Five million, one hundred and forty-three thousand, eight hundred and ninety-two germs. Add another hundred thousand or so if you have a mouse, according to The Huffington Post. That’s about the amount of germs you have on your Chromebook right now. Yeah, I know, it’s no biggie, but consider that you are probably touching a laptop that’s been touched by someone who may not have washed their hands after using the loo. The baby wipes on the counter don’t seem so far away anymore, do they?

Yes, read the five million plus germs stat correctly. You probably don’t want to be touching your laptop right now. This number is shocking, but it’s what happens when kids decide to save a minute by not washing their hands. Statistics from It’s a Snap show that only 33% of girls and 8% of boys actually use soap. Jeez boys, pumping soap into your grubby little mitts isn’t that hard, is it?

When every kid in this school has a $300 Chromebook, shouldn’t we be taking good care of these electronics? With all of these germs on so many Chromebooks, no wonder so many people get sick! I don’t think the reenactment of the spread of the Black Plague is extra credit for Social Studies this year.

But really, I am sure that you do not want to touch cocci, something that is found in pneumonia, when you’re “happily” doing your essay that’s due tomorrow. So, wash your hands and wipe that Chromebook. You’re doing something that’s good for you and your trusty Chromebook.

Remember, no one wants to touch those germs from when you were relieving yourself, and your Chromebook shouldn’t be the new toilet paper.