The Sickly Six: Touchpoints We Need to Be Aware Of

Because of this, these touchpoints must be cleaned and disinfected regularly, as often as once or several times per day.

Here is a quick list of common touchpoints you may encounter as you go about your day. We call them the Sickly Six:

1.Your Desk. Did you know that an office desk holds more bacteria per square inch than a toilet seat in the same building! These must be wiped clean and then disinfected – two steps -on a regular basis.

2.Lunchroom Handles. Refrigerator door handles in a commercial facility are often contaminated and not cleaned as often as they should be. This can also apply to the handles on coffee pots, other kitchen appliances, as well as the handles on cabinets and drawers, 

3.Sinks. The big concern here is the faucet handles. If they are sensor-controlled, this is not an issue. However, if you need to touch the handles, realize they are among the most contaminated touchpoints in the entire restroom. The same goes for the handles on toilets and urinals. And let’s not forget the locking mechanism on partition doors. All can become increasingly contaminated during the day.

4.The ATM Machine. Not only do ATMs hold hundreds of dollar bills, but they are also guilty of being touched by hundreds of germ-infected hands. When was the last time you saw someone cleaning an ATM machine? They seem to get overlooked and should be cleaned several times throughout the day. Especially now with COVID, we suggest you protect yourself. Always keep hand sanitizer with you; use it after using an ATM.

5.Grocery Carts. Many grocery stores offer complimentary wipes upon entrance to wipe down the grocery cart handle. This is something you should take advantage of. Grocery carts can pick up germs from other shoppers, raw meats, and other foods. Due to COVID, some grocery stores are cleaning and disinfecting these carts for you… but don’t count on it.

6.Hotel Room Remote controls. Studies have found that the most contaminated item – one of many – in a hotel room is the television remote. Make sure you wipe down the remote before using it for the first time. Further, clean it each day thereafter that you are in the hotel room.

These are but a few touchpoints you should be aware of. There are many more. 

The bottom line is that potentially harmful germs are everywhere and sometimes in locations we would not ever suspect. Along with proper cleaning and disinfecting, and especially now with COVID, we must all take responsibility for our own health, and take common-sense precautions at work, school, or wherever we go.