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Paper isn’t all that’s piling up on desks. According to a study, the first of its kind to measure normal bacterial levels inside offices across America, found that in fact, the average desk harbors 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet seat.
Gerba and his researchers found that bacteria levels climbed higher and higher - peaking after lunch - unless desks were wiped clean with a disinfectant during the day. “For bacteria, a desk is really the laptop of luxury,” said Gerba. “They can feast all day
from breakfast to lunch and even dinner.”
The study found that surfaces in personal work areas, such as offices and cubicles, had higher bacteria levels than surfaces in common areas. They are, in order of most number of germs:
1) Telephones;
2) Desks;
3) Water fountain handles;
4) Microwave door handles; and,
5) Computer keyboards.
Surprisingly, toilet seats consistently had the lowest bacteria levels of the 12 surfaces
tested in the study.
“We don’t think twice about eating at our desks, even though the average desk has 100
times more bacteria than a kitchen table and 400 times more bacteria than the average
toilet,” Gerba said. “Without  Cleaning, a small area on your desk or phone can sustain
millions of bacteria that could potentially cause illness.”
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