Named the item that is 40 times dirtier than a toilet seat at a train station

SHOCKING DISCOVERY: SUITCASE WHEELS ARE 40 TIMES DIRTIER THAN TOILET SEATS

A group of scientists conducted a sensational study that will turn your understanding of hygiene during travel upside down. A thorough analysis of ten suitcases in the toilets of London airport revealed a real microbiological nightmare: luggage wheels turned out to be incredibly contaminated, with hundreds of colonies of bacteria and fungi on each tested sample, which is many times higher than the indicators of ordinary toilets, reports Daily Mail.

The results of laboratory studies are mind-boggling: about 400 colonies of bacteria were found on three square centimeters of a suitcase wheel. This is almost 40 times more than on a toilet seat, which has only about 10 colonies! The identified microorganisms don't just exist - they pose a real health threat capable of causing food poisoning, infections, and respiratory diseases.

"Suitcases, especially their wheels and bottom, are magnets for microbes that can overcome microbes even from a public toilet," Amy-May Pointer, a microbiologist who led the study, told Travel+Leisure.

According to data published in InsureandGo, the base of the suitcase is also a real breeding ground for bacteria - about 350 colony-forming units (CFU) per three square centimeters.

The study revealed an alarming fact: soft-sided suitcases pose a significantly greater danger compared to hard models. The reason is simple - soft material better retains moisture and dirt, creating ideal conditions for mold growth.

Of particular concern is the common habit of travelers to place suitcases on hotel beds, tables, and closet shelves when unpacking things, unknowingly transferring bacteria to these surfaces.

Microscopic examination of wheel swabs revealed dense clusters of mold and bacteria, including remnants of human and animal excrement, black fluffy spores, and microbes secreted from the skin.

Although the study does not indicate a deadly danger from suitcases, it emphasizes that they are one of the most ignored sources of contamination in everyday life.

"This study is more about prevention. If possible, don't roll your suitcase through obviously contaminated places. For example, don't drag it into a toilet cubicle if possible. The less dirt that gets on the wheels, the less you'll have to worry about it later," recommends microbiologist Pointer.