Modern Australian
The Times Real Estate

.

Most Germ-Ridden Parts of Your Office

  • Written by NewsServices.com

Melbourne is one of Australia’s biggest cities, and is also home to countless offices that take up a big chunk of Australia’s most recently reported total 25.3 million square meters or more of office space. People think of offices as open and light spaces housed within towers of pristine glass and steel. We also think of the offices themselves as being clean and tidy, with expert night crews of cleaning staff coming in and getting everything spic and span before the next working day comes along.

If that’s what you reckon, then think again. The reality is quite different. Far before the health conscious times of the pandemic, people were actually becoming aware of just how dirty our offices are. The need to find a trusted Melbourne cleaner with top ratings has never been greater in our workplaces.

But still when you walk into the office it does look clean. So where are the dirt and the germs hiding themselves?

1. The Lift Buttons

This one makes a lot of sense when you think about it. Wiping over the metal or plastic surfaces makes the buttons look clean, but just think of how many people press these buttons every single day. In the pandemic times, our lifts are disinfected more than once a day, usually, but that still leaves long gaps during which bare fingers are pressing up against the buttons, imparting lord knows how many germs.

2. Door Handles

Office doors are increasingly automatic glass doors that require no physical contact, but interior doors aren’t always the same. Doors to executive offices, the conference room, and even to bathrooms typically are still ones you have to open via a handle or a push surface/pull handle. There’s no escaping physical contact there.

3. Desktops

A shocking fact of working life is that the typical desktop has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat. This news is difficult to take, especially when we endeavor to keep our desks tidy, and our office spaces are cleaned each night (we hope), but the fact remains. The exact amount of germs on a typical desk numbers 20,961 germs per square inch, plus another 3,295 on the keyboard, 1,676 on the mouse and 25,127 germs on your office telephone.

4. Kitchens

Alas, office kitchens are no better, with taps showing readings of around 1,331 germ types per square inch. The kitchen space is even more disturbing since it’s where people prepare their lunch, rinse out their coffee mugs and water bottles, and generally hope that there are sanitary conditions there year round. Once again, it’s the concealed germs that are the problems.

5. Fax, Printer and Photocopier

If your office uses a communal photocopier, printer and fax, which many do, then these are also another hotspot for germs. Just look at the buttons to find most of them, but on larger items like the photocopier, people also have a habit of leaning on the machine while they are waiting for multiple copies or for long print jobs to finish if it’s a printer/copier dual machine.

A Real Problem

As we touched on above, the real problem in many offices isn’t just that there are germs, but that the germiness and griminess is not apparent to the naked eye. Most surfaces look perfectly clean, and indeed they are clean of overt stains and marks, but they are not free from contamination.

Office cleaning is quite a specialised field now, and offices in Melbourne that are concerned for the health and safety of their workers and the general hygiene reflected in their workplace can benefit from accessing these services on occasion, as well as training staff in daily cleaning rituals that can help control the worst of it.

Business

The SEO Benefits of AI-Optimized Landing Pages: Smarter Metadata, Faster Load Times

Landing pages are integral to the conversion funnel in digital marketing. Yet, when SEO works well to drive traffic to the landing page, it's just as crucial for the design...

How to Segment Email Lists Based on Content Engagement (Not Just Demographics)

Email segmentation generally refers to age, location, gender demographic, and conventional elements. While this could be helpful information, it does not encompass every aspect of what an audience might like...

Sydney’s Electricians Helping Cut Business Costs

Running a business in Sydney isn’t cheap. Between rent, wages, equipment, insurance, and endless operational costs, it’s no wonder business owners are constantly looking for ways to save money without...

The Role of CDNs in Enhancing Headless CMS Performance and Reliability

A headless CMS provides businesses with the ultimate freedom for content management and output possibilities across any number of channels. However, when the infrastructure is not ideal, content can load...

Fix These 5 Technical SEO Issues Hurting Your Perth Business Rankings

Perth businesses face unique challenges when competing for visibility in local search results.  While many business owners focus on content creation and Google Business Profile optimization, technical SEO issues often lurk...

How a Professional Bookkeeper Can Help Your Small Business

Running a small business in Australia comes with many responsibilities, from managing day-to-day operations to ensuring compliance with tax and financial regulations. One of the most critical aspects of business...

Metal lockers vs. wooden lockers: which is better?

Lockers—the ultimate background hero of the workplace. They might not have the flashiness of that overpriced espresso machine in the break room, b...

Invisalign Treatment: What Your Dentist Wants You to Know

When straightening the teeth, out-of-date metal braces are no longer the only option. Nowadays, Invisalign is among the most highly sought-after alt...

The Best Nail Art for Short Nails

Short nails often get overlooked in the world of nail art, but they’re actually the perfect canvas for stylish, sophisticated designs. Whether you...

How Much Does a Skip Bin Cost? Skip Bin Prices, Sizes & What Influences the Price

Regardless of whether you're renovating a house. You are tidying up your backyard, or running a construction site. Chances are you'll require a skip...

Panoramic Elevators: Combining Functionality with Aesthetic Appeal

In the evolving world of building design, the demand for architectural features that are both practical and visually striking continues to rise. One...

No Dig, No Drama: Sydney Pipe Relining Explained

You know that feeling when water starts pooling where it shouldn't? Or received a quote for pipe repairs that made your eyes water? Let's chat about...

The SEO Benefits of AI-Optimized Landing Pages: Smarter Metadata, Faster Load Times

Landing pages are integral to the conversion funnel in digital marketing. Yet, when SEO works well to drive traffic to the landing page, it's just a...

How to Reduce Turbo Lag with an Upgraded Mazda BT-50 Exhaust System

Are you struggling with turbo lag affecting your driving experience?  Did you know upgrading your Mazda BT-50 exhaust system could be the key to u...

How to Segment Email Lists Based on Content Engagement (Not Just Demographics)

Email segmentation generally refers to age, location, gender demographic, and conventional elements. While this could be helpful information, it doe...

6 Qualities to Look for in Local Caravan Dealers

If you're searching for reliable caravan dealers in Campbellfield, it's essential to choose a dealer that offers quality products, excellent custome...

How to Repair a Faema Coffee Machine: A Practical Guide for Coffee Lovers

Introduction If you’re the proud owner of a Faema coffee machine, you already know that it’s more than just a kitchen appliance — it’s a vi...

Smart Health Decisions in Your 30s, 40s, and 50s: The Ultimate Prevention Guide

Making informed health decisions becomes increasingly important as we navigate through different life stages. What may have seemed unimportant in our ...

Sydney’s Electricians Helping Cut Business Costs

Running a business in Sydney isn’t cheap. Between rent, wages, equipment, insurance, and endless operational costs, it’s no wonder business owne...

Can Air Conditioning Help with Allergies and Asthma?

Living with allergies or asthma can make everyday environments feel challenging—especially during certain seasons or in homes where dust, pollen, ...

A Fast Charging Power Bank and Wireless Power Bank: The Future of Power Bank Technology

As the use of mobile devices grows, so does the demand for better, more efficient, faster, and more imaginative methods to power them. Previously re...

How to Extend the Lifespan of Your Power Bank: An Overview

Power banks are vital for ensuring your devices are powered while on the go, especially when on the move, outdoors, or during emergencies. They prov...

What is a Power Bank and How To Choose One

In a world filled with gadgets running out of battery is a real issue. This is where power banks can come in useful. They're portable, they hold pow...

Portable Chargers: How They Work & Essential Tips to Extend Battery Life

Portable chargers (also known as power banks) are essential accessories that keep your devices powered up while on the go — be it outdoor activiti...