6-Germ Hotspots in Daycares, Schools, and Child Centers

John Partenio
09-01-22 07:52 AM Comment(s)

Kids have an uncanny ability to touch every surface...

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We all (especially the parents among us) know beyond a shadow of a doubt that daycare and schools are full of germs.  Kids have an uncanny ability to touch every surface they pass without giving a second thought to germs or viruses (or, let's face it, even vast clumps of dirt) that may be hanging out there.  What you may not have considered, however, are the number of germs present in offices.  We can't blame all of the germs on kids!

1 - Doorknobs and Entranceways
Did you ever watch your mother pulling open doors with her hand covered with her sleeve, so she didn't have to touch the actual handle? It wasn't such a bad idea. There is no way to guarantee that everyone who has touched a doorknob has first washed their hands.  CBS News reported a study involving researchers placing a tracer virus on office doorknobs and tabletops. A few hours later, 40-60% of the workers in the office had picked up the virus; they had also spread it to several other office surfaces.
2 - Buttons
Elevator buttons, vending machine buttons, microwave buttons, or water fountains – basically all of the buttons!

Any places that little hands (or big hands – germs don't discriminate) touch are breeding areas for bacteria and viruses that can cause unpleasant illnesses.

3 - Desks and Tabletops
Desks and tabletops are one of those staggering statistics that don't seem to make sense. The average desktop has 20,961 germs per square inch, not counting the computer keyboard and mouse, according to a 2018 study in The Independent. But on average, desks harbor 400 times more germs than toilet seats. Children's desktops or play-stations are germ hotspots, and in middle schools and high schools, they are touched by several students every single day as classes switch in and out of classrooms. Those children may sneeze, cough, blow their noses, and touch the desks. Library tables are other hotspots in schools for the same reason.
4 - Photocopiers and Multifunctional Printers
Multifunctional Printers are not just in offices, but in daycares and schools and are located in common areas for adults and some children.  Although children may not primarily touch them, teachers carry more than enough germs to make photocopier buttons a risky click. 
5 - Phones
We won't get into the germs found on an average cell phone (but just in case you're wondering – 10 times more than on the average toilet seat!) because your employers can't follow office workers and teachers and demand they sanitize their phones. However, unlike many homes, both offices and classrooms still have landlines, and those receivers and keypads are other places for germs to hang out.
6 - Sink Faucet Handles
It stands to reason that sink handles in restrooms would be loaded with bacteria and viruses. But what about sink handles in other places? Breakroom sink faucet handles are germ hotspots that need frequent disinfecting. People touch those (plus the microwave and fridge handles) before they prepare food and eat, making them a problematic place for unpleasant microorganisms. A study by Kimberly Clark concluded, "The results reinforce the crucial role of contract cleaners, whose services go a long way in successfully disinfecting office common areas at the end of every day." The article added that as soon as workers began using the breakroom, the germ cycle would start  again unless office managers educated their staff on the importance of handwashing and sanitizing wipes.

Before we heard of COVID-19

we were concerned about several viruses and bacteria that could easily cause illness when spread from one person to another in schools or offices. We need to worry about COVID-19, but those other germs haven't gone away! The following illnesses can contaminate common surfaces in no time:

  • Influenza
  • E-coli
  • Norovirus
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Rotavirus
  • Helicobactor pylori
  • Hepatitis A
  • Salmonella

These illnesses don't even begin to cover it: an NIH study found bacterial genera such as "Streptococcus, Corynebacterium, Flavimonas, Lactobacillus, and members of the Burkholderiales," plus many (many!) others.

 

There are certain things you can't control. Your cleaning company can conscientiously work to disinfect and sanitize, but you have no way of changing the statistics of how many people don't wash their hands regularly (25%). 95% of people indeed wash their hands "improperly," including 33% of people who don't use soap when they wash their hands. Those people may be a lost cause. However, you can ensure that the remaining 67% of people inclined to use soap never find themselves in a situation where the dispenser is empty.


An adequately educated commercial cleaning company certifies and trains employees in disinfecting methods and cleaning routines. They make sure that they are all aware of the germiest hotspots. Exceptional cleaning companies help educate their client's operation staff, office managers, and the leadership about these hotspots and the importance of sanitizing wipes and frequent handwashing with soap so that they can pass cautionary tales to their employees, teachers, and students.


Now go wash your hands...with soap!

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John Partenio