9 Bad office habits that are making you fall sick

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The office coffee machine
After a stressful meeting, you might be after a hot cup of coffee to calm yourself down. Maybe not so much once you hear this: according to a study, the reservoir in a coffee maker can be one of the germiest spots in any kitchen. Furthermore, coffee machines are reputed to be more contaminated with microorganisms than door handles or even toilet seats. Rinsing the machine through with hot water is not enough to keep it free of harmful pathogens. Here’s something more effective: use a vinegar-based cleaner! Doing so will clean, disinfect, and descale the coffee machine properly. Do this every two weeks for a mold-free coffee dispenser.
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The office toilet
Here’s a statistic that might make you cringe: 17 percent of employees aren’t keen to use a toilet because they aren’t clean enough. Always wash your hands thoroughly to avoid any contamination. You don’t want to go spreading your germs around! Bacteria can be removed after 20 to 30 seconds of proper hand washing, so invest this time and you won’t have to go back to your office cubicle with germy hands.
3/9
Your coffee mug
Do you have your own favourite cup that you’ll only drink out of? That favourite cup that you alone use and no one else, and therefore will not be contaminated? Unfortunately, just because you’re the only person using it doesn’t mean you get to skimp on cleaning your cup as thoroughly as possible. No matter what, wash your mug on a daily basis with detergent or place it in a dishwasher for optimum cleanliness.
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The printer and copy machine
Printers and copiers are usually used by most people in the office – imagine how many hands have been on them over the years! The interface or touchpad, especially, is an ideal germ distributor. Such devices remain warm because they are constantly being used, which means they make for the perfect breeding ground for germs. To kill the germs, wipe the surfaces of these devices with anti-bacterial wipes every time you wish to touch the printer! You can easily find these cleaning wipes in every supermarket.
5/9
The office fridge
“I’ll eat it later” is probably a statement you hear often from your co-workers, who would then put half-eaten cakes and pastries and other perishables into the fridge. The worst thing is: they tend to forget their food after two days, leaving no one feeling responsible for the moldy leftovers anymore. This is how bacteria spreads quickly. Be responsible for your own lunch - throw them away before they go bad!
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The microwave
If your office has a communal microwave, take a quick look inside and observe the leftovers within the nooks and crannies of the appliance. Not a nice picture, is it? And don’t forget that those knobs and handles are probably home to an unappetising mass of germs! Make use of the versatile vinegar-based cleaner to scrub the microwave thoroughly before you decide to put your lunch in it.
7/9
Your desk
Despite the myth that the toilet is the dirtiest place - your desk might, in fact, be much dirtier. With a human being sitting there all day, every day, your desk could be accommodating 400 times more germs than toilet seats. If you have not yet cleaned your desk since you first joined the company, we suggest you wipe your desk with a vinegar-based solution or antibacterial wipe once a week.
8/9
Your keyboard
This one is obvious. If you sit in front of your computer 8 hours a day, imagine the amount of bacteria and germs that accumulate over time on the keyboard! From food leftovers to dead skin cells to dried sweat, it’s not a pretty place. Avoid wiping your keyboard with a wet cloth as the moisture could damage it. Instead, tilt your keyboard upside down and shake it to remove any debris. Additionally, be sure clean your mouse, too!
9/9
Headphones
You should be hesitating before borrowing your co-workers headphones for the day! Bacteria can spread via collected sweat and earwax. Even wearing them for an hour or less could be detrimental to your health. Renounce the sharing and clean your own personal headphones weekly with an alcohol-soaked cotton swab.

Often, the most normal things you do at work can end up becoming a germ-y affair. Especially during the season of colds and flus, the shared space that is your office tends to turn into the perfect habitat for germ multiplication.

Cleaning platform Helpling shares with us an important list of 9 bad office habits you might be guilty of, and explains how you can protect yourself against the dirtiest areas using the simplest of cleaning hacks. Head up to the gallery above to check them out!

This post was brought to you by Helpling.

Photos: Getty Images

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