A study has revealed that seemingly spotless sofas are actually 75 times dirtier than toilet seats.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail on May 9, researchers from Melbec Microbiology published their findings from an investigation of sofas in six UK households.
Using cotton swabs to collect samples from sofa surfaces, it was revealed that sofas are the most contaminated areas in the home.
An average of 508,883 aerobic mesophilic bacteria (AMB) per 100 cm² was detected on sofas, which is 75 times more than the 6,800 bacteria found on toilet seats and even higher than the 6,000 detected in kitchen trash cans.
In homes with pets, the hygiene level of the sofas was even more concerning. In a household with two cats, over 1 million E. coli bacteria per 100 cm² were found on the sofa. A couple with dogs also had 193,000 colony-forming units (CFU) found on their couches. Even in a home with a single adult, 46,000 CFUs were detected on their sofas.
In addition to the sofas, the research team also examined other household items for bacteria. Office desks harbored 5,900 AMB, laptops had 5,800 AMB, and TV remotes contained 3,700 AMB. While these numbers are lower than those found on toilet seats, they still harbored significant levels of bacteria.
Monika Puccio, an interior expert from Sofa Club, explained that sofas are exposed to various factors that can promote bacterial growth, such as eating meals on them, taking naps, or allowing pets on the couch. She added that while many people wash their bedding weekly, sofas are often overlooked when it comes to regular cleaning.
She recommended regularly washing cushion covers to prevent bacterial growth and added that for a deeper clean, baking soda is an excellent and affordable option to refresh sofa fabric. She suggested sprinkling it generously over the sofa, letting it sit for 20 to 30 minutes, and then vacuuming it thoroughly.
