The filthiest item on a plane is actually something you bring onboard
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If you're a germaphobe, getting on a plane is likely to make your anxiety rise.
But, according to a new study, it's not just what's already on the aircraft clean freaks might need to worry about.
Apparently, the filthiest item you'll face when travelling is something you're bringing onboard.
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The dirtiest item on a plane might be something you're bringing onboard. Getty
By the time you've hiked through the airport, touching stuff millions of hands have also fondled, one item came out on top - your passport.
JRPass.com conducted what they say was a "scientifically controlled experiment to find out which travel items carry the most bacteria."
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It found the frequently handled document showed the highest bacterial load.
It was covered with seven times more bacteria than shoes, they claim.
Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester and the study's author, said it's all to do with your hands.
By the time you've hiked through the airport one item came out on top as being the dirtiest. Getty
"Our hands are well known to be very well colonised by the bacteria and fungi and some viruses that normally live there," Primrose said.
"This means that, as well as our resident hand skin microbiome, our hands, when they touch any surface, pick up additional microbes present within the airport environment, which have the microbial deposits from the thousands of people who pass through each day.
"Additionally, the greater the handling of a passport by different people's hands, the more and greater the variety of bacteria, fungi and even viruses will be deposited onto the surface."
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The seat pocket was been branded the dirtiest spot on the actual plane Getty Images/iStockphoto
Dr Primrose said washing your hands or using hand sanitiser is the easiest thing to combat the germs.
Also cleaning items like your passport and phone with antibacterial wipes is advised.
Another tip is washing your travel clothes as soon as you can after getting to your destination.
Taking your shoes off when you get home will also avoid leaving dirt in your house.
As for your luggage, Dr Primrose said this is also important.
Just think what those wheels might have rolled through at the airport or on the streets.
In fact, a previous study revealed that a suitcase can actually be dirtier than a public toilet.
Your luggage can also end up pretty dirty. Getty
Meanwhile, last year, the seat pocket was been branded the dirtiest spot on the actual plane in research by UK travel insurance company AllClear.
It surveyed 2000 people, with 30 per cent of respondents saying they store food and personal items in them.
Researchers spoke to former flight attendants who said the pockets are rarely properly cleaned and they have witnessed passengers dumping dirty nappies and used sick bags in them.
FlightBae, a cabin crew member from the US, backed that up too.
"They're dirtier than the lavatories, they're dirtier than the seat cushion, and they're dirtier than the tray tables," she said in a clip that's had over 3,000 likes.
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