The Top 8 Dirtiest Areas In The Office
When it comes to dirt and germs, the office can be a breeding ground for nastiness. Unfortunately, many people don't think about the dirtiest areas in the office until they start feeling sick. Unfortunately, by then, it's often too late.
Now, more than ever, employee health and well-being are at the top of the priority list for businesses, and having a clean office is one of the most critical factors in reducing the impacts of the cold and flu season, the spread of COVID-19, and the overall number of sick employees.
Therefore, your cleaning and maintenance routine must include regularly disinfecting and sanitizing these top 8 dirtiest areas in the office.
Keyboard & Mouse
Your desk keyboard is one of the dirtiest places in an office. People often eat at their desks, but they also don't wash or sanitize their hands after going to the bathroom.
A keyboard is a dirt-friendly place because it's a breeding ground for bacteria, germs, dead skin cells, and food particles. A recent study by the University of Arizona found that keyboards can have up to 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Computer mice are also dirt magnets because they often go un-cleaned and are a breeding ground for bacteria. Like the keyboard, they collect bacteria and germs from food, everyday dirt, and oils from our hands.
Office Desk Phones
Desk phones (yes, they're still used in many offices) accumulate a lot of dirt and grease. Not only that, but they're also a breeding ground for bacteria because we put them up to our faces. Even if you're using a hands-free headset, you're still exposing yourself to a lot of dirt, germs, and bacteria when you consider how often headsets are cleaned and sanitized.
Office Break Room
Break rooms are the perfect place for germs to thrive. They're a hotspot to help bacteria thrive because of all the dirt and food that gets tracked in (yes, even cooked food holds bacteria), and employees often don't take the time to sanitize surfaces before they eat. And the worst offenders? The break room sink faucet, the coffee pot, the refrigerator door, and the microwave door are all dirtier than average and should be a focus of your cleaning routine.
Vending Machine Buttons
Vending machines are a dirt magnet because they are often touched without being washed. They also offer a variety of surfaces for bacteria to grow on. The buttons are one of the dirtiest parts of the vending machine, especially if they're not regularly cleaned.
Doorknobs
Doorknobs might seem like a prominent place to be dirt & germ-free, but they often are not. A study by the University of Arizona found that doorknobs are one of the dirtiest places in an office.
They are dirt magnets because people often touch them without washing their hands. They pick up bacteria & germs from all sorts of places, including hands, food & dirt.
Office Bathroom
The bathroom is another area of an office that often doesn't get cleaned as often as it should. The sink faucet is one of the dirtiest places in an office. Employees often don't wash their hands properly. There's a lot of dirt & bacteria that can build up in the cracks & crevices of the sink.
If your business is working with a commercial facilities manager, make sure restroom cleaning and sanitation are part of their services.
Carpets
The carpet area is often one of the dirtiest places in an office. This is because carpets are difficult to clean and accumulate dirt and dust over time. Be sure to vacuum and sanitize your carpets regularly.
The Cubicle Area
Cubicles offer a lot of places for bacteria to accumulate. Not only are the walls and surfaces dirt magnets, but so are the cords and cables that run along the floor (which are often overlooked in routine maintenance). So be sure to regularly clean your cubicle area and keep it as germ-free as possible.
Implementing Cleaning Systems in the Office
No matter how often you clean, it's essential to have a plan for how dirt and bacteria will be handled in your office. Implementing a cleaning system can help keep dirt and germs at bay.
From the microwave door to the office fridge, each item/hotspot must be disinfected regularly. In addition to working with a commercial cleaning service, providing easy access to hand sanitizer dispensers and sanitizer wipes goes a long way in preventing the spread of germs and illness.