckle resting on blue denim, highlighting 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

    #30

    Close-up of people's shoes on a patterned carpet, highlighting unnoticed gross things in everyday life. Wearing shoes indoors especially on carpets

    carrotwhirl , SHVETS production / pexels Report

    #31

    Man on sticker-covered escalator steps, highlighting unnoticed gross things. Escalator hand rails. They NEVER get cleaned, ever.

    yada_u , Sem Steenbergen / pexels Report

    #32

    Casual shoes on a colorful quilt, person wearing jeans; related to gross things often unnoticed. Wearing your shoes inside the house after walking around all day stepping in who knows what.

    IAmSoUncomfortable , Bran Sodre / pexels Report

    Data1001
    Community Member
    8 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    For Pete's sake, just wipe your feet at the door when you enter! That'll take care of most of the dirt. And as for anything else which may be lingering on the bottom of your shoes, it's only going on the floor -- and hopefully you're not eating off the floor. If you want to take off shoes before going on a carpeted area or a rug, fine, but if you're just walking on linoleum or hardwood flooring, I honestly don't think it's nearly as big a deal as most people seem to make it out to be.