Bugs aren't just found inside your computer.

Snatching lunch at your computer may be hazardous to your health. Chances are you've noticed the odd greasy patch and some crumbs lurking in the crevices of the keys. You won't see any bacteria - good or bad - swarming across the keys, but they're probably there.

Last year the UK consumer magazine Which? Computing tested keyboards from a typical London office. They found high levels of bacteria that could cause diarrhoea and other stomach upsets. One keyboard had five times more bacteria than a toilet seat swabbed in the same test.

Help might be at hand. The Cyber Clean High-Tech Cleaning Compound claims to catch dirt and kill germs on your computer keyboard. It's a yellow goo that you press on the keys. It's reusable but changes colour with use - when it's a dull green you need to replace it (there's a colour guide on the pack).

We gave several packs of Cyber Clean to a lab to test on five "high usage" keyboards. Half of each keyboard was swabbed with Cyber Clean while the other side was left untreated. Bacterial counts from each side of the keyboard were then compared.

As well, six Consumer staffers tried it on their keyboards.

The verdict

When new, Cyber Clean dramatically reduced the number of bacteria. Its effectiveness declined each time it was used, but it continued to make a difference until it reached the replacement shade.

It didn't completely remove built-up grease and grime on dirty keyboards and it couldn't reach all the dust and crumbs under the keys.

Our user panel found it easy to use, but only one would buy it. We paid $9.99 for a pack.

We say

• Eating your lunch at your desk is the main cause of an infested keyboard - bacteria thrive on moist food stains. Poor personal hygiene, such as not washing your hands after going to the toilet, may also be to blame.
  
  
• Cyber Clean is an effective disinfectant. Don't use alcohol wipes or harsh domestic cleaning sprays: they can remove the letters from the keys.
  
  
• To remove ordinary dust and grime all you need is a soft brush or a cotton bud to get the crumbs from between the keys. To clean the surfaces use a soft and slightly damp lint-free cloth or alcohol-free wipes.

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