Sanitizing Keybaords/Mice

[Ed Heier]

Just a quick question on whether any districts have put together a formal plan for sanitizing keyboards/mice in this “ILI” age. We are getting questions about what, if anything, should be done to sanitize computer lab keyboards/mice. Has anyone researched a solution that you know won’t damage the keyboard (letters rubbing off over time)? Is it even worth it? It seems to me each student would need to clean it either before or after each use. Also, if you have proceeded with a plan like this, how do you keep students/staff from using those same wipes on LCD screens?

[Don Clausen]

Might the answer be to use liquid sanitizer on student hands after each keyboarding experience?

[Barbara Theirl]

Crazy as it may sound, our district school nurse is discouraging hand sanitizer. She says it is not safe for children due to the alcohol level. I had heard that before, but I wonder how practical it is for students to wash before and after they are in the lab? If students were going to use sanitizer I would think teachers could have students bring it from home, like they bring boxes of kleenex tissues.

The nurse also said the district will not be paying for sanitizer--so for some media centers that opt to use it (older students, perhaps?) who pays, will be an issue.

For years in a previous work life, my students always washed or used had sanitizer before going in the lab and also when they came into the media center.

Just some thoughts.

[Laurie Conzemius]

I've been trying to wipe down our keyboards and mice weekly (in the lab and library anyway: classroom teachers are on their own!) with Clorox disinfecting wipes. I keep a huge bottle of hand sanitizer in the lab and encourage students to use it prior to sitting down at their computer, and upon leaving the computer lab. Of course, not all of them use it - but perhaps it does something. To be honest, other years I have not been good about washing the keyboards and mice...so we'll see if this seems to make a difference.

[Leslie Erickson]

We have been using the same method (Clorox wet wipes), but avoid the monitor screens. My school service students love the job! The large container of hand sanitizer was taken by a neat freak, as it only lasted one day prior to being kidnapped.

[Tori Jensen]

Our district sent us some sort of spray for the keyboards to sanitize. It is really horrible stuff that makes you cough and cough. I don't want it anywhere near me! It says it works for like an hour or two. Seems very silly to me. I went to Costco and bought three HUGE bottles of hand santitizer and the kids and teachers are using it when they come into the library and when they leave. If there is a better solution out there, let me know.

[Mary Alice Anderson]

The official word in Winona is washing hands in soap and water often and teachers are to encourage it often.
Mary Alice Anderson