Since the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic the use of hand sanitisers has sharply increased. The widespread publicity of swine flu brought to the attention of many people the importance of good hand hygiene. Cars, office drawers and handbags across the country rattle with tiny plastic bottles of sanitiser. But applying a bug-killing solution to your hands isn’t the only solution to preventing the spread of disease.
Using ATP bioluminescence equipment Initial Washroom Hygiene measured the bugs infesting 158 items from 40 different workstations across three different locations. Computer mice were the filthiest part of the desk and home to more than three times the levels of bacteria-related contamination found on the average toilet seat, and twice as many as on a flush handle. Though I’m sure if you swabbed a mouse the germs would be immeasurable. The underside of a mouse comprises wet fur soaked in urine which can transmit bacteria and viruses to work surfaces, table tops or anywhere the mouse has climbed.
But considering that most office washrooms get cleaned more frequently than office workstations the results aren’t perhaps that surprising. When was the last time you cleaned your computer – reaching right between the keys to get rid of bacteria breeding crumbs and other debris?
In total, Initial found that 40% of the desks tested were home to at least one item with very high levels of bacteria and surface contamination which posed a risk of cross-contamination. Male office workers were found to have dirtier work stations, with average levels of surface contamination more than 40% higher at men’s work stations than women’s.
The great news is that there’s a revolutionary new product called UltraProtect which kill 99.9% germs by destroying their cellular structure and forming an invisible barrier against a wide range of bacteria and viruses. Unlike all the other sanitisers currently on the market UltraProtect provides continuous protection against recolonisation for up to six hours on hands and 24 hours on hard surfaces. It’s also gentle on skin, leaving the natural oils in place with no drying or cracking. But because it’s alcohol free there’s no chance of teenagers getting drunk on hand sanitiser.