Worried about the germs in your keyboard? Just give it a rinse under the tap

By Mark Prigg

Published: | Updated:

If you're ever spilt your tea on your keyboard, or wondered about the dust and grime inside it, help could be at hand.

Computer firm Logitech today launched a keyboard you can simply put in the sink when it needs a clean.

The firm says its £35 K310 keyboard has even been designed with drainage holes so it will dry quickly.

Logitech's K310 keyboard can be submerged in upto 28cm of water without damaging it, the firm claims.

Logitech's K310 keyboard can be submerged in upto 28cm of water without damaging it, the firm claims.

WHAT'S IN YOUR KEYBOARD?

A University of Arizona found desks, keyboard and mice with so many microbes they supported their own ecosystem.

The researchers found a desk is capable of supporting 10 million microbes and the average office contains 20,961 microbes per square inch.

The key offenders are telephones, which harbour up to 25,127 microbes per square inch, keyboards 3,295 and computer mice 1,676.

The firm says it can be submerged in up to 11 inches (28cm) of water.

'We’ve all experienced that moment of distraction – followed by panic, when a cup of coffee or a soda spills all over your keyboard;” said Sophie Le Guen, senior director of mice and keyboards at Logitech.

'Because life and its messes will happen, regardless of how careful you are, Logitech designed the Logitech Washable Keyboard K310 to look and function like new, even over time.'

Several studies have previously examined the germs within office keyboards.

One recent study found the average keyboard contains 150 times the acceptable limit for bacteria and was five times as filthy as a typical lavatory seat.

Scientists swabbed 33 keyboards for food poisoning bugs e.coli, coliforms, staphylococcus aureus and enterobacteria and compared the results to those found on a lavatory seat and lavatory door handle.

Four of the keyboards were considered a potential health hazard and one was 'condemned'.

Two had 'warning levels' of staphylococcus aureus and two others had 'worryingly elevated' levels of coliforms and enterobacteria, 'putting users at high risk of becoming ill from contact'.

Experts said the findings were typical of offices all over Britain.

The keyboard has been designed with drainiage holes to help it dry quickly, and special 'tough' keys to withstand repeated washes.

The keyboard has been designed with drainiage holes to help it dry quickly, and special 'tough' keys to withstand repeated washes.


Most watched News videos