We all try to keep our kitchens and bathrooms clean and bacteria-free. But how clean are our offices, computers, and keyboards? Most of us spend many hours every week typing at a computer, but rarely think to clean it. How dirty can our desks get?

Keyboards and Bacteria
New research from Dr. Peter Wilson of University College London Hospital has shown that our keyboards have very high levels of bacteria on them all the time. His study involved taking samples from 33 office keyboards in London to see how many bacteria were on each one. Four of these keyboards were considered potential health hazards, and one had more bacteria on it than a toilet seat in the office bathroom.

Previous research by University of Arizona researchers also found that the average desktop has 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat. That study took samples from offices across the United States, and also showed that women's desks tended to harbor more bacteria than men's.

A study at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital found that two deadly drug-resistant types of bacteria (vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) could survive for up to 24 hours on a keyboard, while another common but less deadly bug (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) could survive for an hour.

How do bacteria get on your desk and keyboard?
We sit at our desks all but rarely clean them. Some of us eat snacks, lunch, and sometimes even dinner at our desks, and the crumbs that fall provide a feast for bacteria living in between the keys.

Hospital Computers
Bacteria living on keyboards aren't just a problem for office buildings. With more and more doctors switching to electronic patient records, keyboard bacteria are becoming a problem in hospitals as well. Research has found that nurses and doctors are passing hospital germs from computer to computer during their rounds - and, consequently, from patient to patient. In response to this problem, Dr. Wilson is helping develop flat, easy-to-clean keyboards for use in hospitals in the United Kingdom.

What Can You Do To Keep Your Computer Clean?
While all of this may sound like a scary invasion of bacteria into our lives, using too much antibacterial spray in your environment can contribute to antibiotic resistance, resulting in harmful germs that can't be killed. Instead of using an antibacterial cleaner every day, wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 30 seconds multiple times a day. Also, don't eat meals at your computer, or if you do, be careful not to get crumbs in between the keys of your keyboard. Keeping your area free from food will reduce the crumbs available for the bacteria to feast on, making your desk cleaner without having to use antibacterial products.

Fortunately, you can clean and disinfect your computer keyboard without using antibacterial chemicals. First, shut down and unplug your computer. Then use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to wipe down the keys. Turn the keyboard upside down and shake out any crumbs or dust stuck inside. Also, the keys on most keyboards are removable, and can be popped off using a pencil or screwdriver so you can clean in those harder-to-reach places.