Common household item is dirtier than your toilet and could make you sick

Common household items could be making you ill, harbouring hundreds of thousands of potentially harmful bacteria and possibly being dirtier than your loo seat.

You might spend extra time bleaching and spraying parts of your kitchen or bathroom that you know are grubby, but there are a few things you might not even consider that have created the perfect environment for germs to flourish.

We all know our phone screens and telly remotes can gather bacteria and viruses from our hands, but some objects we use to clean and try to stay hygienic might be doing the opposite.

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New research by experts at Clear It Waste and GP Dr Hana Patel discovered that one item you use every single day is a bacteria bomb.

The humble kitchen sponge, a staple of washing up, might seem clean and bacteria-free, but it could be hiding thousands of bacteria - making it one of the filthiest items in your home, reports the Express.

Sponges, by their very nature, are porous and allow water to pass in and out, but when those spaces hold water and combine with old food particles, it creates the perfect conditions for germs to multiply.

Harmful bacteria such as E.Coli and Salmonella can be especially prominent on kitchen sponges and can easily end up in our bodies, potentially giving you a nasty bug.

To avoid picking up a dodgy stomach, it's recommended you swap your sponge every time it starts to look worn or roughly every one to two weeks.

Your toothbrush holder or case could be a breeding ground for thousands of bacteria, according to experts. Despite being used to keep your toothbrush clean, these cases are adept at trapping moisture, creating perfect conditions for dampness.

Even more nauseating is the fact that these cases can also trap airborne bacteria from things like faecal particles released when you flush the loo.

Dr Hana Patel said: "Toothbrushes which are kept in air conditions have less bacteria than those which are kept closed, and the bacterial growth is 70% higher in wet and protected environments.

"The wet environment in the bathroom, where toothbrushes are usually kept, may facilitate the bacterial growth and the cross-contamination, especially that which happens through the aerosols produced during the water passing in lavatories, with enteric types and pseudomonas from the toilets and sanitary drainage."

Cleaning gurus suggest drying your toothbrush thoroughly before returning it to the holder. They also recommend regularly cleaning the case and storing it in a well-ventilated area to prevent moisture buildup, such as in a cupboard.