Toothbrushes, Bras, And Kitchen Sponges: When To Wash, Toss, Or Replace 17 Everyday Items

You’ve got the ground rules down when it comes to keeping yourself clean (regular showers, washing hands before touching food, you know the drill). But what about all the objects you come into contact with every day? You know — your gym gear, kitchen items, even your digital devices. Are you cleaning them as often as you should be, or setting yourself up for getting sick?

We talked to Elizabeth Scott, PhD, co-director of the Simmons Center for Hygiene and Health in Home and Community at Simmons College; Charles Gerba, PhD, professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona; and Michael G. Schmidt, PhD, professor and vice chair of the department of microbiology and immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, to find out the risks of touching dirty, everyday objects, how to clean them right, and when you should just toss ‘em.