Your parents always told you as a child to wash your hands. Now that you’re grown, do you? Regular basic hand washing can help avoid the spreading of colds and infections. The medical community tries to remind us as often as possible. Now, the computer techs will soon be reminding computer users to wash their hands. If we were the only person to use the keyboard or copy machine and perhaps if we all lived in our separate quarantined corners we wouldn’t need to be as concerned. But, with computer peripherals, keyboards, computer mice, microphones, joysticks and all the other electronic hardware we share with others at home, in the office, at libraries and in public internet cafes, we need to wash our hands and regularly clean the surfaces we touch. We can’t depend on the previous or next user to clean the surfaces we all share.
Computer equipment isn’t different than playground equipment, shopping cart handles, doorknobs or toilet seats as far as the risk of spreading infectious agents. If anything, there is an increased risk because it seems not too many people think about the infectious agents they can distribute or receive by simply touching these surfaces.
Whether you use bleach, chlorine, disinfectant wipes, sterile wipes, or soap and water, doesn’t seem to matter too much. All seem to remove most of the bacteria when surfaces are properly washed. However, according to a study by the University of North Carolina’s Health Care System, the commercial disinfectant wipes were more effective because they lasted the longest for 48 hours. There doesn’t seem to be a study looking at viruses spread through surfaces.
Children need to learn about cleanliness when they are small. Teach them about cleanliness with the computer and peripherals as you do with everyday activities like washing hands after using the bathroom or wiping tabletops when finished with the activity. The keyboard should be wiped with a disinfectant (damp, not wet) at least once a week especially when someone in the family has a cold just as you wipe the telephone, doorknobs, and counters. Be sure not to get liquid between the keys. Remind children not to put fingers or objects into openings except what the openings are designed for and only with your supervision. Use clean hands when using the computer, keyboard, mouse and media. And remind children not to touch the computer monitor except when cleaning with a damp (not wet) lint-free cloth.
So, remember to wash your hands after using shared keyboards, shared push-button panels or any shared surfaces. Don’t assume that persons using the device before you are as sanitary as you. It is much better to prevent and avoid the spreading of bacteria than it is to get rid of it once you have it.