Take the Germs Quiz

The answer is the kitchen, and the key is the word "thrive." Bathrooms generally host more bacteria and germs than kitchens. But most people know that. And they take safety steps such as cleaning with disinfectants. Bedrooms don't hold germs for long because cold viruses die quickly. This is true even when a sick child stays home in bed, sniffling from a cold. And even viruses that remain "alive" quickly lose their strength once outside the body. But kitchens are an environment where bacteria can grow, often undetected. Many bacterial intestinal tract illnesses are picked up from cutting boards that are wiped—not washed—after being used to cut raw chicken. The key to preventing kitchen germs is to cook food at the correct temperatures, disinfect food prep surfaces, and wash utensils after handling raw meat or chicken.

Colds are most common among children. This is likely because they have not been exposed to these germs before. So they don't have resistance to viruses that cause colds. They are also in close contact with other children in daycare centers and schools. Children also tend to have symptoms that last longer than in adults.

The goal is to keep the immune system strong so you are less at risk of catching cold viruses. Experts don't fully understand the relationship between vitamins and colds, but they say vitamins won't hurt. Antibiotics fight bacteria. They aren't going to prevent or effectively treat a cold virus. Washing your hands often with clean running water and soap, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, helps in preventing catching the cold or flu.

Many viruses, especially colds, are passed on by touch. Experts say the key to preventing or spreading colds is to wash your hands often. Viruses don't live very long on inanimate surfaces, such as phones or tables. But they stay around for up to about 2 weeks in people. When people sneeze and cough they also spread germs. This happens by sending the viruses into the air. It also happens by trying to stop a cough or sneeze with a hand and then touching someone else.

The cookie shouldn't cause you any problems. Viruses such as colds live in nasal mucus and saliva.