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With 53,000 germs per cm² on average, your workspace is a veritable hotbed of bacteria. Fortunately, simple actions like regularly disinfecting your keyboard, ventilating the room and adopting good hygiene habits can significantly reduce this microbial proliferation. Discover our tips for a healthier everyday office.
As cold and flu season heats up, avoiding viruses and other nasty bacteria in the office can seem difficult. Unless you learn to reduce the number of germs you interact with on a daily basis!
53,241 germs per square centimeter
53,241 germs per square centimeter. This is the average number of microorganisms that an office can accommodate. A scary number, but one that can be controlled… by arming yourself with rags and a disinfectant spray.
- Keyboards and mice – every day
These tactile objects can harbor many germs. With an average of 4257 germs per square centimeter and the average mouse measuring around 25 cm², “there could be as many as 42,570 germs on your computer mouse right now“.
“Wipe them with disinfectant wipes or a cloth sprayed with a mild cleaning solution at the end of each day to minimize the risk of illness. Also don’t forget to wash your hands before eating lunch.r”, advises the agency Digital PR Agencyin its practical guide.
- Door handles and switches – everyday
High-touch areas, like doorknobs and light switches, should be disinfected daily to reduce the spread of germs.
“To clean these surfaces, simply use disinfectant wipes or sprays to clean them thoroughly and regularly. You can also use a paper towel to open the bathroom door, or consider installing a pedal to open the door with your foot“, underlines the press release.
- Office surfaces – every day
Even if you think your desk is relatively clean, it can quickly accumulate dust, crumbs and germs.
“Clean your desk surface daily with a disinfectant wipe or spray to maintain a clean and hygienic workspace. Don’t forget to dust often neglected areas, like behind your screen and around your knick-knacks“, experts still advise.
- Phones and headphones – every day
Phones and headsets are items that can be easily contaminated with bacteria, especially in offices where phones and devices are shared.
“Use disinfectant wipes to clean these devices daily, especially the mouthpiece and earpiece areas. If your headset has foam parts, consider purchasing spare parts to replace the original parts (…). You can also use warm water or hydrogen peroxide to clean the foam parts. As they tend to behave like a sponge, it will be impossible to rinse them completely with soap or liquid detergents“, reveals the guide.
- Computer screens – every week
While screens are less infested, they can still accumulate dust, dirt, and fingerprints over time, as well as germs and bacteria.
“Use a microfiber cloth and a suitable cleaning product to wipe your screens once a week and guarantee (…) a germ-free environment. still recommend the agency’s experts.
Office trash cans can harbor nasty bacteria, like Salmonella or Escherichia coli.
Out of caution, “empty kitchen bins every two weeks and general waste bins at least once a week. Clean the interior with disinfectant spray or wipes weekly to keep them hygienic“, reveals the press release.
- Shared kitchen appliances – weekly
Shared appliances such as microwaves, refrigerators and coffee machines should be cleaned weekly to prevent the build-up of dirt and bacteria.
“Wipe down all surfaces and key touch points with antibacterial and disinfectant sprays or wipes to keep common areas clean“, advise the experts.
- Office chairs – every month
Chairs can accumulate dust, stains, hair, and odors over time, especially if you have long hair or work in a pet-friendly office. Often forgotten, the average office chair can harbor up to 53,340 germs per square centimeter!
“To keep your chairs looking and smelling fresh, vacuum fabric chairs monthly and wipe down leather or vinyl chairs with an appropriate cleaning product.“, recommends the agency.
- Office carpets and floors – every month
Many allergens can become embedded in carpets and floors (carpets, etc.), and cause allergies.
The right attitude? “Vacuum carpets and mop hard floors every two weeks and consider professional cleaning or carpet shampooing monthly to maintain a healthy environment. details the press release.
- Air Vents and Filters – Quarterly
Should we remember it? Air quality is essential. Good ventilation helps eliminate germs and polluting particles suspended in the office air.
“Also clean air vents and replace air filters quarterly to ensure good air circulation and reduce the amount of dust and allergens in the workspace. concludes the agency Digital PR Agency.