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Fact: Nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges smashed onto restaurant glasses contained disease-causing microbes, according to a 2007 study from the Journal of Environmental Health.

Is there a more potent symbol of purity than the fluffy white snowflake, wafting from heaven and landing — ping! — on the tip of your tongue?

Well, along comes the journal Science to spoil the fun, noting that bacteria called Pseudomonas syringae are lurking at the dark heart of many an earthbound crystal of frozen water. And if Frosty the Snowman is a target, what chance do the rest of us have?

A pretty good one, actually — if you make note of the places where the bugs lie and swat them before they can do harm. Here's an updated to-disinfect list for all the surprising places (and people) contagion clings to:

Your vacuum cleaner
The threat: Researchers at the University of Arizona recently found that 50 percent of the vacuum brushes they tested contained fecal bacteria, including 13 percent with E. coli, and all were packing mold. Vacuuming can transfer the germs from contaminated surfaces to uncontaminated ones (think kitchen to living room).

The natural solution: Spray the brush with a natural disinfectant after every use — traces of bacteria can survive as long as 5 days inside the vacuum after you empty the dirt. And disposable-bag vacuums promote more bacterial growth, according to the study, so buy the bagless variety.

Your weight-lifting gloves
The threat: A 2004 Japanese study found that staph bacteria bind strongly to polyester, which is used in many gloves. And yes, that includes MRSA bacteria, which lurk wherever jocks gather. You grab the bar, grunt a weight, wipe your eyes, nose, or mouth, and the bacteria are in.

The natural solution: Ditch the gloves, and not just to ditch the germs: Hitting the weights with bare hands will strengthen your grip and forearms, says the Men's Health Muscle Guy, Mike Mejia. If your gym doesn't keep natural disinfectant wipes and natural hand sanitizer handy, insist that it start doing so.

The grocery cart
The threat: The handles of almost two-thirds of shopping carts tested in a 2007 University of Arizona study were contaminated with fecal bacteria. The carts had even more of these bacteria than the average public bathroom has.

The natural solution: Swab the handle with a natural disinfectant wipe before grabbing hold — stores are starting to provide them, so look around. And skip the free food samples, which are nothing but communal hand-to-germ-to-mouth zones. Finally, bag unpackaged items, like fruits and vegetables, before placing them in your fecal-matter carrier. Your cart, that is. The best solution is to buy cart totes or other cloth totes and always use each one for an assigned purpose (meats, fruits, grains etc..) Wash monthly!

Gym equipment
The threat: A 2006 study in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found rhinoviruses (instigators of the common cold) on 63 percent of the gym equipment at the fitness centers they tested. Researchers also discovered that weight equipment was contaminated significantly more often than aerobic equipment (73 percent versus 51 percent). Even worse, the study found that disinfecting the equipment twice a day didn't do anything to lower the virus count.

The natural solution: Avoid touching your face between sets, since most colds are transmitted through hand-to-nose contact. And make sure to pack an natural hand sanitizer in your gym bag. Also don't use gym towels etc.. They not only are washed in an enormous amount of chemicals but they may have been touched from linen service to your hands, by over 50 peoples unclean hands! Bring your own!

The restaurant menu
The threat: Ever see anybody wash a menu? We didn't think so. A recent study in the Journal of Medical Virology reports that cold and flu viruses can survive for 18 hours on hard surfaces. If it's a popular joint, hundreds of people could be passing their germs on to you.

The natural solution: Never let the menu touch your plate or silverware as you ponder the wine list, and sanitize or wash your hands after you order. But how do you escape the bathroom without touching the door handle? Palm a spare paper towel after you wash up, and then use it to grab the handle. If there are no towels use your elbow or forearm. Execute this trick properly and nobody needs to know how much you fear germs.

The flight attendant
The threat: Flight attendants are exposed to dozens of sniffling and coughing passengers and the surfaces they touch. When attendants need a pee break, they head into the same latrine you use. Now consider that when Charles Gerba, Ph.D., co-author of "The Germ Freak's Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu," tested commercial-jet bathrooms, he found that surfaces from faucets to doorknobs were contaminated with E. coli.

Given all that germ exposure, it's no surprise that the Journal of Environmental Health Research recently revealed that you're 100 times as likely to catch a cold while flying than on the ground.

Your bed
The threat: More than 84 percent of beds in U.S. homes host dust mites. These microscopic critters live in your sheets and feed on your dead skin, and their fecal matter and corpses contribute to asthma and allergies.

The natural solution: Vacuum your mattress every change of season, use an allergen barrier cover on both mattress and box. Don't forget the barrier on the pillows. These are not the sweaty, hot vinyl of your childhood; now they are heavily woven cotton! Try bundling a dehumidifier with an oscillating fan for a two-pronged moisture eliminator. A week solution of black tea, or boric acid kills dust mites in carpet, etc.. Add your favorite essential oil for a great after vacuum spray. This also eliminates fleas!

The lemon wedge in your drink
The threat: In a 2007 study from the Journal of Environmental Health, nearly 70 percent of the lemon wedges smashed onto restaurant glasses contained disease-causing microbes. Researchers ordered drinks at 21 different restaurants, securing 76 lemons. Testing revealed 25 different microorganisms lingering on the lemons, including E. coli and other fecal bacteria.

The natural solution: Tell the waiter you prefer your drink sans fruit. Why risk it? Add 1 drop of Lemon, Lime, Tangerine, Grapefruit or other Bella Mira Essential Oil for taste, disinfection antioxidant power and ph balance.

Your contact-lens case
The threat: In a 2007 Chinese study, 34 percent of contact-lens cases tested were found to be crawling with germs like Serratia and Staphylococcus aureus. These microorganisms can cause keratitis, an inflammatory eye disease that can damage the cornea and lead to blindness.

The natural solution: Dump the used solution and thoroughly rinse your case in hot water every day, and replace your lens case at least every 3 months. And buy a new bottle of solution every other month, even if you haven't used it all: A separate Chinese study discovered that multipurpose solutions lose most of their germ-fighting power after 2 months.

Your shower curtain
The threat: The soap scum hanging out on your curtain is more than just unsightly. A study in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found that vinyl shower curtains are microbe meccas, breeding potential pathogens, such as infection-causing Sphingomonas and Methylobacterium. Plus, the force of the shower spray will make germs take flight, says the study author, Norman Pace, Ph.D., a professor of molecular biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

The natural solution: Hang a fabric shower curtain from the rod. It will still harbor bacteria, but it's much easier to clean than scrubbing down a vinyl curtain. Just toss it in the washer, and use the hottest water the fabric can handle. Pace washes his shower curtain once a month but advises anyone with a weakened immune system (that's you if you're highly stressed or battling a disease) to do so more frequently.

Another hint: don't use those daily shower sprays! They are heavily perfumed, full of chemicals and volatile organic compounds and are of questionable value! Instead fill a 16oz spray bottle with 4oz white or apple cider vinegar fill the rest with distilled water add 10 drops of nightingale, marauder, tea tree, Niaouli, peppermint, lavender, or your favorite antibacterial oil. Use this spray instead of your daily, this will work better and disinfect.

While handy, and touted as the safe, healthy, environmental way to do diapers; it is not! Diaper services use an enormous amount of chemicals, phosphorous, non biodegradable detergents, and bleach. All of which go into waterways, streams, and your baby's bottom. Not to mention off-gassing in the baby's nursery. I have seen babies with all kinds of rashes and allergies relived by switching to biodegradable disposable or home washed cloth. While I know many services now offer lower chemical, ph balanced, or bleach free, they are still using alot of chemicals. And honestly, do you really want your child sharing diapers other children!

The natural solution There are several companies that now make biodegradable, chlorine free, disposable diapers. Also you will save an enormous amount of money and worry by buying your own cloth, (which there are better, prettier options available outside of services), and wash with our laundry and dryer balls and borax and peroxide bleach (sun oxy, Clorox oxy, not Oxy Clean it has to many fragrance and fillers, very allergenic)

Woman do think about their purses as the issue is often in the news but I guarantee your husband has had the same sweaty, one in his back pocket since you met (maybe before)! Purses sit on all types of dirty things, many already on the list: shopping carts, strollers, car seats, floor of cars, kitchens, bars, restaurant booths, kids hangouts, etc.. Men's wallets, while rarely leaving their backside, gets sweaty, greasy, dirty, dropped all sorts of places, and generally are gross!

The natural solution Woman a washable tote or cloth purse is the safest bet for everyday use! Wash as needed at least monthly! For Fashion purses, watch were you set them down. Don't put them on top of bathroom toilet seats, bars, etc.. unless you wipe it down with a natural disinfectant wipe. Also wipe down the bottom of your purse and handles with that wipe once a week. For men a good wipe able type is best. However, most men will not take the time so make sure every fathers day or Christmas Stocking has a new wallet. Try to get the same kind he already has. Get it engraved or put a new picture inside it!

10+ surprising places where germs lurk 5-27-08

Vacuum cleaners, grocery carts and even lemon slices can harbor bacteria