[avalys]

What's the evidence that bacteria smeared around on an otherwise visibly "clean" kitchen counter, or dust kicked up from your carpet (which is largely human skin cells anyway) is actually harmful or "unsafe"?

A relative of mine is a 70 year old widower. He's a huge slob and after his wife died 10 years ago, he really doesn't bother to ever clean his house or his kitchen. It's not depression, he's just never been a particularly neat or clean person and simply doesn't care beyond an extremely minimal level. He is in great health and never gets sick, whether from food poisoning or anything else.

[feoren]

But doesn't that support GP's statement?

> counterintuitively the kitchen of a college student may be safer than the kitchen of a 40-something

[avalys]

Hah, a valid point, I guess I’m questioning what the absolute danger level is in both situations in the first place.

[hinkley]

Sorry, that's my fault. I said 'bacteria' but the studies were on food-borne pathogens on surfaces. So spreading, for instance, a little e-coli from the pork chop you cooked properly, killing everything, to the asparagus you steamed by touching the same surfaces after 'cleaning' them and not accomplishing your goal.

[thecrims0nchin]

I think their point isn't that you need to have your counter more than "visibly clean" but only that from the perspective of keeping your air healthy:

vinegar and a squeegee > water and sponge > spray cleaner