Every day, we unknowingly touch some of the dirtiest things in the office without ever knowing we’re doing it. Some of the dirtiest items in the office sit right under our noses, and we touch them again and again. The importance of disinfecting and sanitizing these areas is imperative to stopping the spread of germs and bacteria.

Coffee pot

So many offices offer free coffee and that’s a great thing. Imagine though how much fingerprints and bacteria are left on its handle. According to recent studies looking into coffee pots left in the office, more than 48 percent of them contain harmful bacteria. As employees, ensure you wash your hands after touching the coffee pot and as cleaners, it’s up to us to remember to wipe it down at least once every week.

Mouse

Despite using it every day, according to a recent study, more than 10 percent of office workers admit to never cleaning their computer mouse. Analyzing the average office mouse, one will find roughly 1,600 microbes per square inch.

Keyboards

Thousands upon thousands of times a day, we press down on our keys without giving it a second though. Almost every time we do, we’re spreading bacteria. Skin cells fall off, food residue gets wiped, and sweat spreads. Assuming there’s more than one person touching your keyboard and/or if it’s not getting cleaned every day, that oftentimes equates to more than 3,200 bacteria per square inch. That’s why a keyboard wipe is recommended once a week with a damp cloth.

The office desk

Thankfully, a lot of office workers realize how dirty an office desk can get and cleaners do as well. With more than 10 million germs existing on the average work desk, they should be cleaned every day. Believe it or not, an office desk can accommodate more than 400 times the bacteria found on a toilet seat. Anti-bacterial wipes are recommended for desks. Commercial cleaning schedules should always consider putting the desk on their list of dailies.

Printer & photocopier

The average office printer is touched up to three hundred times a day. We don’t often think of the printer as a dirty place to be which is why it’s forgotten about a lot in daily cleaning duties. Nasty bacteria grows on the printer and is in need of address. Just a quick wipe across the surface and keypad with a damp cloth is more than enough to get the job done.

Soap dispenser

It’s rather disappointing to know but soap dispensers are actually really, really dirty. A study published by the University of Arizona found that approximately 25 percent of office soap dispensers are contaminated with fecal bacteria. If you’re washing your hands prior to touching, that’s fine. Just know the amount of germs the dispenser may be harboring.

Headsets

If you share a headset, simply put, don’t. It’s far more sanitary to have your own headset, rather than sharing them with other workers. Even if the headset looks clean, in a single hour of use, it can gather enough bacteria and germs to increase its amount by more than 700 times.

Commercial cleaning services should cover each of these dirty office areas daily or weekly. There’s no way to avoid these areas getting dirty so be sure to let an experienced cleaner get involved. If you’re in the market for commercial cleaning supplies to tackle these spaces and others, shop with Genesis Supplies today for the best deals in Canada and the United States.