LONDON: Did you know that computer keyboards often harbour more dirt than an average toilet seat? Shocking but true!
The findings of a research carried out by a microbiologist published today in Which? Computing magazine shows that keyboards house millions of bacteria which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
James Francis examined samples from 33 keyboards and found bugs including E coli and S aureus which can cause skin infections and make people ill.
For comparison the scientist swabbed a toilet seat and door handle in a typical London office and found that in the case of one keyboard it was five times dirtier than the lavatory seat. “I haven’t seen a reading like that in a very long time — it was off the scale. It was increasing the risk of its user becoming ill," said Francis. The keyboard had to be removed from the office because it was home to 150 times the acceptable limit of bacteria.
Two other keyboards had “warning levels” of bacteria, while a further two showed high levels of coliform bacteria which are associated with fecal matter.
“These results are generally typical of offices up and down the country," said Francis.
The chief culprit for contamination was people eating at their desks and dropping crumbs that lodge between keys and encourage the growth of millions of bacteria.
Other causes include people not washing their hands after using the toilet. Dust, which traps moisture, also provides ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria.
“Most people don’t give much thought to the grime that builds up on their PC, but if you don’t clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet," said
Sarah Kidner, the editor of Which? Computing. The magazine suggests giving the computer a regular cleaning.
The survey showed that 22 per cent cleaned their keyboard and 27 per cent their monitor on a monthly basis. Just over one in 10 said they never cleaned their keyboard, which 20 per cent said they never cleaned their mouse.
It recommended that computers be shut down and unplugged before being gently dusted with a soft, lint-free cloth and wiped with an approved computer cleaning fluid.
The magazine also warned that headphones could ferry germs between people and transfer headlice.
