The Office Gal

It doesn’t look it from standing in the door way, but your office could be dirty sick and could make you sick right along with it. Germs are everywhere, we all know this. There is no way to avoid them, but we can do out best to reduce them and try to keep ourselves a bit healthier in the meantime.

According to a germ study conducted in 2001 by Charles Gerba of the University of Arizona, the top five spots most contaminated with germs in an office setting are: phones, desktops, water fountain handles, microwave door handles and keyboards. Gross! The most touched items within your office are also the most germ-ridden items.

Don’t freak out. These are items that are easily overlooked in an office. Even in larger office settings where a cleaning team is already in place, these items may still only be cleaned once per week. Take it upon yourself to keep a healthy office.

Always keep antibacterial wipes available. Use these wipe to clean your desk top, telephone, and keyboard. This will help you to contact on spreading germs, especially if you have come down with a cold. You can avoid spreading those germs back to you, or anyone else for that matter. I suggest as you leave your office for the day, pull out a wipe and wipe away. One a weekly basis wipe down chair and desk handles – things you touch once in a while, but still carry germs.

Use hand sanitizer. Is someone sick in your office? Do you think you are coming down with something? After touching door knobs, or someone else’s keyboard or phone, use the sanitizer.

Wash your hands, especially after using the bathroom and before you eat. Remember, your hands have touched your keyboard and phone most likely prior to eating. Wash your hands.

Wash drinking glasses, mugs, and utensils. Don’t leave these items in the sink for someone else to take care of them. They are your items, you wash them, that way you know they are clean.

Vacuum your area. If your office has cleaners that vacuum nightly or weekly, you may not feel the need to do this. If you work in a small office that cleans themselves or has a cleaner monthly, Vacuum at least twice a week. Food has fallen on the floor, dust settles, plus who knows what has been tracked in, vacuum.

Smart point: if you work in a cubicle with those lovely fabric walls, vacuum those as well. People never think about the dust and germs that settle on the cubicle wall. Just like carpeting, cubicle walls attract it all too.

Get some office plants. Seems silly to write this after everything else, but plants will help clean your air and can also just liven up your office space.

And last but not least if you are sick, stay home. I know, easier said then done, right? I have been known to be bad on this point. Realize that if your are sick, going into a not-so-healthy environment will not make you better and will only make others sick.

Are there any points you would like to add on how you make your office a bit healthier to work in? Leave a comment and let us know.