If you work in a corporate office environment where your desk is your domain, you may want to pay close attention. Many of us come to work in the mornings, perhaps even eat breakfast at our desks, touch anything and everything during the day, visit the restroom a couple of times during the 8-9 hours of ‘active duty’, and then transfer those germs back home without being fully aware of the millions of critters you’ve managed to come into contact with.
It may not seem like a big deal since you can’t see what’s lurking in between your keyboard keys or on your telephone, but it can make you quite sick; especially if you’re overworked and have a compromised immune system.
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In case you’re wondering, this is what’s currently lurking on your desk:
- Office telephone – 25,127 microbes per sq. in.
- Keyboard – 3,295 microbes per sq. in.
- Computer mouse – 1,676 microbes per sq. in.
- Office desktop – 20,962 microbes per sq. in.
- Your hands – come into contact with 10 million bacteria per day
- Headphones – 700 times more germs after 1h usage
In fact, you may be safer eating lunch on the toilet seat than your desk. Containing an average of 49 microbes per sq. in. toilet seats are much cleaner than the average worker’s desktop. Taking into consideration that only 1/5 office workers clean their desks before they eat, it may be something worth looking into before your next desk lunch.
Did you know?
Viruses such as influenza can survive on office desks for more than 24-hours; being 400 times dirtier than the average toilet seat.
Here’s how you can keep your office desk relatively germ-free:
- Keep sanitising wipes nearby
Apart from having sanitising wipes to wipe your desk before eating at it, you also need to actually use them. You may not get rid of all of the unwanted germs, but you’ll certainly kill the majority of them.
- Stock up on cotton balls and cleaning solution
Using a cotton ball, spray a little bit cleaning solution on one and wipe the keys of your keyboard at least once a day. Containing five times more bacteria than the average toilet seat, it’s absolutely necessary to keep it germ-free.
- Avoid touching your eyes
Wearing glasses makes this tip quite difficult, but it’s more of a habit than anything else. If you want to avoid possible eye infections and germs from being transferred onto your workspace, leave your eyes alone.
- Always wash your hands after using the restroom
Studies have shown that approximately only 70% of individuals wash their hands after using the restroom. Don’t be one of them! Wash your hands after every visit to avoid possible infections.
- Avoid touching the restroom door handle
Seeing as only 70% of individuals wash their hands, it’s best if you avoid touching the door handle after you’ve washed yours. Use a paper towel to open the door and dispose of after use.
- Keep sanitising gel next to your computer
Sanitising gels are great for disinfecting your hands. In fact, you should have some everywhere you go; especially in your car. Don’t use too often and remember to avoid touching your eyes.
One of the best, most hassle-free ways of keeping your workspace clean and germ-free is by hiring a corporate cleaning company to disinfect your office desk for you. They know what they’re doing and they’ve been doing it for years, which leaves you to be able to concentrate on actual work. It’s a win-win situation!
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