Gross Alert, Your Computer Keyboard Is 20,000 Times Dirtier Than A Toilet Seat

*Grabs the cleaning wipes*

If you’re worried about falling ill this winter, it might be wise to have a desk clean.

New research has found that your computer or laptop keyboard is 20,000 times dirtier than a toilet seat.

Meanwhile your smartphone has more than 9,000 times more germs than a toilet seat. Vile.

Blend Images - JGI/Jamie Grill via Getty Images

The grim findings were discovered by CBT Nuggets, who swabbed typical items used in an office to see how much bacteria they harboured.

Their team swabbed five items within each category to find the average colony-forming units (CFU) per square inch on each surface. Swabs were then sent off to be tested in a laboratory.

The swabs revealed that, overall, an electronic ID badge was the dirtiest item, with 243 times more bacteria then a germ-filled pet toy.

Keyboards came in second place, followed by mobile phones, a computer mouse and, finally, a trackpad - which had 162 times more bacteria than money.

The most common type of bacteria found on these everyday items was gram-positive cocci, which is found in pneumonia.

It’s safe to say antibacterial wipes have never looked more inviting.

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