Keyboards 'dirtier than a toilet'

[johnastovall]

Some computer keyboards harbour more harmful bacteria than a toilet seat, research has suggested....

[adirty1]

They also found that, compared to men, on average women have three to four times the amount of germs in, on and around their work area.

this suprises me. I would have thought it was the other way around. I do consulting work and there are some peoples monitors and keyboards that just make me ill looking at them. I have taken a second keyboard with me or I bring out the swabs and clean it off before i use the keyboard.

Monitors. I would like to see a study on that. I cant tell you how many monitors I have seen where you can plainly make out how many times some one sneezed on the monitor. Makes me worry about the keyboard and the mouse.

[LegacyPhotographic]

Ya, our office just had a series of these statistics put in a company wide announcement a few months ago. Really isn't too surprising about women overall having dirtier keyboards, etc. Main reason being make-up. Their phones get covered in it, its on their hands, etc especially since many women put their make-up on at work. Its a regular morning activity for two of my coworkers in front of me, which I tease them about on a regular basis lol

[toverman]

Doorknobs are also a problem area, and I've heard one reason is that they are often overlooked for cleaning. The same is probably true for keyboards. For those like me who often have to eat at their desks, the number of germy crumbs between the keys is enough to make one want to shower.

[ggeen]

Years ago when I was doing tech support I sat next to this guy who was sick all winter long. He would get sick and stay home a few days and then return. After a couple of days he would get sick and start the process all over again.

One day I was required to work on his computer to fix a problem. I waited for the weekend so as not to disturb work. I took one look at the keyboard and walked over to the factory floor and picked up some nylon gloves, a bottle of IPA, and some Chem-wipes. After turning off his computer, I cleaned the keyboard thoroughly and allow some time to dry. After properly disposing of the toxic waste I fixed the software problem.

The guy never got sick the rest of the winter, or year for that matter. He was, however, very angry with me for cleaning his keyboard.

<side note>
One of the local "news" programs did a story about women and germs. It appears they take their purses into the restroom with them and place them on the floor while they...
Then take the same purse and put on the wash basin while the clean up. Then take that same purse and put it on their desk. (Yuck!)

[ekohl]

keyboard condoms?

[J Eddington]

[QUOTE=ekohl]keyboard condoms?[/QUOTE Are you saying that you use them? If not you can get them here: http://www.iskin.com/protouch/xt_fea...73717469587161

[ekohl]

i know they did here at work before all the manufacturing was sent off-shore.