Interesting facts about office hygiene – what’s worth knowing?
Fresh air – a natural defense against infections
Did you know that fresh air in a room can help prevent infections and respiratory illnesses? Regularly ventilating the office, combined with proper surface care, is an effective way to improve air quality. It’s also worth ensuring:
- vacuuming and mopping floors,
- disinfecting surfaces,
- having potted plants that absorb harmful chemicals and improve the microclimate.
A desk dirtier than… a toilet seat?
Surprising but true—the average desk harbors over 10 million bacteria, which is about 400 times more than on a toilet seat! An office is a shared space where many everyday items are passed from hand to hand. That’s why it’s so important to regularly disinfect desks, keyboards, phones, and other equipment.
Damp hands and the risk of infection – what should you know?
Damp hands increase the risk of transmitting germs by up to 1,000 times compared to dry hands. Moisture creates an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and viruses. Meanwhile, according to data from initial.co.uk, only 20% of people admit to regularly drying their hands after washing them. This is a serious problem in the context of maintaining hygiene in office spaces.
What is the best way to dry your hands? Paper towels versus hand dryers
The most hygienic way to dry your hands is to wipe them with a disposable paper towel. Research published in the Journal of Applied Microbiology has shown that:
- modern pocket-sized hand dryers spread 60 times more germs than classic hand dryers,
- and as much as 1,300 times more than paper towels.
It is therefore worth considering the solutions used in offices, schools, and other workplaces.
Do we really catch colds from the cold?
Many of us believe that a cold is caused solely by the body getting cold. This is only part of the truth. The key factor is the moment when the body’s balance—or homeostasis—is disrupted. This can be caused by:
- hypothermia,
- overheating,
- intense physical exertion.
In this state, our immune system is weakened, which opens the door to viruses and bacteria. That’s when we “catch a cold,” even though it’s not the cold itself that’s the direct cause of the infection, but our lowered immunity.
