Most of us normally believe that we are doing everything correctly. We soak dishes in the sink, use an air dryer to dry our hands, and can’t function at work without at least one cup of coffee. However, the reality is that a damp sink is more hazardous than a toilet seat, and a clean cup won’t protect you from the germs in a coffee maker. Dryers can carry illnesses. The following nine scientifically validated facts can help you safeguard your health: some routine behaviours might really be harmful to us. We gathered a few practises that, despite their seeming innocence, are actually very unsanitary from a scientific standpoint, and this has been demonstrated through research.

1. Soaking dishes in a sink

Bacteria thrive in sinks, where you may encounter salmonella, colon bacillus, or staphylococcus. Washing the sink after contact with foods like fish, raw meat, milk products, and vegetables is also required in order to prevent stomach and bowel disease. A stack of wet dishes is a quick but dangerous fix.

2. Washing hands with hot water

According to some researchers, water temperature has no bearing on how effectively germs are killed. In this instance, the length of time spent washing your hands matters more since you can eliminate all the bacteria on your hands in 30 seconds but not in 5 seconds. By often washing your hands in hot water, you reduce your skin’s ability to protect itself, which could lead to dermatitis or irritation.

3. Working out with makeup on

Sometimes, when we rush from the office to the gym, we believe that it is unnecessary to spend time taking off our makeup because we will be having a shower after the workout anyway. Our skin needs to breathe and self-clean when we exercise, though. Makeup can clog your pores if you wear it. You can consequently develop a propensity for skin issues. Before working out, take off your makeup.

4. Using a hand dryer

The fact that we avoid touching a dryer with our hands just gives the impression that it is clean. Electric dryers are actually quite unclean since they transmit germs through the air and collect a lot of them, which can then enter the body through the skin, lungs, or other organs. Compared to electric hand dryers, paper towels are more effective and hygienic.

5. Using a food bag more than once

It’s likely that bacteria from raw meat in a bag—even if it was wrapped—will spread to other foods, especially fruits and vegetables. Use a throwaway bag or a washable tote bag as a workaround in this situation.

6. Cutting meat and vegetables on the same board

According to scientist Dr. Charles Gerba, it is unsafe to cut salad on a cutting board since it has 200 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. The two most common causes of food poisoning, salmonella and campylobacter, are spread on a cutting board after chopping raw meat. To solve the problem, use two different cutting boards—one for veggies and one for meat—and go with glass instead of wooden ones.

7. Using an office coffee machine

Different kinds of bacteria can thrive in the reservoir of a coffee maker. The bathroom doorknob in your home has more germs on it than the coffee maker in the office. Wash the reservoir as frequently as you can with very hot water and dish soap to safeguard your health. Making only one serving of coffee is safer.

8. Keeping your phone in your purse

Although it may appear that your bag or purse is a tidy space where your device is totally shielded from the outside world, this is untrue. Your phone will become less infected with germs if you keep it in a pocket or in a case. A toilet seat is 10 times cleaner than a typical phone. It’s recommended to use a wet wipe to clean your phone every day.

9. Cleaning winter clothes in spring

How frequently do you opt to toss a scarf and pair of gloves into a laundry basket? Experts advise cleaning gloves, scarves, and hats every one to two weeks. These garment items come into frequent contact with our lips and nostrils. If there is regular interaction, they build up germs, and our immune system may deteriorate.

Bonus: share your food with your friends — it’s good for your health.

If you’re willing to eat dessert off the same plate as your significant other or share some French fries with your buddies, your immune system will be grateful. According to experts, this is how we exchange healthy microorganisms. It’s not advisable to share food with someone who is ill, so this rule does not apply to those who are ill.