Still, it will be hard for most people to accept the conclusions shown by the data.
"No matter how often you hear that, you know, it's safer to eat your turkey wrap off the toilet seat than your desktop at work, you're just not going to believe it," said Janse.
When you're out using a public restroom, there are a few things you should consider doing when it's time to visit a stall.
Janse said that since most people seek privacy by going to the stalls in the back of the bathroom, you will find fewer bacteria in the first stall.
And ladies, never put your bags on the floor.
"We found fecal bacteria on about 30 percent of the bottom of women's purses. So you may be moving bacteria from the bottom of the restroom floor to maybe the kitchen sink area when you're going to make lunch," said Gerba.
Here's another tip: Don't be deceived by appearances. While the men's room may look messier and smell much worse -- thanks to the urinal -- the ladies room harbors twice as much bacteria.
"There's probably more bacteria in the women's room because they spend a longer time there and also they bring in small children" said Gerba.
He says most of the germs you and your children pick up in the bathroom are on your hands, so make sure to wash them well but skip the so-called sanitary hand dryer.
"You actually end up with more bacteria with the hand blower because they're taking the air in the restroom and blowing it onto your hands with the bacteria on it," said Gerba.
But once your hands are clean there's no need to worry about the door handle.
"Really the cleanest areas in the bathroom are actually the door handle and the toilet seat," said Gerba.
He said that could just be because those are the two spots people fear and avoid the most.
