"We Sit, Eat, and Sleep Here Every Day"... Sofas Found to Be 75 Times Dirtier Than Toilet Seats

Constant Exposure to Bacteria-Friendly Environments
Much Higher Contamination in Homes with Pets
If the Cover Is Removable, Wash at Least Once a Month

A study has found that sofas, the comfortable resting places in our homes, are about 75 times dirtier than toilet seats.

On May 9 (local time), British media outlets including the Daily Mail reported that a research team from Emelbek Microbiology and Sofa Club investigated sofas in six households across the UK. According to the team’s findings, sofas that appear clean on the surface are actually the most contaminated spots in the home. The researchers collected and analyzed surface samples from sofas in six UK households and found an average of 508,866 CFU per 100 cm². This figure is about 75 times higher than that of a toilet seat (6,823 CFU) and more than 84 times higher than that of a kitchen trash bin (6,000 CFU).

The main bacteria found on the sofa include Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, mold fungi, and yeast. They proliferate due to food residues, dead skin flakes shed from the skin, and pet excrement, and can cause infectious diseases, allergies, skin disorders, and food poisoning. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Pixabay

The main bacteria found on the sofas included Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, mold, and yeast. These microorganisms proliferate due to food residues, dead skin flakes shed from the skin, and pet excrement, and can cause infectious diseases, allergies, skin disorders, and food poisoning. In particular, the contamination levels were even higher in homes with pets. In one household with two cats, the sofa had as much as 2,730,000 CFU of Escherichia coli per 100 cm². In homes with dogs, more than 190,000 CFU were detected. In contrast, the sofa of a single adult living alone had a relatively low count of 46,000 CFU.

In addition to sofas, numerous bacteria were also detected on household items that are rarely cleaned, such as desks (5,932 CFU), laptop keyboards (5,800 CFU), TV remotes (3,739 CFU), and door handles (1,813 CFU). However, none of these items had contamination levels as severe as those found on sofas. Dr. Monica Puccio, who participated in the study, pointed out, "Most people change their bed sheets once a week, but they almost never clean their sofas. The sofa is a multipurpose space where people eat, sleep, and interact with their pets, but it is often neglected when it comes to hygiene management." She further advised, "If the sofa cover is removable, it should be washed at least once a month."