Workstations 'Dirtier Than Toilets'

hettb writes "How often do you clean your keyboard and surrounding work area? A recent study (also discussed here) found that computer workstations harbour 400 times more health threatening bacteria than the average toilet seat. If you're anything like me, spending most of both professional and personal time in front of your computer, this is sobering news. "

I'll lick my space bar if you lick your toilet rim

[Anonymous Coward]

Deal? ;)

In related news

[rvaniwaa]

A new anti-porn bill is working its way through congress...

Workstations?

[dohcvtec]

Man, if workstations are that dirty, imagine how dirty PCs must be.

Re:I'll lick my space bar if you lick your toilet

[Anonymous Coward]

That's the best offer I've had all day.

hmmm...

[forau]

"The premise of the study was to find the germiest place in the workplace," said Chuck Gerba, who headed the study. And you thought that you had a bad job.

SMACK!

[beet0l]

my computer just gave me the clap!

Solution: move to the toilet...

[Insightfill]

Think of it - cleaner environment - no more wasted trips, the possibilities...

So?

[Xenopax]

I doubt many people catch that many diseases from toilets. I know it's common for people to become paranoid about using a public toilet for health reasons, but it's absurd. Just don't sit in anything wet or lick your hands afterwards and you'll be fine. That goes for using both a computer and a toilet.

Sobering?

[swordboy]

If you're anything like me, spending most of both professional and personal time in front of your computer, this is sobering news.

Not if you are growing brewers yeast in the keyboard like me! I call the subsequent beer, Windows 99 [macobserver.com].

Well DUH!

[fobbman]

Have you seen some of the "crap" that comes preloaded on store-bought PC's these days? And most of it isn't worth a "piss" anyway.

My workstation

[svferris]

My workstation IS my toilet... [rnrs.com]

Re:Clean everything

[Jonny Ringo]

Yeah thats cool.... I'm a bachlor myself. :-)

Thank god!

[soulsteal]

I was browsing Slashdot, fighting the urge to lick my desk, when I saw this article. Good thing too....

Oh my god

[Anonymous Coward]

I am so happy to know that. I can't believe that for years I've been touching a dirty computer and then touching my clean penis. I could be transferring germs from my computer to my penis without even knowing it.

Sounds reasonable

[JHromadka]

I completely believe this. I have a coworker that has a 3 year-old cup of coffee that he keeps on his desk. It's mighty furry. He jokes that it will cure cancer one day. :)

Re:So?

[AntiNorm]

Just don't sit in anything wet or lick your hands afterwards and you'll be fine. That goes for using both a computer and a toilet.

If you're sitting in something wet at your workstation, it's time to lay off the pr0n sites.

Re:Clean everything

[tenman]

I have noticed that my keyboard gets sticky most, right after I have visited thehun.com. Other than that, that 33mm stride is perfect.

Re:Clean everything

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey, your hands are dirty. Why don't you wash them? I bet you can't stand having hands that dirty.

toilet computing

[dirvish]

What about sitting on the toilet, using my PDA? Would that be worse than just sitting on the toilet? Better than using my workstation?

To really amaze your users

[ch-chuck]

from now on, onsite pc support should put on disposable latex gloves before typing or touching the mouse. For a real gas, put on surgical garb and scrub up before opening the case.

There's a reliable study...

[szcx]

The study, funded by The Clorox Co

Oh, well if Clorox says my keyboard is dirtier than a toilet, I guess I better do something about it. Excuse me while I go buy some Clorox Air Freshener to get rid of the air-bourne bacteria, Clorox Disinfectant Wipes for my keyboard, and Clorox General Purpose Cleaner to wash the microwave door with...

Putting it all in perspective

[Anonymous Coward]

>>found that computer workstations harbour 400 times more health threatening bacteria than the average toilet seat

...400x?? That can be found in just in one strand of RMS's beard.

Re:cooool

[cmdr_beeftaco]

Not only does it keep you immune system strong, ingested bacteria is an important source of protein in the office worker's diet. Consider it an employer sponsored daily all-you-can-eat bacteria buffet.

Heat kills germs

[mr_infiniti]

I figure my cigarette ashes kill all the germs when they accidently fall in my keyboard

Re:Well .. i suppose

[JesseL]

anti-bacterial hand satatizer(tm)

Whoah, I read "anti-bacterial hand satanizer(tm)" for a moment there. Scary stuff.

Re:Getting things out of proportion

[ackthpt]

The space-bar and ENTER key agree with you, the Caps Lock is taking offense and the rest of the keys don't see your point.

Re:Getting things out of proportion

[VRisaMetaphor]

Exactly! And I don't know about you, but the fact that my immune system is capable of handling environments 400 times filthier than the average toilet seat makes me feel pretty damn studly. Now excuse me while I clean the john with my tongue.

Re:Getting things out of proportion

[shawnmelliott]

"Have you got ill off your keyboard?" only if I type [I][L][L]. Does that count?

Re:Getting Personal!

[krogoth]

There's one sign that gives away a dirty keyboard: half the keys being dark grey :(

Re:Thank god!

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, whenever food gets scarce, we sweatshop programmers resort to eating delicious, protein-filled finger-cheese. My favorite is the top of my 'z' key...

Let's be frank

[selectspec]

The same could be said about most system admins too.

Lazy cleaning advice

[MADCOWbeserk]

I usually take some windex or fantastic and spray and clean everything every few weeks. With the keyboard I take the same cleaner and spray it in between the keys and shake it upside down. Most keyboards survive, but it did destroy a Microsoft natural a few weeks ago. I guess Redmond HW is that tough. My mother once dripped Honey all over the keyboard of her HP Vectra. I figure it was toast, I literally put the thing in the sink and ran hot water and soap over it until it was clean. Dried it by shaking, and it still works 2 years later.

Don't ask me for help with body fluids though.

Workstations vs Users

[Hoi Polloi]

Sure the bacteria isn't all coming from that big smelly hairy guy in the next cube who has the Princess Amidala screensaver?

Re:Solution: move to the toilet...

[xcomputer_man]

We have the answer! [2y.net]

This is the complete integrated toilet office solution.

Scientific research has shown this working environment to be a whopping 400 TIMES healthier than most computer desks!

Similar products could cost you $500 or more. We are offering you this incredible invention at the measly cost of four payments of $19.95.

Order Now, don't delay!

Ugh

[Andrewkov]

This is why I use a Keyboard Condom [psi3164.com].

Everything

[mrroot]

Sheesh, it seems like everything is dirtier than toilets nowadays...

Your kitchen cutting board [www.rnw.nl] has 200 times more fecal matter than the average toilet seat. Thats why I've started preparing all my meals in the bathroom, using the toilet seat for a cutting board instead (hey, its 200 times cleaner, right?)

Well, this article has convinced me. I'm going to dip my telephone in the toilet once a week for a good cleaning. No more germs for me.

bull

[Anonymous Coward]

i do not believe my desktop is more filthy than a toilet, i do not shit on my desk, unlike some MCSE admins who do lol...

Good! I am going to be ok

[ev0l]

I spend most of both my professional and personal time on the tolit. So I guess I will be ok.

Later
Got to go.

as good as gone

[tlh1005]

Once or twice I've taken my laptop with me into my bathroom to "handle business".... I guess I am doubly at risk.

Think of the Children!

[gdyas]

Dear God! Our poor little babies being babysat by the computers are catching bacterial infections from our filthy, filthy electronics!

Support the Child Online Cleanliness Act (COCA) to mandate child-safe bacterial filters on all library computers!

Stop the scourge of scurvy being brought home by your children using the same computer as some scuzzy homeless person!

Lord knows I always keep a box of handy-wipes by the computer for, um, cleanliness' sake.

Re:Clean everything

[Anonymous Coward]

Every 6 months I disassemble my machine

Only every 6 months? A bit overkill? You dirty dirty dude.

food

[swankypimp]

If workstations are this bad, imagine how poor PCs are; I'm sure everybody has munched some chips or tossed back a beverage while reading /. or playing Diablo. (The Archbishop Lazarus and his evil succubi once made me spill beer on my ten-year-old brick-like "invincible" IBM 286 keyboard. Unfortunately, Anheisuer Busch made it vincible.) It reminds me of playing Nintendo years ago at my buddy Kris' house; he would always eat dinner while playing Zelda or whatever, then give me the "dinner controller" when we'd play two-player RBI Baseball. Not only was the button response time gimpy from the constant Zelda-playing, but the directional-pad was all greasy with ghosts of dinners past. One day I moved the D-pad to the right and a piece of rancid corn came oozing out . From then on, I insisted on bringing over an extra controller from my house.

Re:Clean everything

[scott1853]

Reminds me of the wise George Carlin. Something to the effect of "I don't get sick, ya know why? Cause I used to swim in the Hudson river, covered in feces, and it builds up your immune system."

Bacterial Slashdotters

[Captain Large Face]

I guess it won't be that long until these bacteria start making those utterly pointless "first post" posts to Slashdot. Hell, they're probably already more mentally developed that most of those lamers..

Poppy?

[Anonymous Coward]

...is that you?

Re:Getting things out of proportion

[Eil]

I have to agree with (parts of) this post.

I have a strain of bacteria living along the outside edge of my bathroom sink that are resistant to everything I've thrown at them. I've gone so far as straight bleach and scrubbing with a toothbrush, and then rinsing the area thoroughly. "That'll get 'em this time," I always say. But sure enough, later that day, I see the thin familiar orange line of ogranic matter lining the edge of the sink.

I've just learned to live with them now. The tiny crevice they occupy hasn't gotten any larger in the last year that I've abstained from purposely attempting to obliterate them and so long as they don't mutate into a cockroach or Adam Sandler, they're fine with me.