Dirty Sink Handles

Jan Erik writes the following:

I believe few people think about the amount of germs on the sink handle. Just think about it: when you wash your hands you first have to turn the handle on the sink, leaving germs on it. Then you wash your hands and they are neat and clean, but to stop the sink from pouring you must use the germ infected handle again, thereby obtaining the germs you (and all before you) left there.

To prevent this, when I dry my hands with a paper towel after washing them, I use the paper towel when I turn off the water.

Well you’re right about one thing – those sink handles seem like a good place for germs to accumulate, as it’s the first thing people with dirty hands touch. But you’re wrong that not many people have thought about it. I take great care with sink handles, as do my wife and many of the people I know.

It’s one of the reasons I tolerate automatic faucets. They tend to do a bad job sensing the presence of your hands, but its sure nice not to have to touch anything.