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Many companies don’t realise just how dirty their office is. In fact, if you’re reading this while at your desk, you may want to brace yourself.

Studies show that the average office desk contains 400 times more bacteria that your average toilet seat. The average computer keyboard meanwhile contains about 16 million microbes of bacteria.

This bacteria is thought to be a big cause of employee sickness – particularly in offices where people may share desks or keyboards.

Air quality is also a big issue. Many modern offices are thought to have severe dust issues. Dust has been linked to sick building syndrome, which can cause allergic reactions in some people. In fact, office dust is now thought to be a major cause of asthma. And if this wasn’t bad enough, dust could also be destroying your computers by cause fan blockages and premature hardware damage.

What causes an office to get dirty?

Germs can build up on desks and keyboards for a variety of reasons. One major reason is employees simply not washing their hands (even when going to the toilet). Eating food at one’s desk is another big cause – crumbs and spillages can easily lead to bacteria build-up.

As for dust, many modern offices are built to be incredibly well-insulated and airtight. Without appropriate ventilation, there is nowhere for dust to escape. The bulk of this dust is simply dead skin cells, while pollen and cobwebs can also contribute.

How to keep your office clean

Offices need to regularly and thoroughly cleaned to prevent build-ups of bacteria and dust. Many companies hire a contract cleaning service to handle this task. Meanwhile, employees can be encouraged to clean their desks and equipment themselves.

Make sure that you have adequate cleaning equipment and supplies within your office. There are sites online such as Premier Hygiene from which you can buy commercial cleaning equipment and supplies. Even if you’re hiring a cleaning company, you may find that they don’t always supply their own equipment.

When it comes to tackling dust, make sure that you’re ventilating your office. Opening the window isn’t always the best solution, particularly if your office faces onto a busy road (you could just be letting pollutants in). For better dust management, consider buying an office air purifier such as these listed at Breathe Quality.

Taking steps to reduce clutter in your office could help to make cleaning easier. It’s harder to dust surfaces of wipe desks if they’ve covered in stuff, so consider having a clearout. You can also prevent dust and bacteria by tackling the source. Introducing a ‘no eating at your desk’ rule could be a drastic but effective way to keep your office’s desks germ-free. Signs in toilets reminding employees to wash their hands could also be necessary. As for dust, not all of this can be prevented, however dust traps in vents and dust-prevention doormats may be able to stop exterior dust getting in.