Germs are everywhere. They’re on our food and in our water, in the air, and even on our bodies. Luckily, our immune systems protect us from most of these tiny infectious agents before they can cause us any harm. Besides, everyone washes their hands, right? Actually, a 2013 study conducted at Michigan State University found that 10 percent of people do not wash their hands after using a public restroom.

Here are some other common misconceptions about germs and hygiene that may have been fooling you:

Still following the five-second rule? Science has shown that bacteria attaches to our food the moment it hits the ground. However, the amount of bacteria that makes it on to that slippery bagel depends on the surface it’s dropped on. For example, there would be less bacteria transfer on a carpet compared to a smooth surface.

The amount of time that bacteria stays on a surface depends on what type of bacteria or virus. Generally, the flu virus survives on a surface for between two and eight hours, the cold virus longer than the flu while largely ineffective after 24 hours, and the herpes virus survives for up to four hours.

If you still think the toilet is the dirtiest place in the building, think again. While 49 germs per square inch is a lot, it pales in comparison to the 21,000 germs per square inch found on a person’s desk at work. It is highly unlikely that you will contract a disease by sitting on a toilet, and you will definitely not contract an STI from it.