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Flight attendant reveals the surprising dirtiest place on a plane

It’s no secret that planes are often rife with germs, but it turns out some unexpected parts of the aircraft are much dirtier than others. One flight attendant has shared the part of the plane that often gets overlooked when cleaning, and it's not where you would think. The cabin crew member from the US, who regularly posts travel tips on her FlightBae TikTok account, shared that it's actually the seat pockets you should steer clear of. "They're dirtier than the lavatories, they're dirtier than the seat cushion, and they're dirtier than the tray tables," she said in a clip that's had over 3,000 likes. "Let me tell you why." She goes on to say the seat pockets are "never cleaned". "Unless somebody vomits or there is something ooey or gooey in there, it doesn't get cleaned. All cleaners do is go in and take out the trash," she explained. "So all of those germs have accumulated and there is no regular cleaning of those surfaces, whereas the lavatories are regularly wiped down and sanitised." Her followers were understandably disgusted, with one person even sharing: "This is very true! I once saw a parent place a used diaper in the seat back pocket." "Never touching it again," another said, while a third wrote: "I don't use them. I'll always see people their feet in them." Image credits: Getty Images

Travel Tips

The dirtiest part of your plane seat exposed

When you consider the fact that they cart hundreds of passengers around the world every day, it’s no surprise that the cabins of planes are breeding grounds for germs. Seats in particular are hotbeds for microscopic nasties, which makes sense when you consider it’s the part of the cabin every passenger is guaranteed to touch. What might be a little more surprising however, is the dirtiest part of your seat. A new study from <a href="http://www.travelmath.com/feature/airline-hygiene-exposed/" target="_blank">TravelMath</a> found that tray tables, where you eat your food or rest your hands, is by far the dirtiest part of each individual plane seat. While planes are generally given a once-over between flights, this normally isn’t nearly enough to get rid of the bacteria that has built up over numerous flights. Our suggestion? Pack some hand sanitiser!

Domestic Travel

Dirtiest items in your home (and how to clean them)

You scrub the toilet bowl meticulously, wipe down your kitchen bench every evening and vacuum the carpet with precision. But some of the dirtiest items in your home may be the ones you don't often think of cleaning. Here is a list of some of the filthiest items in your home with a few tips on how to clean them: Cleaning equipment How often do you clean your cleaning utensils? If your answer was not often enough, you're not alone. Sponges, cloths and scrub brushes are responsible for wiping up the biggest messes in your home, and these utensils are often one of the most germ-infested areas, with their damp material being a breeding ground for mould. To keep clean, be sure to rinse the utensil in hot water, wring out and leave to dry on a rack after every use and launder them every couple of days or when they start to smell. Most importantly, be sure to toss out sponges, cloths or rags every few weeks. Doorknobs Whenever we move into a different room of the house, we transfer any of the germs on our hands to the various doorknobs we touch. If left unclean, this results in the doorknob becoming one of the filthiest items in the house. To clean, use a cloth and hot, soapy water to wipe down, either weekly or as needed. Kitchen sink drain The drain of your kitchen is filled with bacteria, with germ growth encouraged thanks to the combination of food scraps and moisture. Many experts believe the average kitchen sink is actually dirtier than your toilet seat. To ensure your drain is as germ free as possible, pour a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar, finish by letting the mixture sit for a minute and then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. Use this inexpensive and eco-friendly cleaning method at least once a week and your drain should be in pristine condition. Electronics The average person uses the electronic devices in their home numerous times in a day, resulting in a large amount of bacteria building up on your remotes and keyboards. For example, the Wall Street Journal found the average mobile phone has up to 30,000 colony-forming units of bacteria. To ensure these devices are kept as clean as possible, swab your remote, keyboard, mouse and your mobile phone (including its cover), once a week with a well wrung-out disinfectant wipe. Base of the toilet We all make sure to scrub the toilet seat and bowl. However, many people forget to clean the base of the toilet and surrounding floor, which, is surprisingly one of the filthiest areas of the bathroom (particularly if you have small children or men in the house). To keep this area clean, be sure to wipe down the base whenever you clean the toilet and mop the surrounding floor at least once a week. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/">Stuff.co.nz. </a> Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/12/8-new-uses-for-household-items/">8 uses for household items you’d never thought of</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/12/things-you-didnt-know-you-could-recycle/">5 kitchen items you didn’t know that you could recycle</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/12/20-household-items-with-cleaning-powers/">20 things around your home with surprising cleaning powers</a>

Home & Garden

Study reveals the dirtiest thing in your kitchen – and it might not be what you think

If you were asked you to name the item in your kitchen that contains the most germs, you might be inclined to point out your tap handle. You’d be close, but surprisingly not correct. According to a study published in Food Protection Trends showed that the hand towel is actually the dirtiest thing in your kitchen, often teeming with germs that can make you sick. The study was undertaken by Kansas State University, and involved volunteers preparing recipes using raw beef or chicken, and a fruit salad. The raw meat was coated in a harmless microorganism found in yoghurt so they could track the spread of germs throughout the kitchen. Video taken during the experiment showed people handling the towel with dirty hands, after quick washing jobs, as well as using them to dry their just-cleaned hands. But the spread of germs doesn’t stop there. Many of the participants checked their phones while cooking, which likely transferred germs from anywhere else they’d been, including the bathroom, to the kitchen towel and then their food. So how did they measure the results? At the end of the meal preparation, the fruit salad was examined to determine how much the harmless microorganism had spread. More than 90 per cent of the fruit salads made during the experiments had traces of the “germ” on them, showing that while people may have thought using the towel was helping them stay clean, it was actually contributing to the spread of germs. Experts recommend paying close attention to the way you use your hand towels in the kitchen. If you’re preparing meat, you should was it at the end of the day. If it’s a light day in the kitchen, with no raw meat handled, you can judge for yourself. But it’s always important to thoroughly wash your hands whenever preparing food, or you risk the spread of nasties like salmonella.

Home & Garden

6 dirtiest places on a plane revealed

Get the hand sanitiser ready. A lot of places inside an airplane cabin are seriously dirty – and it might not be the ones you think. 1. Tray table That’s right – the spot you eat your food from is the single dirtiest place onboard. A recent study found that the tables contain more than 2,000 ‘colony forming units’, a technical measure for the number of bacterial or fungal cells that can multiply, per square inch. That’s around twice as many as the next dirtiest area onboard. So you might want to give the tray a wipe before you tuck in. 2. Seat pockets They look like a convenient place to store your books, magazines, wallet or snacks. But in reality, many people use those pockets as a rubbish bin rather than a storage unit. Used tissues, food wrappers, chewing gum, even dirty nappies have been known to make their way in there. You might want to keep your things on your lap. 3. Water fountains It’s important to stay hydrated in the air, though you may want to steer clear of the drinking fountains. The handles of these were found to be the second dirtiest thing on a plane, with around 1,000 colony forming units per square inch. Avoid them altogether and drink out of your own water bottle. 4. Bathroom This one should come as no surprise. With around one bathroom for every 50 passengers, airplane bathrooms can be a breeding ground for unhealthy and dangerous bacteria like E. coli. The lever to flush the toilet is generally the dirtiest place, so wash your hands thoroughly after using it and apply some hand sanitiser once you’re back at your seat. 5. Overhead air vent The vents represent a double danger. Not only can you get germs on your hands from touching them, the air flow can blow germs right into your face. Try to avoid touching the vent and, if you’re really concerned, turn it off so that no air flow is coming through. 6. Seat headrest Lice anyone? Often there is no cleaning of the headrest area between passengers, so you could be leaning your head against the exact same spot as everyone else who has been on that plane today. The easiest thing to do is bring a small towel or cloth to drape over it and protect yourself – just be sure not to block the video screen of the person behind you. Did you realise these are the dirtiest parts of a plane? Do you have any trip plans on the cards? Let us know in the comments below. Related links: <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/5-foods-you-must-never-eat-on-a-flight/">5 foods you must never eat on a flight</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/5-sounds-you-hear-on-the-plane-explained/">5 strange sounds you hear during a flight explained</a> <a href="/travel/travel-tips/2016/08/secret-way-to-raise-the-armrest-on-your-aisle-seat/">There is a secret way to raise the armrest on your aisle seat</a>

Travel Tips

5 of the dirtiest spots in your kitchen

<div>Even if you meticulously clean your kitchen, and believe it to be squeaky-clean, chances are its still home to nasties that are bad for your health.</div> <div> </div> <div>"Moisture and food particles make it the perfect environment for growing germs that can make you sick," says Kelly A. Reynolds, PhD, an environmental microbiologist at the University of Arizona's Zuckerman College of Public Health in Tucson. "If you're not killing them, you can go from 10 microbes to millions within 24 hours." </div> <div> </div> <div>The key is to focus on the most hazardous errors where these germs thrive and multiply. Here are five of the dirtiest spots in your kitchen to pay attention to.</div> <div> </div> <div>1. The sink</div> <div></div> <div>There can be millions of pathogens (disease-causing germs) clinging to the sink, the seal of the drain and the rubber gasket around the garbage disposal. Be sure to lean your sink once a day- even when it’s not used – and immediately after rinsing raw meat, veggies and pet bowls. When using disinfectant, let it sit for a while before wiping away.</div> <div> </div> <div>2. Your sponges</div> <div></div> <div>Seventy-five per cent of household dish sponges and rags carry disease-causing Coliform bacteria such as E. coli, and a dirty sponge or rag will spread those germs to any surface it touches. Replace dishrags daily. Launder in hot water and dry on hot, which kills more germs. </div> <div> </div> <div>3. Refrigerator and cabinet handles, stove knobs and light switches</div> <div></div> <div>We often forget about these areas because they may not look dirty, but any area you touch multiple times a day is highly likely to be contaminated. Wipe down these areas as part of your</div> <div>regular kitchen disinfecting routine.</div> <div> </div> <div>4. Your rubbish bin</div> <div></div> <div>No matter how careful you are, food particles, meat juices and other nasty stuff build up in your rubbish bin. Once a week, take your garbage can outdoors or haul it into your shower. Spray inside and out with a disinfectant, let it sit for the time recommended on the label, then rinse and let it air-dry. </div> <div> </div> <div>5. Reusable grocery bags</div> <div></div> <div>Reusable grocery bags often carry disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli. Most reusable bags are porous, so juices from meat can soak into the fibres. They are also often not made of materials that can withstand a hot water wash, so if you want to hold onto your bags, find some that can take a spin in tour washing machine. What's your kitchen cleaning routine? Do you have any top tips to share? Share them in the comments below. Related links:</div> <div> <div><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/05/uses-for-hydrogen-peroxide-at-home/">28 great uses for hydrogen peroxide at home</a></div> <div> <a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/04/kitchen-tricks-that-that-will-save-you-money/">8 kitchen tricks that that will save you money </a><a href="/lifestyle/home-garden/2016/04/how-to-unshrink-clothing/">Trick to unshrink clothing</a> </div> </div> <div></div> <div> </div>

News

The dirtiest place on a plane revealed

What’s the dirtiest place on the plane? If you answered the bathroom, you’d actually be wrong. There’s far more contaminated areas in the plane, apparently. A report has found that the dirtiest area in an airplane is the tray table. Yes, the place where you eat your food. Trip planning website Travelmath had a microbiologist test five different airports and four different flights on two major airline carriers. The report found the six most contaminated places are: <ul> <li>Tray table</li> <li>Drinking fountain buttons</li> <li>Overhead air vent</li> <li>Toilet flush button</li> <li>Seatbelt buckle</li> <li>Bathroom stall locks</li> </ul> Will this change the way you travel? Share your opinion with us in the comments below. Related links: <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international-travel/2016/05/aerial-tour-of-beautiful-flower-field-in-the-netherlands/">Aerial tour of beautiful flower field in the Netherlands</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/international-travel/2016/05/10-breathtaking-photos-new-zealand-beautiful-roads/">10 breathtaking photos of New Zealand’s beautiful roads</a> <a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/travel/travel-tips/2016/04/10-incredible-things-to-do-in-tokyo/">10 incredible things to do in Tokyo</a>

International Travel

10 of the dirtiest places in the kitchen

After a quick spray and wipe your kitchen may look squeaky clean, but on a micro level it’s actually anything but. The good news is that while they’re tiny, it’s generally no secret as to where these germs are hiding. Here’s a list of 10 kitchen germ traps and how to clean them in seconds. 1. Kitchen sink At any time your kitchen sink may be hosting millions of pathogens that could spread nasty diseases. To avoid spreading these, clean your sink immediately after rinse raw meat, veggies and pet bowls. Disinfectant on the faucet, sink sides and sink bottom will also kill most bacteria and viruses. 2. Sponges and dishrags Dirty sponges and dishrags are the perfect carriers for disease-causing Coliform bacteria like E. coli, so make sure you replace regularly. Dishrags should be recycled daily and washed in hot water to kill more germs, with sponges should really be changed out of circulation every few days. 3. Your hands Something as simple as cracking an egg or handling unwashed produce can turn your hands into germ-carriers, so make sure you wash regularly. When washing your hands you should scrub for at least 20 seconds, then dry with a clean hand towel or a paper towel. 4. Handbags, backpacks, briefcases These items constantly get set on dirty surfaces during the day, so when you take them into the kitchen they’re covered with germs. Your best bet is to keep these items out of the kitchen area, particularly the parts of the kitchen where you’re preparing food. 5. Cabinet handles, knobs and switches These parts of the kitchen often don’t look very dirty at all, but they’re touched multiple times every day which means it’s highly likely they’re contaminated with germs. Making a quick wipe down of these areas as part of a regular disinfecting routine is the best way to avoid germs and try to avoid touching them after handling raw produce or meat. 6. Garbage bin Probably the most obvious item on this list, and it makes sense. No matter how careful you are, the kitchen garbage bin is going to be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. To avoid this, once a week take you garbage bin outside and spray inside and out with a disinfectant, letting it sit for the required time before wiping it down. 7. Kitchen countertop Just because you wipe your kitchen countertop every day doesn’t mean it’s clean, and anything you place there is potentially depositing germs. To avoid spreading germs disinfect regularly, particularly after preparing food, and keep items like bags, purses and pet dishes distant. 8. Microwave Heat may kill germs, but microwaves are far from what you’d call a sterile environment. Wipe your microwave inside and out with a disinfectant at least once a week and clean spills as they occur to stop microbes multiplying. Covering foods is a useful way to prevent splatters. 9. Reusable grocery bags While people who use these bags are definitely doing it for the right reason, reusable grocery bags generally don’t get cleaned and become breeding grounds for germs. Look for reusable grocery bags made of materials like cotton and wash in hot water at least once a week. 10. Coffee machines Coffee might not be the only thing you’re brewing with a coffee machine , as mould can often grow in the reservoirs if not properly cleaned. To avoid this, once a month fill the reservoir with vinegar and let it stand for 30 minutes then rinse out with water several times. Related links: <a href="/news/news/2015/12/abandoned-puppy-rescued-on-christmas-eve/">Abandoned puppy rescued on Christmas Eve doesn’t look like this anymore</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/12/spot-the-cat-hidden-in-this-picture/">Can you spot the cat hidden in this picture?</a> <a href="/news/news/2015/12/why-coffee-can-be-good-for-you/">Why giving up coffee could do you more harm than good</a>

News

The dirtiest part of a plane cabin revealed

The last thing you want is getting sick on holidays, but it turns out airplanes are really just big flying germ containers. We’ve taken a look at the dirtiest parts of a plane. Some of these will genuinely surprise you, and definitely give you incentive to carry hand sanitiser on your next flight. 1. Tray tables The three-second rule obviously doesn’t apply to your mid-flight meal! An ex-flight attendant for Southwest Airlines told Reddit, “If you have ever spread your peanuts on your tray and eaten or really just touched your tray at all, you have more than likely ingested baby poo. I saw more dirty diapers laid out on those trays than food.” That’s genuinely concerning! 2. Blankets and pillows A startling report in the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB117736242824479503">Wall Street Journal</a> published in 2007 found that the blankets and pillows on common flights are only cleaned every 30 days! So every time you nod off on a plane you’re basically snuggling up to a stranger and their germs. 3. Armrest Isn’t it funny – the part of the plane which has people jostling for the best position is actually one of the dirtiest! And it stands to reason that with each new flight there’s a new person’s exposed forearm placed on this part of the seat. Make sure you wipe it with a cloth before using. 4. In-flight magazine While they’re hardly what you’d call essential reading, the in-flight magazines are also a breeding ground for thousands of germs from the hundreds of other people who’ve thumbed through as the planes taxied down the runway. It might be an idea to bring your own reading materials! 5. Floors A lot of people feel compelled to take their shoes off, particularly on long haul flights, but this really isn’t a good idea if you’re not taking a cavalier approach to personal hygiene. Think of all the germs that have been brought in from shoes all around the world on each flight! 6. Toilet Well, this one’s a bit of a no-brainer but the toilets on airplanes are definitely not a germ-free zone. So if you’re not in the practice of flushing and washing your hands, maybe make an exception when you’re 10,000km in the air! No matter where you’re travelling to, making sure you know how to access your cash while away – and in the most affordable way – is very important. Easy to use and with countless benefits, the Over60 Cash Passport allows you to securely access your cash in the same way you use an ATM or credit card.<a href="https://oversixty.cashpassport.com.au"> To find out how you can apply for a card today, click here.</a> Have you arranged your travel insurance yet? Tailor your cover to your needs and save money by not paying for things you don’t need. <a href="https://elevate.agatravelinsurance.com.au/oversixty?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=content&utm_content=link1&utm_campaign=travel-insurance">Click here</a> to read more about Over60 Travel Insurance. For more information about Over60 Travel Insurance, call 1800 622 966. Related links: <a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/12/iconic-destinations-falling-apart/">6 iconic destinations that are falling apart</a> <a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/12/space-age-machine-makes-boarding-faster/">Space-age machine to make airport bag screening faster</a> <a href="/travel/international-travel/2015/12/first-commercial-flight-to-antarctica/">First commercial flight to Antarctica a success</a>

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Flight attendant reveals the surprising dirtiest place on a plane

The dirtiest part of your plane seat exposed

Dirtiest items in your home (and how to clean them)

Study reveals the dirtiest thing in your kitchen – and it might not be what you think

6 dirtiest places on a plane revealed

5 of the dirtiest spots in your kitchen

The dirtiest place on a plane revealed

10 of the dirtiest places in the kitchen

The dirtiest part of a plane cabin revealed