Where the germs are lurking in your home

Germs have a way of cropping up in some pretty unexpected spots-which mean even the most neat and tidy among us might be inadvertently letting bacteria flourish in our homes. And while exposure to some bacteria is fine and good, there are certain hot spots where germs tend to congregate, which can make it easier to spread sickness across your family. Here's a re-cap of some of the most major household dirt traps.

The kitchen sink. While most people think to disinfect their toilets with regularity, kitchen sinks are often a neglected. All those little bits of food stuck that land in the sink as your rinse your dishes are breeding grounds for icky bacterias-the same kinds that cause things like E. coli and salmonella. To keep your sink sanitary, wash it daily with a mixture of bleach and water. Be careful not to let fruits and veggies touch the sink before you eat them. Don't forget to clean the drain too.

The remote control. The remote controls are one of the most oft-touched items in your home, and beyond that it's not at all uncommon for them to get coughed or sneezed on, sandwiched between couch cushions, and dropped on the floor. Cold viruses abound on those devices as a result. Use a bleach or alcohol wipe to wipe them down regularly, and try to remember to wash your hands before reaching for it. When you're traveling, you may also want to bring an extra Ziploc to use as a cover for the remote in the hotel.

Doorknobs, handles and light switches. Again, anything that's highly trafficked in terms of touching is a major germ zone. Don't forget to disinfect all the knobs and light switches, and all the handles too-from faucets to drawer pulls to toilet flushers to the ones on your refrigerator and microwave. Your telephone receiver and the mouthpiece (especially since your mouth might come into direct contact with the phone) also need regular wipe downs.