Do you still want to eat in the food court?

We all know the mall is gross. Braving a public restroom at the mall is just one step up from entering a port-a-potty in some cases, depending on what mall you patronize. From the time my kids were potty training, I’d have them use the bathroom just before we left to go shopping and try to make it home before they had to go again.

But the bathroom toilet, believe it or not, is NOT the germiest place in the mall.

According to CNN, experts cite other mall spots as just as filthy, like the make-up counter:

You might end up picking up a staph infection right along with the latest lipstick shade. A 2005 study found that between 67% and 100% of makeup-counter testers were contaminated with bacteria, including staph, strep, and E. coli. “This study shows us that someone was sick or went to the bathroom, didn’t wash their hands, and then stuck their finger in the sample,” says Philip Tierno, Ph.D., director of clinical microbiology and immunology at New York University Langone Medical Center.

Fitting rooms are a breeding ground for bacteria since perspiration mixed with skin cells can get trapped inside clothing.

Not surprisingly, ATM keys and toy stores made the list, yet so did food court tables.  Charles Gerba, Ph.D., a professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona says escalator handrails were among the biggest offenders. “In our testing, we have found food, E. coli, urine, mucus, feces, and blood on escalator handrails,” says Gerba. “And where there is mucus, you may also find cold and flu viruses. We’ve found respiratory flora on handrails, which makes sense because people cough into their hands, then touch the rails.”

The number one worst place to pick up germs? The restroom sink.  The sink ranks above the toilet handle and the doorknob because that’s where bacteria, including E. coli get trapped….. “on the faucet and handles because people touch those surfaces right after using the toilet.”

I don’t like malls for multiple reasons. Why brave crowds and lines especially with kids when you can calmly and privately shop online any time of the day? But these findings give me another reason to head to my computer for my holiday shopping.

What part of the mall grosses you out the most?

Image: Stockxchng

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