
The rug in the room where everyone hangs out may contain as much as 200,000 bacteria per square inch, said Reynolds in t
his article, who has isolated E. coli, Salmonella, and MRSA, a type of staph bacteria that causes skin infections, in carpet fibers. The skin cells, food particles, pollen, and pet dander that collect in carpets serve as a smorgasbord for germs. When you walk on the rug, or your kids roll around on it, you disrupt the little buggers, bringing some closer to the surface.