WASHINGTON — It’s the time of year when colds are going around, so keeping a home as germ free as possible is a good idea. But there are places many people may not think to clean which are crawling with bacteria.

Some may think the germiest place in their home is the toilet seat, but it doesn’t even crack the top 10 listed by the National Science Foundation.

Scientists took samples from 30 surfaces in 22 homes testing for yeast, mold and coliform bacteria including E.coli and staph germs. The results found the places that need a good cleaning are likely not on a homeowner’s radar, such as the remote control, light switches and the salt and pepper shakers.

Click through the gallery above to see the germiest places in the house.