And in another sickening story..

[Old Vantaa Man]

A microbiologist carrying out research published today for Which? Computing magazine examined samples from 33 keyboards and found a variety of bugs including E coli and S aureus, which can cause skin infections and make people ill.


The scientist swabbed a toilet seat and a toilet door handle in a typical London office for comparison. One of the keyboards in the experiment had to be removed from the office because it was five times dirtier than the lavatory seat and home to 150 times the acceptable limit of bacteria.
"[It] was increasing the risk of its user becoming ill," said the microbiologist, James Francis. "I haven't seen a reading like that in a very long time - it was off the scale."


Two more of the keyboards had "warning levels" of bacteria, while a further two showed high levels of coliform bacteria, which are associated with fecal matter.


The research showed that the chief culprit for contamination was people eating at their desks and dropping crumbs which lodge between keys and encourage the growth of millions of bacteria.


Other causes included poor personal hygiene, particularly people failing to wash their hands after using the toilet. Dust, which traps moisture, also provides ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria.


"These results are generally typical of offices up and down the country," said Francis.


Sarah Kidner, the editor of Which? Computing, said: "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.


"Why not give your PC a spring clean? It's quite simple to do and could prevent your computer from becoming a health hazard."


The survey, in which more 4,000 people were questioned, found that 22% cleaned their keyboard and 27% their monitor on a monthly basis. Just over one in 10 said they never cleaned their keyboard, while 20% said they never cleaned their mouse.


The magazine also warned that headphones can ferry germs between people and transfer headlice.


Which? Computing recommends 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.


A vacuum cleaner can be used to clean vents, but contrary to internet myth, keyboards should not be put in the dishwasher, the magazine said.

[Timo]

Not surprised. PC keyboards can become mucky as hell. Plus when you catch a cold or the like and you're forever blowing your nose and touching the keys, and mouse.

I take all the keys off the keyboard every year or so and put them into hot water with detergent. Brings them up dead clean, and gets rid of the crap that you can't otherwise get to. There are a couple or so springs and retention wires on the space-bar and return/enter key, etc. so you just have to work out how to put them back. The rest of the keys just click back on.

[AlexHall74]

At my office I swap out my keyboard about once or twice a year. There is always a surplus of new keyboards in the box, just sitting in the IT closet. I am hard on my keyboards (type like a freaking Sasquatch) and so they break under my daily abuse.

I use a product called "Office Duster" once per week and wipe the keys down with Q-tips soaked in alcohol once per month. I'm obsessive compulsive so I wash my hands eight to ten times per day day (minimum) while at the office. No germs here!

[Hollowcell]

Yep, that doesn't surprise me in the slightest - fucking dirty humans.

[XLR8A]

fecal matter lol. i recently wondered if mr qwerty thought of one handed people/men when he made the keyboard, as i think i can do every needable command with just one hand, even ctrl alt del.

[AlexHall74]

Originally Posted by XLR8A

fecal matter lol. i recently wondered if mr qwerty thought of one handed people/men when he made the keyboard, as i think i can do every needable command with just one hand, even ctrl alt del.

Hah! I Ctrl+Alt+Delete with one hand all the time. My co-workers think I'm weird. They have no idea...

[Old Vantaa Man]

Ctrl Alt Del with just the left hand rather resembles a Bb min7 on guitar.

Thank you.