It is human nature to wrongfully assume that the toilet is the grossest place in the office. Yet, there are many more items that likely carry more bacteria and germs at the workplace.
There are the everyday small items and areas that are germ-ridden and easier to clean. Then, there are vast spaces that would require industrial vacuum cleaners.
Accumulation of dust and debris on the floors can cause accidents and carry disease-causing germs that may be blown to you, making you ill.
At Cleanhire UK, you can hire one of these machines to give your office a thorough clean. What items are the most germ-ridden in the workplace?
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Kitchen Sponge
Due to their absorbent and consistently wet nature, they are perfect germ breeding grounds.
Replace it every fortnight, place it somewhere it can drain, or microwave it for about 2 minutes at least once daily to kill most bacteria.
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Coffee Dispensing Machine | Lifts | Copier | Printer Buttons
While you may look out of place pressing the lift button with your elbow instead of your finger, you will be safeguarding yourself from germs transfer. Buttons of all these mentioned gadgets are capable of hoarding over 1.2 billion germ colony forming units per square inch.
Rubbing your hands with an alcohol-based sanitiser immediately after or wiping the keys with antibacterial wipes before use will keep you safe from germ-caused ailments.
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Telephone & Door Handles
Handled by many different people daily, they collect loads of germs (an average of 25,000) cross-contaminating from person to person. Frequently washing your hands with soap and water will keep your hands germ-free.
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Keyboard & Mouse
Your computer keyboard harbours about 16 million microbes, including salmonella, norovirus (of the coronavirus lineage), E.Coli, and Staph, combined with the crumbs stuck between the keyboard keys. Frequently sanitise using antibacterial wipes.
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Desk
Wiping your desk once weekly with antibacterial wipes can help eliminate the common cold microbes that may have settled there. These microbes remain active for up to 72 hours.
More dangerous viruses like MRSA last for over six months. Studies indicate that the office desk can harbour an excess of up to 400 times more bacteria compared to an average toilet seat.
Your desk is up to a hundred times less hygienic if compared to your kitchen tabletop.