A nasty warning has been issued to anyone who works in an office, as the cold weather hits and staying healthy can become more challenging. Germs are lurking all around us, with certain office items harbouring more than you might think.
Experts at Digital PR Agency have provided a handy guide for how to keep yourself well while working in an office, and they say the average desktop harbours 20,961 germs per square inch, with an extra 3,295 on the keyboard and 1,676 on a mouse.
Shockingly, the office phone can also harbour a huge 25,127 germs per square inch – more than a toilet seat. The experts say keyboards and mice should be cleaned daily with disinfectant wipes, or a cloth sprayed with a mild cleaning solution at the end of each day.
You should also wash your hands before eating your lunch. Desk surfaces, too, need a daily clean – either with a disinfectant wipe or spray to maintain a tidy and hygienic workspace, and remember to dust neglected areas such as behind the monitor.
Phones and headsets can easily become bacteria-ridden, especially in spaces where these are shared. Clean these daily and pay particular attention to the mouthpiece and earpiece areas.
If your headset has foam parts, consider buying some replacement pieces to replace the original every few weeks. Alternatively you can use warm water or hydrogen peroxide to clean foam pieces.
Fortunately, computer screens aren’t as full of germs as other touch-heavy pieces of kit, so they don’t need cleaning quite as often or thoroughly. However, they can collect dust, grime and fingerprints over time, as well as germs and bacteria.
Use a microfiber cloth and a screen-safe cleaner to wipe down your screens weekly, ensuring clear visibility and a germ-free environment.