Microbiologists from Initial Wahsroom Hygiene analyzed germs on twenty-five Christmas decorations in five households using swabs. And they were not surprised. Christmas decorations are often passed down through the generations and few people disinfect them after use. When hanging on a tree, however, they probably go through hands that someone didn’t wash after a big need in the toilet. This is indicated by the results of the analysis.
Scientists from Initial Washroom Hygiene discovered that Christmas decorations they contained up to five times more pathogens coming from the stool than the toilet seat. Christmas tree boxes contained the most microbes, while tree lights contained the least.
“Since many of us like to hang ornaments with candy or a drink in hand, and ornaments are often passed from one hand to the other after they are unwrapped and before they are hung, there is a risk of cross-contamination with germs naturally present. Given that eighty percent of all infections are transmitted by hands, it can lead to disease transmission,” said Jamie Woodhall of Initial Washroom Hygiene.
On average, Christmas decorations contained 1.5 times more germs than a toilet seat, but the worst samples contained up to five times more.
