Although the length of time that viruses remain active varies widely, Reynolds warns that people don't realize how easy it is to bring them home. Mary O'Connell, a Clorox spokeswoman, says the company makes a big effort to educate consumers about disinfecting kitchen counters, sponges and other germ-friendly areas at home. But there's no similar marketing push for the office. Norgard takes issue with Gerba's publicity campaigns, which tend to find bacteriological bogeymen almost everywhere he looks. Nevertheless, Norgard and Reynolds agree on many things and offer similar advice for staying healthy around the office.
Some viruses are harmless almost immediately, while others can live for weeks.
Even if you soak your whole cubicle in bleach, the next visitor's sneeze could undo all that hard work. At home, most people wouldn't dream of using the same cup over and over without washing it properly. Why we do that at work may need a psychological study, not a hygiene survey. But the grunge, even the mold at the bottom of the cup, is more likely to be repulsive than dangerous. They didn't have organisms that would make you sick, but the opportunity for pathogens is there.