A daily cleaning routine to reduce workplace sickness

We can all feel it, the cold weather is returning! But we can’t escape the fact that 98% of workers are affected by minor illnesses each year. None of us want to get ill and we try and prevent it as much as possible, but if you work in an office you need to be even more aware because your workplace may be making you even more ill than you realise.

One of the few reasons for workplace illnesses is that people tend to spend more time indoors together because of the cold air. This increases the chances of illnesses spreading, especially within an office full of many colleagues.  

And now for the gross bit…

Bacteria lands on countless amounts of surfaces via sneezes, coughs and hands. An office commonly has shared equipment such as keyboards, telephones and desks and inevitably other people will be touching these surfaces and transmitting the bugs to their mouth or nose. Therefore, if these surfaces aren’t frequently cleaned then there is a very high chance the not-so-lovely gifts will be transferred between employees.

Once on a surface, the germs can live there for around 24 hours so take a couple of minutes a day to clean the surfaces you use, because this could decide whether you or a colleague gets a virus.

Here are 5 quick and easy steps to take, ideally before you start engaging in any work:

1. Wash and/or sanitise your hands regularly

Hand-to-hand contact can spread mild conditions, such as the common cold. Studies have shown that soap and water are most effective at removing or inactivating not only these germs, but others as well. Experts also recommend running water for at least 20 seconds and if possible, turning off the tap with a paper towel to avoid recontamination as this can reduce germs by 77%. 

Using hand sanitiser also reduces your sick days by 21%. Hand sanitisers kill most (but not all) bacteria and viruses on contact – therefore using them thoroughly throughout the day can definitely make a difference.

2. Clean your computer keyboard

Did you know there are 7,500 bacteria per swab on a computer keyboard?

Specialist antibacterial wipes and spray dusters are best for keyboards. However, avoid using liquids and wet cloths to clean it considering they can short circuit the motherboard and stop the keys from working.

It’s worth even tipping your keyboard upside down over a bin and shaking out the dust or crumbs from the keys. Once you place it back on your desk, grab an antibacterial wipe and gently wipe the keys as this will stop germs for at least 24 hours giving you and your colleagues a germ free day at work!

3. Wipe your mouse and mouse pad

There are more than 1,500 germs on your mouse, so therefore, using the same technique as you did for your keyboard, use another wipe or a lightly dampened cloth to go over your mouse. If you are using a laptop, remember that the mouse pad will also gather bacteria too, so be sure to clean it to help it move better.

4. Don't forget - Touch screens gather germs too!

As the technological era moves forward, more of us are using touch screen phones and tablets to complete everyday tasks on. It is best to turn them off to spot dirt marks, to which you can then clean off. However, avoid pressing too hard when you are cleaning to avoid permanent damage. It is recommended to use multi-screen wipes in tubs for cleaning, as using paper towels, loo paper or cloth can scratch and damage the screens.

5. And finally, phones and headsets

Think about how many times you pick up your work phone in a day. Scientists say office telephones can hold more than 25,000 germs per square inch. To prevent the spread of germs when using the phone, you should wipe off handsets with sanitising wipes after using them and periodically throughout the day.

The right specialist products will create a bug free surface that lasts up to 24 hours, which is impressive, but also a reminder that everyone needs to clean all of these surfaces every day if they don’t want to become ill.