According to a survey from a well established office supplies company dirty keyboard are bacteria hives that could increase the transmission of cold and flu as the cold season approaches.
Bacteria’s are an essential part of our day to day lives, we have it in and outside our body and without them we would be very sick indeed. While I'm no advocating dirty lifestyles certain types of bacteria work as defence systems of our bodies.
Speaking to BBC News, cleaning expert Aggie Mackenzie said that 99% of bacteria’s are harmless and it is with the 1% that we need to be watchful of.
The survey swabbed a number of office keyboards from around the country and found bacterias such as Staphylococcus, Bacillus and Micrococcus, indicating a poor level of hygiene and that changes in office habits like hot desking and eating while working are the cause of such dirtiness.
Dr Lisa Ackerley, an environmental hygiene expert, said: “This research has shown that there are some very unhygienic desks right now in office across the UK, which is very worrying as those who work in open-plan offices tend to start coming down with illnesses this time of year.”
She added: “Keeping equipment such as keyboards, phones and desks as germ-free as possible is even more important during the cold and flu season.”
Despite need for a change in habits of office workers, office cleaning companies should take the blame for the dirtiness found on the surveyed desktops. It is an essential part of any office cleaning job to make sure keyboards and phone are cleaned and disinfected regularly.
Carlos Garcia, owner of an
office cleaning company in central London said: "The results of this survey are rather worrying and show that office habits should be revised and office cleaning companies should emphasize with their workers the importance of cleaning and disinfecting desktops".
It is important to note that electrical equipment can not be cleaned with any polish or cleaning product. Use the wrong products and you will end up damaging them.
If you are not sure what to use, Total Clean Services Ltd offers bespoke computer and telephone equipment cleaning, for more information please contact us.
