A study has revealed shocking results regarding the level of germ spread on keyboards, which many people use for long hours each day, indicating that germs are three times more prevalent than those found on toilet seats. The study, details of which were published by the British newspaper "Daily Mail," mentioned that a keyboard contains, on average, the same amount of germs as a kitchen trash can, while a computer mouse is dirtier than a doormat.
The results raise concerns, especially since employees spend long hours at their desks daily, eating and drinking there. Samples were taken from 10 items in offices in various locations across Britain, including keyboards and mice, and compared to household items known for germ spread, such as toilet seats.
The findings showed that the average number of germs amounts to 21,000 germs per square inch on the office desk, while the number on the keyboard reached 3,295 germs per square inch. The mouse contained 1,676 germs, while the office phone had over 25,000 germs.
The study was conducted by the British website "FastShutz," and a spokesperson stated that with the return to offices after a period of working from home, it has become essential to seriously consider office cleanliness.
Researchers were surprised to compare household items like toilets with offices and found that the latter is indeed dirty. Karim Samani, the executive director of a British cleaning company, noted, "Offices and the items within them can be up to four times dirtier than a toilet seat because we spend much more time on them."
He added, "People tend to eat and drink at their desks and do not think about cleaning afterward, and do not take regular disinfection seriously." He concluded that germs and viruses can easily spread at home, but workplaces pose a significant risk, as everything there can be a hazard, such as coffee cups.
