What a Microbiologist Has to Say About Your Home

American Natural History Museum's Susan Perkins, a microbiologist, looked into Mary Harris's house.

Our host Mary Harris invited microbiologist Susan Perkins into her home to talk germs, mold and what exactly makes something clean or dirty. Perkins is co-curator of a microbes exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History exhibit, The Secret World Inside You. She has some tips about germs, and how to have a healthy home.

  1. Keep the toothbrush away from the toilet. Every time you flush a toilet the microbes inside are sprayed outside the bowl. Not a great place to keep something that’s going in your mouth.
  2. Fruit should be kept dry and cold. Moisture introduces more microbes to those summer berries, so it’s best to keep them in a dry container. Bananas belong in the freezer as soon as they go brown so they don’t rot.
  3. Your TV is probably gross. Your TV is electrostatic so it attracts dust and other invisible microbes. You might not think to clean it too often, but it’s literally a magnet for germs.
  4. The smell test is real. Perkins says “we’ve evolved to detect rotten food.” So if you think something in your fridge seems funky, it’s probably a good idea to toss it out.
  5. Eggs and butter don’t always need to be refrigerated.* As long as it isn’t too hot or left unwrapped, these foods are pretty safe on their own. Since eggs are in their own natural case, they can actually survive a couple of weeks without refrigeration.
  6. Dogs are great for your microbiome. Dogs help spread microbes between family members or roommates, and a diverse microbiome makes us healthier and more resilient.

Click here to see the video and learn more!

*Note: Eggs in their completely natural form (think right out of the chicken) don't need to be refrigerated for a while, but eggs that have been washed and refrigerated (like most in the U.S.) after leaving the farm will need continued refrigeration.