5 Germ-iest Office Spaces

Changing leaves and ripening pumpkins may still tempt us outside, but falling temperatures and shorter days also mean runny noses and more time indoors where germs abound. How can we keep healthy?

"The best way to stay disease free and prevent infections is hand-washing," said Laura Baatz, occupational nurse at Sanford Lab. "Often overlooked, hand-washing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect yourself from germs and most infections. Wash your hands thoroughly before preparing or eating food, after coughing or sneezing, or touching objects in high use / public areas. When soap and water aren't available, alcohol-based hand-sanitizing gels can offer protection until you can get to a sink." 

In addition to keeping your own hands clean, it helps to realize the germ-y hot spots in your everyday work environment. According to the Rogards, here are the top five places germs are lurking in your office space:

5. Communal Breakroom Items: The communal coffee pot, refrigerator, and microwave are all laden with illness-causing germs.

Clean it up:

• Wash items like the coffee pot regularly with dish soap.
• Wipe down surfaces with disinfecting wipes or antibacterial kitchen spray.

4. Fax Machines and Copiers
Everyone touches them, but when’s the last time you saw someone clean them?

Clean it up:

• Put hand sanitizer in commons areas. Its use will help prevent the spread of germs.
• Make sure that cleaning these items is a part of your regular routine.

3. Desktop
Most of us don’t wipe down our desktop before and after eating lunch or a snack, yet food particles can be a breeding ground. If you place your purse or briefcase on top your desk, you’ve just added to the petri dish.

Clean it up:

• Clean your desk with disinfecting wipes or spray at least once a week.
• Eat in the breakroom instead of at your desk.

2. Keyboard and Mouse
Both are an unavoidable part of each work day and are constantly touched. Unfortunately, they’re rarely cleaned. That equals germs.

Clean it up:

• Use electronics cleaning wipes or spray to keep things clean.
• Try a washable keyboard. They’re fully submersible in water for cleaning!

1. Office Phone
According to University of Arizona research, your office phone gets coated with bacteria from your mouth and hands, harboring about 25,000 germs per square inch. Yikes!

Clean it up:

• Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent the spread of germs.
• Wipe down the receiver and keypad daily with a sanitizing wipe.

For more information on keeping your workspace clean and your body healthy this fall season, contact Laura Baatz, Sanford Lab's occupational nurse at LBaatz@SanfordLab.org