Ok, so we have all been warned that there are germs here there and everywhere – including our homes, offices as well as the transport systems that we use and the places where we shop. It seems that no matter how much we scrub and dust, there is no end to creepy crawly bacteria making its way into our life, and if we knew the extent to which these creatures are around, it would no doubt creep us out. But do you know exactly where the bacteria likes to live? You might be surprised at the results.
Many of us know that areas in our homes like our toilet seats and bins are filled to the brim with bacteria like e coli and staphylococcus aureus but what about other items like our technology for example? Our mobile telephones have 100 times more bacteria toxins than a toilet seat and your computer keyboard can house up to five times more bacteria than a toilet seat too! And if you thought this was crazy, research has shown that one in ten people never bother to clean their computer and one in five people never clean their mouse. A majority of those who do clean their technological equipment only seem to do so once a year or when they remember, making our technology even dirtier than our toilet. The amount of bacteria found on certain keyboards that were tested were 150 times over the safe limit, so imagine how dirty your communal computer at work must be or your mobile telephone that you use on a daily basis?
Individuals do not think that when they clean, that their computer or laptop must be included in this cleaning process to rid the area of common bacteria. Users should take a damp soft cloth in order to clean their keyboard and a specific cleaner to clean their laptop or PC screens. A soft cloth can also be used for your mobile phone and these as well as your other technological devices should be cleaned weekly, not once a year.
So before you take your computer in for a routine clean up or data recovery, make sure that you clean your computer thoroughly first as a dirty computer can be more of a bacteria health hazard than you realise. As much as we would like to deny it, some bacteria are actually beneficial. Yes, there is a small amount which is toxic, but the truth is that we cannot clear away all the bacteria all over our homes and ourselves, so embrace it!
Below is a clever infographic on bacteria and where it lives! Click on the image to see the full infographic
