What’s Lurking In Your Office?
You consider yourself a clean person. You always tidy your desk when you leave for the day and never leave garbage lying around. Are you sitting at your desk right now? If you are, you are in the midst of a breeding ground for germs. Surprised? Read on.
The average workspace can be 100 times less hygienic than your kitchen table and 400 times filthier than the average toilet seat! Did you know that your keyboard is home to approximately 16 million microbes? These microbes can cause flu, pinkeye and diarrhea as well as more serious illnesses. Microbes for the common cold can stick around for up to 72 hours while the more dangerous MRSA can linger between six weeks and 7 months! Scary stuff.
What’s even scarier is that only 3% of offices sufficiently clean their equipment. That means many of these germs are still lurking after the office has been cleaned.
Some interesting numbers:
| Office phones | Office keyboards | Computer mice | Toilet seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25,127 microbes per square inch | 3,295 microbes per square inch | 1,676 microbes per square inch | 49 microbes per square inch |
How does your workspace become such a hazardous area? There are multiple factors to consider. Properly cleaning your hands after visiting the restroom can reduce contamination by 10%. Shockingly, while most agree you should, only 66% of Americans say they always wash up after using a public restroom. And 70% admit to only using water.
Using a gentle cleanser like this one from Kool Splash is a great way to ensure clean hands. This hand soap is fragrance free and includes natural botanical extracts to gently cleanse and leave your skin feeling refreshed.
Since roughly two thirds of employees say they eat lunch at their desk, they leave behind crumbs – a common source of bacteria. Most of these people don’t bother to clean their desk before eating, so, all of that bacteria is going straight into your body. Give yourself a break – and a chance – and eat your lunch in the lunchroom. Or, better yet, get outside for a walk around the block or eat at a park bench. The fresh air will leave you energized for the afternoon!
Properly cleaning office spaces is a key component to battling workplace germs. Most employees never consider wiping down their keyboards or mouse. Make sure your staff has access to our Certainty Plus Disinfectant Wipes. These pre-moistened wipes will disinfect any non-porous hard surface and are an excellent way to prevent cross contamination in busy offices.
Being proactive when it comes to office germs will go a long way towards keeping your staff healthy and happy.
Checkers is your clean resource. If you need help choosing appropriate products for your organization, contact us and speak with one of our team members. We are here to help!
