The household items you should never share – from towels to razors

Telegraph

6 hours ago

When you live with other people, there is always the temptation to share things around the house. Can it really hurt to dry your hands on your son's towel, or borrow your daughter's razor? You kiss your partner, so borrowing their toothbrush once in while can't hurt, can it?
In fact, it can. There is anything between 10 million and 100 million bacteria on your average toothbrush. And don't even think about the loo seat.
A recent YouGov survey, which asked consumers worldwide how often they cleaned typical household items, found that only just over half of respondents wiped down their toilet weekly. Enough to put you off ever sitting down again.
And while most of us concede that our mobile rarely leaves our grubby mitts, ponder for a second Dettol's study of 2,000 UK adults – 60 per cent take their smartphone into the toilet (only half cleans it afterward) and 57 per cent place their germ-riddled mobile on the kitchen counter – where your hands, a shared tea towel, a dish cloth, a serving spoon (the list is endless) might also make contact.
So next time you decide to slip your freshly bathed trotters into your partner's well-trodden slippers, you might want to consider whether your local podiatrist is an expert in athlete's foot. Here we take a look at the household items you should definitely be keeping all to yourself...
Make-up brushes
Think nothing of borrowing your daughter's make up brushes? Well, you should think again, as they are a breeding ground for germs. According to Lloyds Pharmacy, 93 per cent of Britons admit to never cleaning their brushes, while a study at Aston University in Birmingham found that 96 per cent of brushes harbour harmful germs.
Not only can the bacteria from acne-prone skin be passed on, conjunctivitis or a stye may be spread through eye contact, and herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) if someone has a cold sore.
As a rule, never share any make-up products that touch your eyes or mouth. And wash brushes and sponges regularly in warm soapy water, leaving them to dry thoroughly before use.
Wireless earbuds
Earbuds are a relatively new arrival in our homes and it's quite common to swipe your sibling's or your partner's, whether accidentally or on purpose.
The YouGov survey revealed that a mere 18 per cent of users cleaned their earbuds weekly while one in ten respondents said they never cleaned them. This runs the risk of spreading fungal infections or contact dermatitis, and if your ears are itchy, red, inflamed, or have a musty smell, you could be a carrier.
Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, is against sharing personal items which come into contact with bodily fluids or mucous membranes. 'If we're talking good hygiene, wash your hands often and clean your earbuds regularly with alcohol wipes before storing them in a clean, dry case,' he adds.
Slippers
It's no surprise to find that women are a little more diligent about cleaning household items. New research by household cleaning brand, Astonish, shows that men are the worst culprits, with a whacking 83 per cent say there are certain things they have never touched with a cleaning product, compared to 73 per cent of women. And in the top three dirtiest UK regions – Scotland, Wales and the North East – 81 per cent of its residents say they have never washed some everyday items.
So, what about slippers? A festering quagmire of whiffs and microbes, surely they should be confined to only one owner? Olivia Young, cleaning expert and product development scientist at Astonish, says: 'Not only can you catch fungal infections like athlete's foot, slippers can often pick up bacteria and fungi from floors, especially if there are pets around. Each household member should have their own pair, ideally washable. Fabric slippers can usually be popped in the washing machine monthly or cleaned with an antibacterial spray and left to air dry.'
Toothbrushes
Dr Rhona Eskander, founder of Chelsea Dental Clinic and PÄRLA toothpaste, says: 'Sharing toothbrushes is a definite no-go. Our mouths are full of bacteria, even when we're healthy, and using someone else's brush can transfer viruses, fungi, and harmful pathogens like strep throat and gum disease-causing bacteria. It also increases the risk of transmitting blood-borne infections if there's any bleeding from the gums. Toothbrushes are personal for a reason – sharing them is like swapping germs on a stick!'
Dr Sarovi Davda, a dentist with a special interest in periodontics, adds: 'With the rise in popularity of electric toothbrushes, patients often ask whether sharing is acceptable. The sharing of brushing heads is strongly discouraged. Personally, I leave the decision around sharing handles to patient discretion, but maintaining high levels of hygiene can be difficult – particularly in households with young children – and it is safest to invest in a separate electric toothbrush handle for each individual.'
And if you really want to tick the germ-free box, SURI electric toothbrushes offer a travel case with a UV light which kills up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria.
Hairbrushes
Most of us wouldn't think twice about grabbing another person's hairbrush and pulling it through our locks. But Zoe Cosby, brush expert and Kent Brushes ambassador, says: 'Unfortunately, they can pass on head lice, dandruff and fungal infections. Every family member should have their own brush or comb, particularly in school-age children where head lice can be prevalent. If your brush or comb is also not sanitised regularly, these nasties can be transferred to someone who might be more susceptible to infection. We recommend washing your brushes and combs regularly in lukewarm water and a gentle soap. Rub the teeth of the comb or pins of the brush with your fingers or an old toothbrush to remove the build-up of dead skin cells and microbes.'
Razors
These are a big red flag. And even though you might think that swiping your bushy legs with your partner's razor is no big deal, blades can cause minute nicks in the skin which transmit viruses, like hepatitis B and C through even microscopic amounts of blood. Bacteria infections, warts, ringworm and herpes are also dangers, while the use of shaving creams and oils can increase the chances of cross-contamination and skin reactions.
The bottom line is razors are for personal use only. To clean yours, always rinse under warm running water and use an old (clean) toothbrush to dislodge any hairs. If your skin is particularly sensitive, soak the blade after every few uses in diluted white vinegar to dislodge gunk and to disinfect it. Always leave the razor to dry in an upright position, away from the sink – moisture amplifies bacteria.
Towels
Difficult to dry in winter months and never as fluffy as we might like, it's tempting to leave towels off the laundry list – or even to borrow your partner's in a pinch. In fact, a quarter of Britons admit to washing their towels less than once every two weeks, when in reality they should ideally be washed after every three to four uses – and even more often if they're damp, have been used during illness, or left in a pile. According to Astonish's Olivia Young, towels 'create the perfect storm for bacteria, mildew, and fungi to flourish when left unwashed. The risk escalates significantly in shared households, where sharing towels – particularly those not freshly laundered – can lead to the spread of skin infections, athlete's foot, and even viruses.
'The key is making sure they dry fully between uses and are washed at 60°C or higher to effectively kill bacteria and fungi. Also, you might want to use colour-coded towels or labels in shared bathrooms to avoid accidental swapping.'
Loo seats
Unless you're Oprah, who reportedly has 10 bathrooms in her Californian home, you won't be able to avoid sharing. For obvious reasons, loos are the Glastonbury of germs, and not only do bums frequent them, there is a high level of handling too. Obviously, diligence is crucial.
Cleaning influencer Sophie Hinchliffe (Mrs Hinch) swears by going all out and disassembling the toilet seat regularly to give it a deep scrub with diluted bleach. And you won't go far wrong if you invest in Lakeland's Electric Scrubber £14.99. Like a giant toothbrush with multiple heads, it's perfect for getting into fixtures and around the back of the seat.
And while we're here... light switches/door handles
We learnt the hard way during the Covid pandemic, and just like that, there was mass anti-bacterial spraying of every surface within touching distance. Over time, these habits have lapsed, but door handles and light switches, which tend to be overlooked in most cleaning routines, harbour all kinds of horrors, even E. coli if near a bathroom.
In fact, light switches are often dirtier than toilet seats due to high traffic and poor hand hygiene. Decluttering expert Nicola Lewis, also known to her 204,000 Instagram followers as @ thisgirlcanorganise, recommends: 'I find the best way to keep germs at bay is by regularly wiping down high-touch spots like light switches and door handles with a microfibre cloth. These cloths are great because the static in the fibres helps lift and trap dust, dirt, and germs without needing harsh chemicals. Super effective, easy and can be added into your weekly clean without too much effort.'