We may breathe a sigh of relief when flu season is over. Just because flu season is over, doesn’t mean germs go into hibernation. Germs and illness can still be spread regardless of the season. Here are three places in your office that are likely hangouts for germs.
#1 The Breakroom
The refrigerator, microwave, countertops, sinks, faucet handles, and table tops can be thick with grime if they are not wiped down or cleaned out on a regular basis. Old food particles and sticky messes are breeding grounds for germs, and if your coworkers aren’t careful with their leftovers, you’re likely to get infected.
The Germiest Thing in the Breakroom? The sponge.
Breakroom sponges can have close to 10 million bacteria per square inch and is likely not changed out or sanitized enough. If you use this sponge for any reason, thoroughly wash your hands after.
#2 Your Desk
When you think of all the contact you have with the outside world before you reach the office— even just pushing open the front door or hitting the button to ride the elevator up— your hands come into contact with a lot of germs. Do you always wash them or use sanitizer prior to touching your keyboard, mouse, or telephone?
Your briefcase or purse has most likely been placed on the floor of another office in a meeting. When you go to lunch, you have probably put your briefcase or purse underneath the table in the restaurant. Have you ever set it on your desk when you walk into your office? How often do you wipe down your desk?
The Germiest Thing On Your Desk? Your keyboard.
A study by Kimberly Clark Professional tested over 5,000 surfaces for Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) molecules. ATP is a molecule found in all animal, vegetable, bacteria, yeast and mold cells. The presence of this molecule can indicate high levels of virus and bacteria present. The higher the number of ATP molecules, the more virus and bacteria present. 69% of office keyboards tested for over 100 ATP.
#3 The Waiting Area
The waiting area has many different people coming from many different places visiting it all day long. The buildup of dirt and germs on the couches, tables, door handles, door frames, carpets, and rugs can be overlooked. Make sure when you hire a cleaning company, close attention will be paid to the cleaning of this area.
The Germiest Thing In Your Waiting Area? Armrests on chairs and couches.
Armrests on chairs and couches may get vacuumed off but do they get disinfected? Mention this to your cleaning company to make a plan to make your waiting area less germy!
When you hire a commercial cleaning company in Columbus Indiana, it’s important that they address the high traffic, and therefore high risk, spots in your office that are hotbeds of germs and viruses. Cinlee Cleaning Services has years of experience in janitorial cleaning and is ready to serve you. Contact our customer service to talk about how our cleaning service can help you keep your office a healthy working environment.
