If you prepare your lunch in the break room at work, you're likely coming in contact with germs: LOTS of germs! Even more so than in the bathroom.
So, your break room tends to be a place where there is a high traffic and a high amount of contamination.
Kimberly Clark, the company that makes a number of hygiene products, did a study on germs in the workplace and took 5000 samples from various types of businesses. They found high levels of contaminants from the following surfaces:
- 75% of the sink faucet handles were filled with germs
- 48% of microwave door handles
- 27% of keyboards
- 26% of refrigerator doors
Other germ experts agree that break rooms are germ "hot-spots" and suggest taking simple precautions to protect yourself from getting sick from the viruses or bacteria that can end up on surfaces and at your desk.
The best thing you can do is wash your hands a lot. After you take your food from the refrigerator or microwave, wash your hands before you take it back to your desk.
If you don't have access to soap and water then use a hand sanitizer.
And the best way to clean the break room is the same as what is best for your kitchen: an effective cleaner can be as simple as a quart of water with a tablespoon of liquid soap and an ounce of bleach.
