‘I’m a Cleaning Expert, and These Are the 10 Office Items You Should Be Cleaning Way More Often’

No matter if you work from home or in an office environment, germs can spread like wildfire. Kelly Reynolds, PhD, director of the Environment, Exposure Science, and Risk Assessment Center at the University of Arizona, says her team has conducted several studies on this very topic. "We found that germs spread rapidly in the workplace, contaminating more than 50 percent of co-workers' hands and shared surfaces within four hours when one person comes to work sick," she adds.

Luckily, it is possible to stop the spread of office germs. One 2019 study found that simple hygiene steps¹, like using disinfectant wipes and better handwashing, made a huge difference. Regularly wiping down high-touch surfaces with disinfectant wipes (with quaternary ammonium compounds or alcohol) cut the bacterial load on office surfaces and slashed the risk of illness transmission by 80 percent, Reynolds says.

Long story short, it's time to give those office essentials a proper cleaning. Here, experts share which items are the germiest and how often you need to break out the cleaning supplies.

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First things first, what’s the difference between cleaning and disinfecting?

A lot of people don’t know the difference between disinfectants and cleaners, but there’s an important distinction: “Disinfectants kill germs; cleaners remove dirt,” Reynolds says. “Both have positive effects on office hygiene, but if you want to reduce your risk of illness transmission in the office, target the use of disinfectants on frequently touched surfaces,” she says. Common disinfectants include ingredients like alcohol, bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds, and hydrogen peroxide.

10 office items you should clean more often

Here are the top office items you might want to consider cleaning regularly.

1. Keyboard

How often to clean: Once a week

When you're typing away at your keyboard, you're likely thinking about deadlines and not germs. But your keypad is a petri dish for bacteria, viruses, and fungi thanks to its constant contact with your fingers, says Reynolds. Keyboards also trap dead skin, oils, and food crumbs—all things that allow fungi and bacteria like E. coli and Staph to thrive. "While not all strains of these bacteria are harmful, some do cause stomach flu, diarrhea, and skin infections," especially in people with weakened immune systems, Reynolds adds.

“It's good practice to clean computer keyboards weekly using disinfecting wipes ($5 for 80) or microfiber cloths ($10 for 12) moistened with 70 percent alcohol,” Reynolds says. “Check manufacturer instructions for the safe use of chemical disinfectants for your specific electronics.”

On top of sanitizing, “we like to vacuum off our keyboards,” says cleaning expert Sarah McAllister, founder and CEO of GoCleanCo. “You can also blow out any dust or crumbs with canned aerosol spray ($10),” McAllister adds.

2. Mouse and mouse pad

How often to clean: Once a week or as needed

Cleaning your mouse (never mind your mouse pad) is probably the last thing on your mind at work. Honestly, we can’t remember the last time we wiped ours down, either. But computer mice had some of the highest germ counts and were rarely disinfected, according to Reynolds’ research in office settings.

It makes sense when you think about it: Just like keyboards, people handle mice constantly, often after picking up germs (like E. coli and Salmonella) from desks, door handles, and other surfaces, Reynolds says. She says mice can be wiped with a disinfectant wipe or alcohol pads ($4 for 100), and mouse pads can be cleaned with warm water and soap and then air-dried completely.

3. Laptops

How often to clean: Once a week

“Laptops are traveling keyboards,” Reynolds says. And we already know how gross keyboards can get. But laptops are arguably grubbier than your computer’s keypad. That’s because you tend to bring them everywhere you go, from a conference room to your kitchen area (maybe even the restroom, though we wouldn’t recommend it). The thing is, you have a higher chance of picking up dust, skin cells, and bacteria in these common spaces, she says.

This is why Reynolds recommends wiping down your laptop's screen and exterior weekly. McAllister also says screens should be cleaned with water and a carbon cloth or a cleaning spray specifically designed for screens. “Anything else can be damaging.” She suggests WHOOSH! laptop cleaner spray ($18).

4. Desk phone

How often to clean: Daily

“Phones touch your hands and face,” Reynolds says. Meaning they’re some of the germiest spots in your office. Not to freak you out, but “studies show that phones can carry over 25,000 bacteria per square inch,” she adds. “While not all of these can make you sick, resident bacteria may still include acne and rash-causing Staph and Pseudomonas bacteria.”

For this reason, office and cell phones should be cleaned daily or after each use, especially if shared, according to Reynolds. “To clean, simply wipe down the handset and buttons with an alcohol wipe or a disinfectant wipe. A microfiber cloth can also be used to wipe down the [other areas of the phone’s] surface.”

5. Desk

How often to clean: Daily (if you share a desk); weekly (if it's your own)

Desks are basically like your second home, whether you work an in-person or remote job. On any given day, you're bound to put your lunch, coffee cups, and all sorts of papers and items on your desk, which creates ample opportunity for dust, food particles, and bacteria to form, says Reynolds.

If you can't remember the last time you wiped down your desk, don't worry: we're in the same boat. "Desks are rarely cleaned properly," says Reynolds. It's best to give your desk a good scrub daily if you share it or weekly if it's your own.

“Disinfecting wipes or spray disinfectants work well here if the surface is amenable,” Reynolds adds.

6. Photocopier keypad

How often to clean: Daily

We don't all use photocopiers on the reg, but you'd be surprised at how many handprints (and germs) lurk on the screens of the ones at your workplace. That's because photocopiers are "high-touch areas, often used by multiple people, and rarely disinfected or cleaned," Reynolds says. It's a hotspot for the "transfer of bacteria and viruses like rhinovirus, which causes colds and influenza,” she says.

If you work an in-person job and feel like doing a good deed, wipe down the photocopier keypad daily with disinfectant wipes or alcohol spray.

7. Office chair

How often to clean: Once a week (for the plastic and metal parts); once a month (for the fabric)

When it comes to germs in an office, your chair probably doesn’t come to mind. But it should. “Handles and armrests are particularly germ-prone areas,” Reynolds says. “Chairs accumulate dust, sweat, and skin cells.” Again, these things make fertile breeding grounds for bad bugs like bacteria.

Try wiping down plastic and metal parts (e.g., high-touch areas like armrests) with a disinfectant wipe once a week, Reynolds says. Then, "use a vacuum with a brush attachment for the fabric areas at least once a month," she adds. We like the Shark IZ562H Cordless Pro Vacuum ($270).

Also: “If your chair is fabric, spot-treat any visible marks with hot water and Tide ($5) or a spot stain treatment spray like Tide Rescue ($10 for 3 bottles),” McAllister says. It's also a good idea to always test a small spot first.

8. Doorknobs

How often to clean: Daily

High-touch areas like doorknobs are germ magnets. They can spread viruses like norovirus (aka the stomach bug) and influenza (a fancy name for the flu), Reynolds says. The problem is, whatever dirt or germs are on your hands get transferred to the knobs, and when you touch them again later, you pick them right back up, McAllister says. Plus, most people don't clean doorknobs thoroughly or often enough, she adds.

"These are office hotspots, especially if they lead to a common area, and should be disinfected daily as a part of a routine," says Reynolds. "Again, disinfecting wipes are great here."

9. Pens

How often to clean: After each use

Sanitizing your keyboard is one thing, but pens? Sure, it might feel a little overboard, but hear us out: Pens come in constant contact with your hands, desk, and sometimes, face and mouth (we're looking at you, pen chewers). This means they can easily transfer germs, especially if you share pens with colleagues.

While we don't expect you to wipe down pens every time you use them, it might be helpful to give them a quick scrub after someone else has used or borrowed them. Reynolds recommends using a disinfectant wipe to get into the hard-to-reach crevices.

Reynolds's ultimate hot take? "I usually recommend we just not share pens," she adds. If you want some nice ones to keep all to yourself, we love Papier Charm Ballpoint Pens ($25 for 3, Anthropologie).

10. Any common areas

How often to clean: Daily

Whether you work from home or in person, any shared office (or dwelling) spaces are likely to be filled with germs. According to Reynolds' research, "the office break room faucet, microwave door handles, and shared coffee machine were top on the list for germ reservoirs."

While most offices hire cleaning crews to spruce up the office after hours (and cleaning your entire home is already part of your routine), you can still do your part in keeping things clean. For instance, "next time you're waiting for coffee to brew, wipe down the area with disinfectant," says Reynolds. A little can go a long way.