A lot of biological matter — skin cells, bacteria, hairs — are shed by people every day, explains Dr Emma Harding, a virology researcher at UNSW,
"Keyboards and desks are ideal places for this matter to accumulate and, if not cleaned, [they] become breeding grounds for bacteria," she says.
That's evident when you tip your keyboard upside down and give it a little tap (ew).
"Keyboards are a notorious one, especially if you eat at your desk, as they are the most touched part of our office in general," Dr Harding says.
Your mouse, headphones, and phones can also breed bacteria and introduce it onto your skin.
Dr Harding says regular cleaning can help prevent the build-up of "bad" bacteria in your home workspace.
"[Bad bacteria] would be introduced if we work at our desk while sick and spread the germs onto our equipment," she says.
"If not cleaned, even after we are better, the bad microbes can still be lurking in our space and reinfect us or others."
However, the reality is that some bacteria will survive — and that's not necessarily a bad thing.
"No matter how clean we are, how many showers you have a day and how much soap you rub all over … we are covered in bacteria," says Sanjaya Senanayake, associate professor and infectious diseases specialist at the Australian National University.
"They have a very symbolic relationship with us, we need them there too."
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