Can you spread germs if you touch Dirty Money?

For example, if you touch the money, then touch someone else’s hand, you can spread the germs to them. Or if you touch dirty money and then touch a door knob, elevator button, or the touchscreen at the ATM, you could also spread infection.

Is it possible to get sick from everything?

“People are susceptible to germs that can make them ill everywhere and from everything,” says Alexander Tomich, RN, MSN, manager of infection control at Loyola University Health System, in Maywood, Ill. “Your cell phone, car keys, purse or briefcase, gym bag, kids’ backpacks, money, and your pets are all germ-infested,” he says.

What should I do if I find germs on my money?

You could simply try to protect yourself from the germs that might be hiding out on your cash. Wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer after touching any coins or bills. Wear gloves. A pair of disposable sanitary gloves can protect your hands from the germs on the money you’re handling.

What to do if you get sick from something?

“The longer objects are touched without being washed, the higher the risk of someone getting sick,” he said. But you can take some precautions. “You should be conscious to wash your hands after using them,” said Dr. Lawrason, and “keeping hand sanitizer around would be the best way to ensure the germs are killed immediately after exposure.”

For example, if you touch the money, then touch someone else’s hand, you can spread the germs to them. Or if you touch dirty money and then touch a door knob, elevator button, or the touchscreen at the ATM, you could also spread infection.

Do you wash your hands after touching money?

When you do, be sure to wash your hands as soon as possible. Researchers tested $1 bills from a New York City bank and found hundreds of microorganisms, including oral and vaginal bacteria, and DNA from pets and viruses. Similar researchhas shown some cash and coins even contain pathogens like E. coli and salmonella.

“People are susceptible to germs that can make them ill everywhere and from everything,” says Alexander Tomich, RN, MSN, manager of infection control at Loyola University Health System, in Maywood, Ill. “Your cell phone, car keys, purse or briefcase, gym bag, kids’ backpacks, money, and your pets are all germ-infested,” he says.

You could simply try to protect yourself from the germs that might be hiding out on your cash. Wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer after touching any coins or bills. Wear gloves. A pair of disposable sanitary gloves can protect your hands from the germs on the money you’re handling.