Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Did you know your keyboard, computer mouse and desktop are bacteria magnets?
The typical desk has 100 times more germs than the average toilet seat per Dr. Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona.
According to Dr. Gerba’s study, office telephones contained the most bacteria at an average of 25,127 bacteria per surface, desktops had 20,961 bacteria per surface, 3,295 per square inch on keyboards and1,676 microbes per square inch on mice.
Gerba has also found on average, women’s offices had the germiest telephones, computer keyboards, computer mice and pens, while men’s offices had the most bacteria-ridden desks. But men still win the prize for the germiest item of all. Men’s wallets were the single germiest item in any office–four times worse than women’s purses.
A few things you can do to keep germs away from your office:
- At least once a week keep a container of disinfecting wipes at your station. Wipe down your desk, computer keyboard, mouse, phone receiver and/or headset, as well as dialing pad and any surrounding desk space
- Keep anti-bacterial hand sanitizer at your desk or station is also very helpful. Use it regularly throughout the day.
- Do not eat at your desk. It can create both germ and mold issues. Save the eating for the lunchroom, restaurant, park bench or any other place away from your desk.
- Make sure all coffee mugs and drinking glasses are washed thoroughly. This may seem like common sense, but always using hot water and soap. Also, try to avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes. Bacteria are often spread after touching something contaminated and then making contact with the “germ-sensitive” areas of the body.
- Consider purchasing an air purifier to help control bacteria and viruses
- If you’re sick, don’t go to work.
Photo Courtesy of Healthkicker
