The Germiest Places in America

We call them the dirty dozen. It’s Health magazines laundry list of the germiest places you’re likely to encounter during an average day.

A peach colored room with a yoga mat, fan, and eliptical machine. One of the walls has a motivational message.

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Gym Mats and Machines

“I see a yoga mat, and I worry,” says Elizabeth Scott, Ph.D., who has found antibiotic-resistant staphylococcus on yoga mats and cardio and resistance machines. “At high schools, antibiotic-resistant staph infections have been transmitted through wrestling mats. The same thing could happen at health clubs.”

Reduce the risk: Wipe down machines with antibacterial wipes before working out. Bring your own yoga mat or cover a loaner with your towel. “Shower after a workout and soap up your skin to rinse off any bacteria you may have been exposed to,” Scott says. “Thorough washing gets rid of antibiotic-resistant staph.”

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