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May 17, 2008 12:53:40 AM CDT

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Keyboards 'Dirtier Than Toilet Seats'  

Posted May 1, 08 7:01 AM CDT in Technology,  Science & Health    Most Covered

(newser) – A microbiologist studying computer keyboards discovered that some of them harbored more bacteria than the average toilet seat, the Guardian reports. The dirtiest—which had to be removed from an office—had 150 times the level of acceptable bacteria, putting the user at risk of catching bugs that cause diarrhea and vomiting. "It was off the scale," the researcher said.

Only one in five people give their keyboard a good monthly cleaning, and one in 10 never bother, according to a survey for Which? Computing magazine. Experts blame the grime on people eating at their computer—along with poor personal hygiene. They recommend regular cleaning to keep the germs away, but caution that keyboards are not dishwasher safe.

Source Guardian (UK)

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Keyboards 'Dirtier Than Toilet Seats'
Experts recommend giving keyboards good, regular cleans - making sure to unplug them first.   ((c) kalleboo)
Keyboards 'Dirtier Than Toilet Seats'
Researchers found that many keyboards harbor more potentially hazardous bacteria than the average toilet seat.   (Shutter Stock)
Keyboards 'Dirtier Than Toilet Seats'
"Most people don't give much thought to the grime that builds up," the editor of Which? Computer said, "but if you don't clean your computer, you might as well eat your lunch off the toilet.   ((c) Marcin Wichary)
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computer  • bacteria  • E. coli  • hygiene  • computer hardware  • cleaning  • dirt


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