So, I’m reading passing-over, yet again, another warning on the Internet regarding keyboards. It seems, more than public bathrooms, computer keyboards are THE source of e-coli bacteria for most folks. E-coli is one of those nasty things we sometimes access through uncooked food and can cause serious illness and even death.
Yeah yeah, sure sure…yawn
I’m a bit of a germaphobe. Being slightly OCD and having been ill many times in my life, this is not surprising. A while back I was reading how the so-called 5-second rule is more realistically a 5-minute rule. (dropping food on to a generally-clean-appearing floor does not automatically mean it’s instantly acquired enough strange bacteria to be a health hazard if eaten! As if I’d do something like that! :-P) Currently living in a house with three dogs and a cat usually means mishandled food doesn’t even make it to the floor. If it does, it means they’re kenneled, sleeping or seriously full.
So, back to the keyboard. Specifically MY cordless computer keyboard. Usually observed in low-light conditions, no issues are observed. Wait-a-minute…what’s THAT on the keyboard, that red stuff (OH, it’s probably wearing paint…) WAIT! The keyboard has black with white lettering, no color! Uh-oh…
Yep. A couple months back, just after my move, I developed a habit of eating at my computer, over my keyboard in some cases. Usually…aw geez! That’s it! Jack-In-The-Box Tacos!
Old, dried TACO SAUCE ON AND IN-BETWEEN THE KEYS! Yucch!
Apply Clorox Disinfecting Wipes to the affected area, twice! And to all the electronic gadget remotes living in my room, just in case. Because one never knows.
I feel better now, and a little hungry. What sounds good? mmmmm-tacos!
Attention FTC, neither Jack-In-The-Box nor The Clorox Company have given me anything save delicious, cheap, greasy food and cleanliness. In that order. Go clean your own keyboards!
Guffaw in AZ 
I’m not the least worried about germs on my keyboard, especially since they are all MY germs and I’m immune to them. I’m never sick anyway… and yes, the five second rule stopped working in this house the moment I got a dog again! LOL He’s small, but he’s FAST.
Since I work most of almost every day here at the keyboard, I do tend to eat here as well. I clean the keyboard at times if the keys get a bit sticky, and try to keep things more or less dusted, but the smartest thing I did was buy an EXTRA keyboard (you can get them for $5. or less often) because they can stop working from one breath to the next at any time, no matter how clean you keep them. I can’t afford to be without one for long, so the spare is replaced immediately when the old one dies so I’m always one ahead. I tend to do that for anything I use a lot and it has saved my bacon many, many times. Average life span of my cheap keyboards is 5 or 6 months.
But germs? Do what is necessary to build a strong immune system and forget the germs. Just wipe off the taco sauce when necessary. 🙂
Posted by MamaLiberty | November 20, 2012, 7:59 amMy main problem is poor lighting in my new digs, so I didn’t even see it! I’ve improved the lighting and with it, the tidiness!
Thanks!
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 20, 2012, 8:12 ammore than public bathrooms, computer keyboards are THE source of e-coli bacteria for most folks
E-coli is a fecal/oral disease. Eating scat has never been on my bucket list. Computer keyboards that are shared can be a source if someone doesn’t wash properly after going to the bathroom but your own private keyboard is OK. You can’t give it to yourself.
That touchpad for your pin # & door handle at the store and the gas pump is another story.
Waaaay back when I was a new FF/Medic gloves weren’t used. Elbow deep in yuck was the norm. Thankfully that changed over the years and gloves, masks and such were no longer for sissies but required.
Now I use hand sanitizer pretty regular and keep some in the car.
I didn’t get sick after my last cross country drive, which used to be the norm. Don’t know if I got more sleep this time or my going over EVERYTHING in the motel with clorox wipes before use was the reason but I’ll keep doing the flu avoidance dance. Getting sick cuts into my tee times and shooting – and nothing is worth that!
Posted by KM | November 20, 2012, 8:01 amJust for clarification, my understanding is the whole F/O thing can apply if the food being consumed is not well cooked (cheeseburgers and tacos, anyone?) because sometimes proper measures aren’t kept during butchering. It’s not just about eating scat. Not my first choice, either! 🙂
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 20, 2012, 8:10 amA healthy immune system is always the best first line and reasonable cleanliness is certainly important. Rather than be worried about how well some fast food place cooks their stuff (I find all of it badly OVER cooked myself), I prefer to make my own meals. Then I’m completely in control of the cooking time, temperature, etc.
As for butchering, having done my own for many long years, I can assure you that it is almost impossible not to contaminate the meat at least a little at some point in the process – and I take as great a care as is humanly possible. Washing the meat, keeping tools clean, washing hands between procedures, and prompt freezing or refrigeration is the key. Oh, and cooking it properly when the time comes.
Humans lived for a million years before refrigeration or any notion of cleanliness, actually. The fact that we survived as a race would seem to indicate that our bodies are prepared to deal successfully with a certain number of germs…
And did you know that you could not digest your food properly without those nasty E-coli germs in your gut? 🙂 E-coli is only a problem when it gets into tissues where it doesn’t belong, just as with stomach acid or a lot of other things.
Posted by MamaLiberty | November 20, 2012, 8:31 amI did!
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 20, 2012, 9:11 amFuss, fuss, fuss. At least you know where to look for left-overs. :^)
Posted by Rev. Paul | November 20, 2012, 9:25 amHAHAHAHA!
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 20, 2012, 9:28 amMmmmmmmm, Jack In The Box tacos! … … … What was this post about again?
Posted by Anonymous | November 20, 2012, 10:07 amAnd wipe down your cell phone regularly too! :-0
Posted by Old NFO | November 20, 2012, 5:55 pmYep!
Posted by guffaw1952 | November 20, 2012, 6:46 pm