Samples from 20 UK homes found kitchen sponges had 19.6bn bacteria on average

Av. bacteria per object

5,000

217,000

27,000

9,600

78,000

28m

747m

19.6bn

Kitchen light switch

Fridge door handle

Toilet brush handle

Mobile phone / landline

Kitchen counter

Kitchen tap

Bathroom sponge / flannel

Kitchen cloth / sponge

Heavily contaminated

Unsatisfactory

Satisfactory

% of objects tested that were ...

Average number of bacteria per object

5,000

217,000

27,000

9,600

78,000

28m

747m

19.6bn

Kitchen light switch

Fridge door handle

Toilet brush handle

Mobile phone / landline

Kitchen counter

Kitchen tap

Bathroom sponge / flannel

Kitchen cloth / sponge

Heavily contaminated

Unsatisfactory

Satisfactory

% of objects tested that were ...