The kitchen sponge is 200,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat - and could even lead to PARALYSIS

• You will find 10million bacteria per sq . inch of the kitchen sponge and 1m per sq . inch on the dish cloth
• Bacteria available on them may cause Guillain-Barre syndrome, be responsible for lack of movement

By Amanda Williams

Released: 13:17 GMT, 20 November 2012

It has come about as an unexpected towards the houseproud and 'clean freaks' in our midst however the kitchen sponge is among the filthiest places in your home - 200,000 occasions dirtier than the usual toilet chair.

And it is not only harmless bacteria hiding in your cleaning towels and items.

Experts have linked bacteria available on sponges, towels and cutting up boards having a bacteria which could cause paralysis.

Friend or foe? Not even close to as being a tool to wash your house, the sponge might be which makes it dirtier and much more harmful

How You Can Steer Clear Of The SPREAD

The Hygiene Council recommends all towels, sponges and towels ought to be cleaned above 60C to kill bacteria or they must be disinfected regularly.

An alternate is always to use disposable antibacterial baby wipes to discourage multiplication of bacteria

Neat and sanitize your kitchen worktops and cutting up boards with antibacterial oral sprays and baby wipes

As hands would be the primary route of transmission of bacteria throughout preparing food do not touch products in the kitchen area with dirty hands

Thorough hands washing with cleaning soap and water at key occasions throughout preparing food is important to assist prevent foodborne illness in your own home

Good home hygiene routine is essential and regular cleaning and ‘targeted disinfection’ of surfaces which are regularly touched for example door handles, taps, switches and bin covers will help lessen the spread of bacteria around the house

Some it's advocated microwaving dish towels and sponges to kill bacteria instantly

New research finds you will find around 10million bacteria per sq . inch of the kitchen sponge along with a million per sq . inch on the dish cloth.

And you'd be best cutting up your veggies on the toilet chair than you are on a cutting up board if this involves bacteria, researchers have stated.

Dr Charles Gerba, professor of microbiology in the College of Arizona, leads studies how illnesses are moved with the atmosphere.

His work involves swabbing household products and calculating the kind and development of bacteria.

He told the BBC the bathroom . chair is among the cleanest things you'll stumble upon when it comes to micro-microorganisms.

But he stated you should be more concerned about other household products, for example sponges, dish towels, and multiple-use bags.

Professor Hugh Pennington, certainly one of Britain’s leading microbiologists, agreed your kitchen and particularly the sponge was one of the filthiest places in your home.

He told MailOnline: 'It could be fine to make use of the sponge to clean track of, wiping food from the plates in serious trouble, but never, never make use of a sponge to wipe a plate clean.

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'There is really a science for this kind of factor, and it is not brain surgery. There's some good sense.A

Prof Pennington stated among the greatest targets for that Health Protection Agency would be a bacteria known as campylobacter - which could cause paralysis and it is generally available on kitchen sponges.

He stated: 'It is of course occurring and originates from chicken.

'It may cause something known as Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Dirty truth: New research finds you will find around 10million bacteria per sq . inch of the kitchen sponge along with a million per sq . inch on the dish cloth

'It does not affect your opinions or feeling, however it can spread towards the peripheral nerves round the brain and effect movement.

TOPPING THE DIRTY CHARTS

A Hygiene in your home Study examined 180 houses around australia, Canada, Germany, India, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, United kingdom and US

Bathroom closes triggered most concern, with 70per cent failing microbial tests

Fridge inside came second - greater than 40per cent of houses unsuccessful tests on bacteria and mildew build-up

Kitchen towels were discovered to be unsatisfactory or unacceptably dirty in 36per cent of houses

Cleanest surface examined was buggy with simply six percent failing microbial tests

'People could be effectively kept in.A

In nearly all cases, individuals will improve, but recovery may take days, several weeks or years.

'Always the filthiest factor undoubtedly may be the kitchen sponge,' adds John Oxford, professor of virology in the College based in london and chair from the Hygiene Council - your body that compares hygiene standards around the globe.

In the latest read the council examines samples from houses in nine different nations, and finds that 21per cent of 'clean' kitchen towels really have high amounts of contamination.

The research identifies faecal bacteria elsewhere around the house, which differs from one country to a different.

Based on the study Saudi Arabia has got the filthiest fridges, with 95 percent from the fridges within the study failing the bacteriology test for E.coli.

In Nigeria, the filthiest item may be the bath seal, with almost two-thirds with concerning amounts of E.coli and 40per cent for mould.