Being in Corporate America has its pros and cons. One drawback happens to be germs and the spreading of colds, flu, and other illnesses. Working in an environment with others on a daily basis can make it easy for things to be transmitted and spread. Add to that the close quarters of our cubicles and offices, and viruses and other bugs can run rampant, even in the cleanest of workplaces.
In a recent study, Quill found that the keyboard is one of the ickiest items in the office. We use it to create, communicate, and share, but we also don’t keep it as clean as we should. Studies have found over 3,000 organisms per square inch on keyboards alone.
Gross!
This is because when it comes to our workspaces, we don’t clean our keyboards regularly enough. The cleaning crew may clean around your work areas, and you may wipe down your desk and phone, but the keyboard often goes ignored.
Imagine how much gunk is on your keyboard—and I’m not just talking about the things like food and dust you can see. What about the yuckiness that you can’t see with your naked eye—just how nasty is your keyboard at work?
It is recommended that you clean your keyboard daily to keep it as germ free as possible. How can you properly clean your keyboard? Follow these steps:
- Cut the power source (unplug it from the computer if its’s connected). If it’s wireless, take out the batteries and/or turn it completely off. The same is true for laptops.
- Use a soft bristled brush to thoroughly clean your keyboard. A can of air can also work as well.
- Remove the keys carefully via manufacturers’ instructions. If you can’t do this, make sure to wipe each key down with a damp paper towel.
- Then wipe it down with a electronically friendly disinfectant.
Silly putty can also work as a quick cleaning agent for your keyboard and other desk surfaces.
Keeping your hands clean and washing them regularly can also keep the germs at bay. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer at your desk as well for a quick fix when needed. Make sure that you also clean your keyboards at home, too.
If you feel yourself coming down with something, try to stay home if you can. The best way to nip germs and sicknesses in the bud is by stopping them before they begin to spread. If we all did this, there would be less illnesses within the workplace, which could lead to better productivity.
Below is an infographic furnished by Quill that gives you a rundown of just how gross your keyboard can be. It also goes goes into greater detail on how to keep your keyboard clean and germ-free.
After learning the ickiness that could be covering my keyboards on both my laptop and desktop, I am going to implement this cleaning strategy right away. I urge you to do the same regularly to cut down on the spreading of germs, colds, and such.
Let’s keep those keyboards clean!
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