Some Germ Prevention Techniques Aren't As Effective As You Think

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- We battle to germ-proof our lives, but it can be a losing game. Some habits germaphobes swear by don't work as well as you'd like to think.

Wiping down an ATM every time might be going overboard. But many people use simple tactics, like laying on toilet seat protector. When it comes to flushing, many go with the foot.

To get the dirt on what works and what doesn't, CBS2's Dave Carlin went to Columbia University School of Nursing.

"A lot of things we think make us feel better are really not for health reasons," Elaine Larson, associate dean of Columbia University School of Nursing, said.

Larson said the sidekick toilet flush may not help you much.

"The thing that you flush isn't any dirtier than a lot of other surfaces," she said. "There's no evidence that it makes any difference."

And the old hovering trick may not help if unexpected automatic flushes cause maximum splash-back.
Holding your breath the second someone sneezes near you could be futile, you just can't hold your breath long enough. And it could be worthless to wipe a cup to drink from it right after someone else.

"If anyone has a canker sore or a cold, they're going to be germs... they're still going to be there even if it's wiped off," Larson said.

CBS2 experts says you must fight germs with warm soap and water, and Larson considers hand sanitizer a godsend.

"Fifteen seconds of application with wet alcohol is as effective as a five minute surgical scrub in terms of killing germs," she said.

The takeaway? Keep hygiene in mind but instead of obsessing about it, shake it off  knowing some germs will always stick.