Have you ever considered that you might be stressed because your desk is unhealthy? A recent survey says that 68% of office workers never clean their desks. Stop and think for a minute about what might be lurking in and around your desk. Experts estimate that 10 million bacteria may be hanging around under your hands on the surface of your desk. One study goes so far as to suggest that the average office desk is 100x dirtier than a kitchen counter and 400x dirtier than a toilet seat. Ooh Yuck!
How can this be, your office has a cleaner, right? Why should you have to clean your desk yourself? Cleaning companies report that most cleaners are hesitant to clean people’s desks for fear of disturbing papers and personal memorabilia. So if you don’t clean your desk, it’s not going to get done.
Here are some tips for keeping your desk a clean and healthy place:
- Try not to eat at your desk, food residue can provide a home for bacteria. If you must eat at your desk, open out a napkin to use as a placemat and then discard the napkin at the end of your meal.
- Don’t leave used napkins or used tissues lying on your desk
- Clean your keyboard and mouse. Turn the keyboard upside down and shake it to empty any detritus. Then give the keys a good clean with an antibacterial wipe designed for computers.
- Keep antibacterial gel on your desk, and use it on your hands after meals, sneezes and coughs.
- The biggest trouble spot is your phone, because we are picking it many times every day. Wipe your phone down with antibacterial wipes.
- Every month clear the top of your desk and spray it down with a good anti-bacterial cleaner. Weekly, run an antibacterial wipe across the surface. This is an easy habit to incorporate with your end of week tidy up.
- Give your books, accessories and knick knacks a good dusting.
- Make sure you wash your coffee cup with hot water and soap regularly.
- Don’t put hand lotion on at work, as the moisture can pick up and hold the germs that reside at your desk.
- Always wash your hands before and after eating lunch.
- Be wary of leaving your food in the office fridge, unless you are sure it is cleaned out regularly.
- If you bring a packed lunch, get your lunch into the fridge within 90 minutes of it leaving your home fridge.
- Don’t continually re-fill a plastic bottle of water, unless it’s washed properly with soapy water and allowed to dry completely, you can get bacterial growth.
Remember: A clean desk is a stress-less desk!