| A recent study found the average office desk | | | | 5. Microwave oven |
| contains 20,961 germs per square inch! The worst | | | | The buttons on the office microwave are sure to |
| hot spots for germs? Phones, computer keyboards, | | | | have a lot of people pressing them. If you're about |
| and computer mice. If not cleaned regularly, they are | | | | to eat your food after heating up your lunch, wash |
| a great breeding place for viruses that cause colds | | | | your hands immediately after using this machine. |
| and flu. If you want to discover where other germ | | | | 6. Water coolers |
| 'hot spots' are, and how to avoid them in your office, | | | | The spout and internal mechanisms of these coolers |
| read on... | | | | are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. The |
| 1. The bathroom | | | | mouths of plastic bottles being filled are sure to |
| Some people do not wash their hands after using the | | | | come in contact with the spout too. Have these |
| bathroom or dispose of tissues properly. Avoid these | | | | items cleaned daily. |
| germs by having communal bathrooms cleaned hourly | | | | 7. Shared phones and keyboards |
| - the best way to prevent germs that like to build up | | | | It makes sense that these are hot spots for germs |
| (especially on hard-surface areas like sinks). | | | | since they are constantly being touched. It never |
| 2. Door handles | | | | hurts to disinfect your keyboard or phone before |
| A large number of people have direct hand contact | | | | using them - perhaps with an anti-bacterial wipe. |
| with door handles. This gives them a huge | | | | 8. Pens and pencils |
| contamination potential. Make sure these aren't left | | | | A lot of people find it hard not to put pens and |
| out during your office cleaning-process. | | | | pencils in their mouth or chew them. If you're |
| 3. Carpeting | | | | concerned about this, simply carry your own pens |
| Carpets are bombarded with dirt carried in from the | | | | and pencils and don't leave them lying around to be |
| outside on our shoes. They should be steam cleaned | | | | shared. |
| regularly with an industrial vacuum. | | | | The best way to prevent the spread of office |
| 4. Communal coffeepot | | | | germs and viruses is to hire a respectable cleaning |
| This is another hidden way that germs are spread. | | | | firm that has experience with janitorial services. A |
| The unwashed hands of a person carrying a virus can | | | | professional firm provides thorough cubical and |
| leave bacteria on the coffeepot. The next person | | | | workstation cleaning, carpet care, restroom sanitation |
| who uses it is then likely to contract these germs. | | | | and janitorial services - allowing your employees to |
| Post signs in your kitchen asking colleagues to wash | | | | enjoy a clean and healthy work environment and |
| hands regularly and have anti-bacterial soap available. | | | | leading to less absenteeism through illness too. |