Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

Hello!

I am conducting an experiment for my school science fair in which I will attempt to determine what common household product (vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, salt water, listerine, or hot water) will disinfect a toothbrush best.

I have my petri dishes ready, but have an issue with the temperature control. My parents keep our house quite cool, so I will need to have some type of heat source to aid in the bacteria growth. Is it okay to use a heat lamp?

Thanks for your input!

For growing bacteria most people use a low-wattage lamp to warm the dishes. If you have the petri dishes in a closed box, you can put it next to the lamp and the heat from the bulb will warm it enough to speed up the growth.

Thanks for the input!