Germs

A stupid person came to my office today to sneeze and spread his germs all over my desk and keyboard. I cleaned the keyboard with a cleanser that fights germs but I am still disgused.

how long can germs stay on a surface? what do I need to do to clean my desk and keyboard?

I have a can of Lysol Disinfectant Spray at my desk. Spraying everything down at night and first thing in the morning makes me feel better and is supposed to kill 99.9% of bacteria and viruses.

That being said, I still don't trust it to get everything. I avoid touching my eyes, nose and mouth during the day. I wash my hands before I eat and after every trip to the restroom. I take extra Omega-3, vitamin C and vitamin D supplements (speculation that vitamin D lessens flu symptoms).

I've read that viruses and bacteria can live on hard surfaces up to 48 hours.

thanks, Bier. that helps. so if I wash my hands with water and soap, that would be enough to kill any germs? I am very disgused to even use my keyboad.

Yes. Wash with the warmest water you can stand and for as long as it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday." Singing out loud is optional ;)

washing your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds will get rid of virtually all germs.

Even though I deal with people via phone not in person I also work in  very large office. I keep handsantizer, clorox disenfectent wipes along with a big bottles of tissues at my desk. Most people take the hint

Regular soap (you don't need anti-bacterial soap if you don't work in a hospital or other healthcare facility) and hot water is enough to clean your hands.  It's not that it kills the microbes; rather, that the agitation and the soap physically removes them.  Whatever, it works.

While sick, I searched for Swine flu symptoms and read that that bug can live for 20 minutes on a soft surface, and 24 hours on a hard surface... Good news for my Hubby, since I was in the bed sick... 

Another interesting thing I heard from a local Fire Chief/ Paramedic at Church last night was that folks who were around in the 50's were exposed to a similar bug and may be immune now...

THAT might explain why my Hubby has been un-affected by my long bout of it, while I caught it... He's from 1955-- I'm from the 60's in 1962!

Lucky Me...???

thanks guys. yes, I wash my hands with hot water and soap but what about the keyboard and my desk ?? :((

Spray your keyboard each night with Lysol and you'll remove not only your germs but also anyone elses.  If you're more paranoid, do it before you leave for lunch or breaks.  You want to give it time to dry and you don't want to smell the fumes.  Don't spray it until it's dripping, just quickly spray it holding the can about 10 inches away.

Your skin will act as a natural barrier to most germs.  You do want to wash your hands regularly and use lotion to help your skin maintain it's moisture barrier.  Anti-bacterial lotions and soaps that don't require water do help although I recommend the lotion as the soap tends to be more drying to my skin.

Handwashing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs. Regular old soap is all you need, as said above it removes the germs from your skin and sends them on their way to a watery grave.

Hand santizer is hand to have in a pinch, as it will kill over 99% of all germs, as long as it is over 62% alchohol. 

Bleach based/lysol based products will remove 99.9% of germs from hard surfaces.  However anti bacterial soaps and washes are a waste as they only help lead to antibiotic resistant bacteria, and have no effect on viruses. 

I recommend dilegence, but not paranoia.

Oh and keep your hands away from your face as the nose, eyes and mouth are how most germs are able to enter your body.