Whether we want to admit it or not, the dreaded cold and flu season is starting and before we know if we will be knee-deep in coughing and sneezing fits.  Now is the time to make sure that you have a reliable cleaning service in place.  Even though most are well aware of the fact that our office keyboards and bathroom door handles are germy areas, there are other areas that do not immediately pop to mind.  These areas can prove as nasty, if not nastier when it comes to germs and viruses.

Okay, so we already know and admit that the keyboard, and even the mouse, of a computer, is pretty much a germ breeding ground.  However, have you ever thought about your desk itself?  Charles Gerba conducted a series of research that netted some pretty eyeopening data.  IT would seem that the area by our computer keyboard, that we tend to rest our hands on, can contain instances of bacteria up to the 10 million range.  During his research, Gerba discovered some additional interesting tidbits.  It seems that the germiest desks belonged to accountants, while on the other hand, the least germy desks were those of lawyers.

According to cleaning experts, the dirtiest place hands down in any office is that of the kitchen faucet.  Kimberly-Clark Professional is often-cited due to a study they conducted showed that the sink faucet handles in 75 percent of breakrooms are covered with bacteria.  In fact, the amount of bacteria has proven to be 300 percent more than a clean surface would have.  And it’s not just the handle in most cases that contains these germs.  The sink, as well as the sink drain, can play host to the little nasties.  Many experts agree that the kitchen sink is the dirtiest shared location within most offices.

This last one may surprise most, as it is the office coffee mugs.  A microbiologist from the University of Arizona conducted a study of office cups in relation to bacteria count present.  What they found was that 20 percent of the “clean” office mugs presented with coliform bacteria—also known as fecal matter.  What made this study all the more illuminating is that once the mugs were then cleaned, with a shared sponge, this percentage quickly jumped up to 100 percent.  After having been wiped with the sponge, further testing showed E. coli tested as positive on 20 percent of the mugs.

Germs and viruses are unavoidable—however, a reliable cleaning service can make sure to keep their numbers at a minimum.  Taking the proper steps to cleanliness can go a long way to keeping your employees healthy and your business running at top efficiency.