Professional janitorial services can help prevent your computer keyboard from becoming as filthy as your toilet seat.
Janitorial Services and your Disgusting Computer Keyboard
Few people would voluntarily touch an uncleaned toilet seat, multiple times, throughout the day, especially not without washing their hands.
Every day, we type away at our computers without a single thought towards the germs lurking on our keyboards and mice.
High-Touch Surfaces
A high-touch surface is any object that humans commonly come into contact, and interact with throughout a typical day.
Both the CDC and the EPA list computer keyboards as high-touch surfaces requiring routine cleaning to prevent the spread of infectious disease; the EPA going so far as to recommend disinfecting after each use in schools and daycare facilities, where young children as especially susceptible.
For More Information:
How Many Germs are on your Keyboard?
A 2007 study conducted by The Clorox Company concluded that the average toilet seat was far cleaner than the typical office workspace, listing phones, keyboards, mice, and desktops as the 'germiest workspaces overall.'
For More Information:
- Germs Working Overtime - Especially at Women's Desks
5 Times Dirtier than a Toilet Seat
In 2007, Which? Computing magazine requested a researcher test their toilet seats and handles and compared them to samples taken from 33 computers in the office.
The results were somewhat disturbing.
Of the keyboards tested:
- One had to be removed because it was found to contain '150 times the acceptable limit of bacteria', and was '5 times dirtier than a toilet seat.'
- 2 had 'warning levels of Staphylococcus Aureus,' and;
- 2 had 'worryingly elevated levels of coliforms and enterobacteria.'
Which? Computing then surveyed 4000 individuals to see how often they cleaned their keyboards.
Of those surveyed:
- 22% cleaned their keyboard once a month.
- 27% sanitized their monitor once a month.
- 10% never cleaned their keyboard, while;
- 20% never cleaned their mouse.
Upon reviewing the results of the survey, Which? Computing magazine editor, Sarah Kidner, was quoted as saying:
Most people don't give much thought to the grime that builds up on their PC, but if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off a lavatory seat.
For More Information:
- How your computer keyboard is FIVE TIMES dirtier than your toilet seat - and could even give you 'qwerty tummy'
- Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'
- Computer keyboards can be dirtier than a toilet: study
- Filthy as a loo seat: hazard of computer keyboards
QWERTY Tummy
QWERTY Tummy is a term denoted for the phenomenon of an upset stomach that comes from the use of filthy keyboards and in more recent times, from the use of mobile phones' keypads.
Common symptoms of QWERTY Tummy can resemble food poisoning and include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting.
- Flu.
- MRSA.
For More Information:
Cleaning Tips
According to the CDC:
One trillion germs can live in one gram of poop.
One of the most prevalent bacteria types found in samples obtained from keyboards is E. Coli.
E. Coli is most commonly transferred from human feces to high-touch surfaces, then to the mouth or eyes of others.
The bacteria is spread due to poor hygiene; most notably, failing to properly wash one's hands.
The issue is further compounded by the common practice of eating at one's desk, where food particles fall into the cracks between the keys on keyboards.
Combining those poor health practices with naturally occurring dust in the keyboard, which traps bacteria and moisture, you have a recipe for a very expensive health issue in your office, especially on common use systems, or in hospitals and schools.
To avoid the unnecessary spread of germs and bacteria in your office from high-touch surfaces, strongly consider implementing the following practices:
- Discourage employees from eating at their desks, especially over their keyboards.
- Encourage employees to follow a healthy personal hygiene regimen, specifically washing their hands thoroughly after using the restroom, eating, smoking, or using any type of chemical.
- Implement a cleaning routine that involves disinfecting computer mice and keyboards on an, at least, monthly basis.
- Use disinfectant wipes meant for electronic devices
- Strongly consider using microfiber cloths to remove as much dirt and bacteria as possible.
- Consider using a keyboard vacuum to clean out particles from between the keys.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of professional janitorial services for your business, contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call 661-395-3009
In Fresno CA, call 559-473-1790
