15 Household Items That Can Make You Sick

As often as we use technology, specifically, computers, it isn’t surprising that our keyboards are another popular germ hangout. What is shocking, however, is just how gross they can get: recent studies have found that computer keyboards can house more bacteria than a toilet seat — up to 400 times more! These organisms can include noroviruses, E. coli, staph, and cocci bacteria (which can cause pneumonia).

The level of germ infestation does depend on how many people use the computer, though; a personal laptop won’t have as many microbes as a desktop in an elementary school computer lab, for instance. However, even a single-user computer can attract a multitude of potentially harmful bacteria, so it’s important to clean your keyboard once a month and to wash your hands with soap and water before touching your face or any other surface. For a deeper keyboard clean, use a cotton swab or a damp, lint-free cloth.