Turns out there are some nasty germs hiding in your office mug

Using the office mugs for your tea or coffee is common place, it's just not practical to be hauling cups in from home for your beverages.

But, there's one big issue with using the mugs from your workplace, or even leaving your cup in the office. That is hygiene... According to Charles Gerba, Ph.D., professor of environmental microbiology at the University of Arizona, the cups in your office are absolutely filthy, and in dire need of a good and thorough wash and scrub. Dr Gerba's research shows that 90% of office mugs harbour dangerous germs and, prepare yourself, 20% of them carry fecal bacteria. Apparently, the cleaning methods in the office are to blame (although we think it's the dirty bastards that don't wash their hands), as the sponges and scrubbers in the office tend to be hives of bacteria. The bacteria transfers to the cup and can live there for up to three days. Cleaning your cup with a dirty sponge is like trying to dry yourself with your dog's blanket after a shower, it's a self-defeating process. To eliminate the chances of anyone's poo shards ending up on the surface of your cup, we recommend the washing of the cups with soap and hot water before use. Or bring your favourite cup home and give it a decent spin in your dishwasher. Don't even get us started on that water bottle you're reusing...