I read that it's good to wash door handles, etc. to avoid catching cold germs. How long can these germs live?

Answer 1

Some bacteria have capsules around them that enable them to survive weeks on surfaces. Some also form spores which make them almost indestructible (this is why canned food is cooked at high temperatures under pressure). Viruses are more delicate but can still survive hours on a surface. Try not to be too paranoid about washing your enviroment, as one good sneeze will undo all the scrubing. The most important thing to clean. YOUR HANDS they touch the surfaces then you rub your eyes or nose and transfer the viruses to a friendly enviroment.

Answer 2

About three days, but did you see that 20/20 or one of those shows where they had a rapid bacteria tester that rated surfaces for the amount of microscopic organisms it could detect. The numbers are more relative and do not relate to a specific amount of anything. The bigger the number the more organisms were at the spot touched. Well the dirtiest thing was a computer key board with a score of 20,000 as opposed to a public toilet seat which rated in at 1900. In studies of hospital infection control the filthiest place was the inside door knob of the men's toilet. The worst single piece of equipment was the doctors stethascope bell that he places on your chest to listen to your chest. Finally the absolutely worst thing you can touch in your every day travels is money. Yes the coins and the bills are horribly infested with disease causing germs. Now another suprise is how you catch a cold. It is not from that jackass coughing or sneezing on you in the elevator, it is the guy who rubs his dripping nose only to reach into the cash draw and pullout your change after which you use that hand the change was in it to rub your eyes. Yes rub your eyes. The portal for the cold virus can be your eyes and is not always your nose or mouth. Go figure...

Answer 3

Hands and places where hands go are why most of us catch colds and flu.Germs are every where so dont freak yourself out. Germs can be killed with hot water and soap.They are dead after that but then usually someone comes along and brings them back in by not washing their hands. The body has an immune system so that it can naturally fight germs.I do not know the exact life expectancy of a germ! Tip for the day: when using a public restroom, or bathroom with a lot of people, after washing hands with hot water and soap-use papertowel to turn off water and open door to bathroom. This prevents you from bringing germs back onto your already clean hands.

Answer 4

Around 3 days

Answer 5

epidemiologists and infectious disease specialists claim that viruses can easily survive for 3 days on a sterile surface

Answer 6

my aunt is a nurse and she sprays her door handles with lysol, i'm not sure how long they can live but unless you live somewhere with alotta people i doubt you would have to worry.