But what about your office space?
Newsflash: Its a total germ fest in there, too.
Luckily, it is possible to stop the spread of office germs.
Long story short, its time to give those office essentials a proper cleaning.
Here, experts share which items are the germiest and how often you better break out the cleaning supplies.
First things first, whats the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?
director of the Environment, Exposure Science, and Risk Assessment Center at the University of Arizona
Common disinfectants include ingredients like alcohol, bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds, andhydrogen peroxide.
Keyboards also trap dead skin, oils, and food crumbsall things that allow fungi and bacteria likeE.
Check manufacturer instructions for the safe use of chemical disinfectants for your specific electronics.
Honestly, we cant remember the last time we wiped ours down, either.
coliandSalmonella) from desks, door handles, and other surfaces, Reynolds says.
Laptops
Laptops are traveling keyboards, Reynolds says.
And we already know how gross keyboards can get.
But laptops are arguably grubbier than your computers keypad.
This is why Reynolds recommends wiping down your laptops screen and exterior weekly.
director of the Environment, Exposure Science, and Risk Assessment Center at the University of Arizona
Anything else can be damaging.
laptop cleaner spray($18).
What is The Missionary Sex Position?
Desk phone
How often to clean:Daily
Phones touch your hands and face, Reynolds says.
Meaning theyre some of the germiest spots in your office.
While not all of these can make you sick, resident bacteria may still include acne and rash-causingStaphandPseudomonasbacteria.
To clean, simply wipe down the handset and buttons with an alcohol wipe or a disinfectant wipe.
A microfiber cloth can also be used to wipe down the [other areas of the phones] surface.
Desks are rarely cleaned properly, says Reynolds.
Disinfecting wipes or spray disinfectants work well here if the surface is amenable, Reynolds adds.
Handles and armrests are particularly germ-prone areas, Reynolds says.
Chairs accumulate dust, sweat, and skin cells.
Again, these things make fertile breeding grounds for bad bugs like bacteria.
We like theShark IZ562H Cordless Pro Vacuum($270).
Its also a good idea to always test a small spot first.
Doorknobs
High-touch areas like doorknobs are germ magnets.
Plus, most people dont clean doorknobs thoroughly or often enough, she adds.
Again, disinfecting wipes are great here.
Pens
How often to clean:After each use
Sanitizing your keyboard is one thing, but pens?
This means they can easily transfer germs, especially if you share pens with colleagues.
Reynolds recommends using a disinfectant wipe to get into the hard-to-reach crevices.
Reynoldss ultimate hot take?
I usually recommend we just not share pens, she adds.
A little can go a long way.
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