How many minutes or hours does herpes simplex survive outside the body and on objects?

Herpes simplex: The herpes virus can survive outside the body anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. There is little risk of contracting herpes from a toilet seat or towel because the virus needs to contact a skin injury or mucus membranes such as found in the mouth or genitals. Oral sex, sexual intercourse, kissing, sharing toothbrushes, or sharing eating utensils are the most common ways of getting it.