COFFEE MAKER

Dark and damp, the reservoirs of coffee makers are perfect breeding grounds for microorganisms. In one study, 50% were contaminated with mold and yeast, and many had high bacteria counts. Fortunately, making sure your fresh coffee contains only coffee is easy: British researchers say just washing out the pot and basket once daily with regular dish detergent and water instantly cuts germ counts by 82%, and running half a pot of vinegar once each month through the machine (followed by a few pots of fresh water) prevents germ growth by cleaning out the nooks and crannies you can’t reach by hand.