Bacteria in the office: it is dirtier here than on the toilet
Bacteria and other germs are even more common in the office than in the toilet. As early as the 1980s, the German Society for Industrial Hygiene dedicated its annual conference on hygiene in office and commercial companies. Even in this millennium, the topic is not off the office table. In this practical tip, we will tell you which furniture you need to pay special attention to hygiene.
The biggest nucleus in the office: the coffee cup
Most office bacteria frolic in yesterday's coffee cup from the office: Researchers found about 15 times as many bacteria on one of these as in the company toilet.
- Therefore, clean your cup regularly and be sure to pour out any leftovers early - not the next day, immediately before the first cup of coffee in the morning.
- Classic dishwashers are best suited for cleaning. Alternatively, you could flush the toilet straight away, because it has fewer bacteria than office rags and sponges. Of course, we still advise against it.
- To reduce the number of bacteria and other germs in the coffee cup, you should also frequently change the tea towel in the office and also clean the coffee machine regularly.
A bacteria paradise in the office: the telephone
The telephone shows a strong bacterial infestation through the close interaction of hand and mouth:
- Due to spit droplets and our skin, which is never completely clean, there are a good 11 times as many bacteria on the phone as on the toilet.
- Smartphones are even worse affected. The reason: by swiping over the display, a particularly large number of bacteria get caught. In addition, the temporary storage in trousers and handbags is a real "bacteria incubator".
- The use of smartphones in the loo can make the germ situation even worse.
- You should therefore regularly clean your touch display and clean the telephone keys to counteract the germ infestation.
The handbag as a home for bacteria
Millions of bacteria also breed in your handbag. This is not only noticeable on your smartphone:
- A smear from the inside of a handbag shows hardly less bacteria than a smartphone. The reason: everyday objects such as hairbrushes, cell phones and makeup introduce many germs into the pouch.
- In addition, the handbag is a breeding ground for bacteria due to its light-protected interior, the warm temperatures and moist, stagnant air.
Bacteria horror on keyboard and mouse
As with the telephone, bacteria penetrate the keyboard and computer mouse through spit droplets and impure fingers.
- And almost 10 times as many as on the toilet seat.
- In contrast to the telephone, less spit ends up here, but all the more dander. You will notice this if you turn your keyboard once and shake it vigorously.
- If you regularly clean your keyboard roughly and occasionally clean it with a vacuum cleaner, the number of germs is reduced enormously.
Fewer office bacteria on the executive floor
Office bacteria can also be found on the buttons of the company elevator. And only slightly less than on your own PC.
- The interesting thing: Most bacteria want to go to the first floor. According to a study, fewer bacteria are found on the buttons of the higher floors.
- So your daily elevator walk is sometimes more epidemic than your walk to the toilet. Our elevator hack is no use either.
Our next practical tip provides you with a list of the most beautiful office pranks to cheer you up so that you don't put too much strain on the hygiene problem in the office.