That is certainly the case where games consoles are concerned, particularly if they are located in a teenager’s bedroom!
However, Xbox owners could have minor cause for celebration if a recent research project by Casino Betway is to be believed.
The company analysed swabs from four of the most popular gaming devices – Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC – to discover which was the dirtiest.
The study analysed 12 sets of randomly selected consoles and computers, as well as a toilet seat and a kitchen table, and the findings were a little stomach churning.
Microsoft’s Xbox was found to be the second cleanest gaming device behind the Switch, registering a median of 62.5 colony-forming units per swab.
However, that figure represents more than double what was found on a toilet seat, suggesting that Xbox gamers may need to up their game from a hygiene perspective.
The Xbox showed some of the most dirty samples, with the worst console tested having 5,614 colony-forming units on the controller’s buttons.
The controller handles showed the highest number of the units tested at 82.5, although the triggers returned the lowest tally across all platforms tested at only 15.
One factor that will please Xbox owners is how their favourite console stacked up against its biggest rival – the Sony PlayStation.
While the Xbox was found to have the dirtiest handles, the PlayStation returned particularly filthy results on the buttons, joystick and triggers.
In the worst cases amongst the sample set, this reached as high as 650 units – more than double the number you would expect to find on a kitchen surface.
This part of the test generated an usually anomaly, with surfaces in the kitchen holding the most bacteria on average out of any of the swabbed items.
The median 275 units per swab was marginally more than the 248 found on a mouse, highlighting that PC gamers also need to clean up their act.
Most gamers are probably unaware of just how dirty their consoles are, but the testing showed that even on the cleanest unit there is a large degree of bacterial build-up.
Xbox controller triggers were the only element that posted a lower number of colony-forming units than a toilet seat, meaning that everything else is in dire need of a deep clean.
The experts behind the study recommend cleaning your equipment at least once a week as part of the normal household cleaning routine.
It is important to unplug the console to avoid any accidents and use a small amount of plastic friendly cleaning solution on the controllers to get things in tip-top condition.
For the console, it is best to use a dry microfibre cloth to remove any fingerprints or dust, and to ensure nothing permeates into the device itself.
At a time where people are more aware of germs around the home, it is imperative that game consoles receive the care and attention they deserve.