“The number of viruses we found is overwhelming” – This is where viruses thrive in your home

It is American microbiology researchers who have mapped the diversity of viruses in our bathrooms. It turns out there are two places that stand out: toothbrushes and shower heads.

The fairly moist and warm environment makes it an ideal surface for various microbes.

“The number of viruses we found is absolutely crazy. We found many viruses that we had never seen before,” Erica Hartman, a researcher at the McCormick School of Engineering who led the study, said in a statement.

More than 600

The study was based on samples of 34 toothbrushes and 92 shower heads from different American homes. The researchers analyzed it and mapped the DNA to find out what types of viruses were present. They were surprised by the diversity they found. There were over 600 different types of viruses, and in addition, there were almost completely different viruses on every toothbrush and shower head.

The reassuring news is that it is not viruses that make us sick, but viruses that infect bacteria.

This study is a continuation of Hartmann's previous “Operation Nozzle” research, which looked at whether bacteria that spread in the air when we flush the toilet end up on the toothbrush. It turns out that this is not true, but the bacteria on the toothbrush are the ones that are in our mouths, not in the toilet.

“Use vinegar”

So the conclusion is that we should not panic. However, according to Erika Hartmann, it's a good idea to change your toothbrush regularly and wash your shower head with vinegar or soap and water to remove limescale.

The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiome.