The Top Germiest Places In The Office, From Door Handles To Desks
Unfortunately, germs spread fast. This is especially true in the workplace. But what are the germiest places in the office? Offices tend to have a lot of people, which makes it much easier to spread illnesses through the air and shared objects. You go to work, swipe your keycard to enter, grab some coffee from the kitchen, and take a quick bathroom break. Then, you sit at your desk and type on your computer for hours. Throughout the day, you have meetings, lunch, and chat with your coworkers at their desks. But have you ever thought about the number of surfaces you’re touching through all of this?
HuffPost collaborated with experts to compile a list of the top germiest places in an office. “We tapped some germ experts to expose the most contaminated things you’ll encounter around the office, plus advice on how to keep them from getting you sick,” they said.
An infectious disease expert explained that office workers are constantly touching things like doorknobs, coffee pots, water coolers, and shared tables, which are full of germs. These germs can make you sick with things like RSV, colds, stomach bugs, and other infections, the expert told them.
The germiest places in the office.
Some people may think of shared tables like those in the break room or meeting rooms as dirty since other people are touching them, but your desk is also gathering germs. One of the experts said that even if it’s a personal desk, there is a likelihood others will touch it at some point and spread “microbes” along the way. For example, the cleaning crew, or someone dropping off a file or mail. They also pointed out that personal desks can be open to “airborne and droplet microbes” from people visiting your desk or cubicle. That being said, it may be a good idea to occasionally wipe down and disinfect your desk.
A medical physician told the outlet that “over 3,000 organisms can be found per square inch on a keyboard.” They also said, “If you think of workers who bring lunch to their desks without washing their hands, that bacteria is being transferred directly to their mouths.”
No surprises here when it comes to door handles being on the list. “Doorknobs, by far, are the germiest places in an office because of the sheer number of hands touching them daily,” a hospital physician told them. They suggest using hand sanitizer immediately after touching a doorknob.
Also, on their list are the bathroom, the shared microwave or the refrigerator, elevator buttons, vending machines, and other places. When in doubt, sanitize often.
Take a look at the complete list here.
9 Unspoken Rules for Public Restroom Etiquette
Skip the complicated stuff
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Feel free to touch up your makeup or give your teeth a quick brush. But skip the complex routines like flossing, clipping your nails, or shaving. Keep phone calls at bay, and save emails and browsing for later. Remember, public bathrooms are riskier for hygiene. According to Health, a health and lifestyle website, illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and colds can be found on surfaces. So, minimize your time there for safety’s sake.
No touchy, touchy
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If you spot someone you know, a nod is perfectly okay. No need to shake hands! In fact, CNN reported that only 5% of people who used the bathroom washed their hands long enough to kill the germs that can cause infections. It’s risky to assume otherwise. No one needs to guess where your hands were. Wet handshakes are bad, worse if it’s mystery liquid.
Stall chats and gossip
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Avoid engaging in conversations between stalls or near urinals. This holds particularly true within the office environment, where you can’t be certain if a colleague or supervisor is in the adjacent stall, potentially overhearing any complaints or gossip you share. A Redditor shared their frustration on the discussion board saying that talking in stalls should only be for, “Can you pass me some toilet paper? This ones out” or “Crap. Do you have a tampon?”
Hold off on phone conversations
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Staying connected is great, thanks to our trusty smartphones always being by our side. But let’s not take them to the bathroom. Besides the germs, it can get awkward. The person on your call hears bathroom noises and flushes. The nearby stall occupant gets only half the conversation, making the shared bathroom uncomfortable.
Welcoming yourself in without knocking
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You’re eyeing a solo bathroom, uncertain if it’s taken. Start with a knock on the door. No response? Next, put your hand on the doorknob and carefully turn it to one side. Did it open? If not, odds are someone’s inside, so hold on. No need to shake the handle like you’ve never met a doorknob. That’s a surefire method to give the person inside a shock. And just in case the person in the restroom forgot to lock the door, at least all your bases are covered.
Don't flush with your feet
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There are some people who think they’re maintaining hygiene by flushing toilets with their feet. In reality, this is one of the least hygienic actions. Shoes aren’t clean, particularly after navigating a public restroom, exposing them to unclean surfaces. This transfers germs where others touch. If you’re concerned about germs, consider using a piece of toilet paper to operate the flush handle.
"Be a sweetie and wipe the seatie"
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Tidy up after use. This rule covers all areas of the restroom. After you’re done, take a look at the seat and floor, and clean as needed. To put it simply, be considerate and give your seat a wipe. This also pertains to the sink. While soap is clean, leaving a large blob under the dispenser isn’t polite behavior.
Stall hogger
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According to Geisinger, a health organization, studies indicate the average time spent in the restroom is about 12 seconds. Occasionally, it might take longer, but it’s generally recommended not to exceed 10 minutes. So, if you find yourself scrolling through Instagram and Facebook during your bathroom time, you may want to reconsider. Keep in mind that others may be waiting their turn, and lingering around the restroom door isn’t the most comfortable scenario. On the other hand, if the restroom is occupied, it’s courteous to step away and return later. It’s unnecessary to wait outside the door, which could potentially be embarrassing for the occupant. However, if waiting is not feasible, forming a line is an acceptable option.
Don't peak through the stall gaps
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Making stall doors with a gap has benefits. If the door went all the way down, people couldn’t see if someone needed help. The gap helps in emergencies and lets responders assist without breaking in. Also, the gap can stop actions like sex or drug use, in stalls. But don’t make things weird by staring at people through them. That’s just uncomfortable.
