Smartphones: Dirtier Than Toilets – Here’s How to Keep yours Clean

Generally, we think that our cell phones are clean and free of germs, but the reality is your smartphone is dirtier than most things we consider as “Dirty.” It is very difficult to survive without a smartphone in this age of technology; it has become part of our lives, our friend, philosopher, guide, and much more.

We practically live with our cell phones 24×7, but how many times do we clean it? No, merely wiping it does not get rid of germs. Our phone is perhaps one of our dirtiest possessions, even dirtier than toilets.

How dirty is your smartphone?

In fact, your cellphone is likely to have more germs than on a toilet seat and several objects that we deem dirty. Research suggests that, on average, a smartphone has 25,000 germs per square inch.

Here are some objects that are cleaner than our phones.

• Public toilet
• The soles of shoes
• A pet’s eating bowl
• Kitchen counters
• Doorknobs
• A bundle of notes

Out of 92%, bacteria on your phone screen, 16% are E.coli bacteria found in feces which causes infections.  E.coli causes diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. These germs also include influenza viruses, which cause respiratory problems. Taking your phone close to your skin causes acne problems. The screen is usually warm, and bacteria thrive and transfer not just to our fingers, but also the face, including the eyes, nose, ears, and lips. All these double our chances of getting infected.

How do phones get dirty?

Your hand is the biggest culprit when it comes to putting filth on your phone. Americans check their phones about 47 times a day, according to a survey, which affords plenty of opportunities for microorganisms to move from your fingers to your phone.

Because people are always carrying their cell phones even in situations where they would frequently wash their hands before doing anything, cell phones do tend to get pretty gross,” says Emily Martin, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.  Research has varied on just how many germs are crawling on the average cell phone, but a  study found more than 17,000 bacterial gene copies on the phones of high school students.

Scientists at the University of Arizona have found that cell phones carry ten times more bacteria than most toilet seats. Every time you use your phone, you are adding more germs to it. Agents that lead to dirty phone screens are:

• Your sweat: sweat contains many germs and microorganisms and when you talk too long you tend to sweat and transfer bacteria and germs to your phone screen.
• Using it in the washroom or restroom: Places like the washroom are full of germs; when we use phones there, germs stick to the body of the cell phone. It is an open invitation to millions of germs, especially when we use public toilets.
• Using it before meals: If we do not wash our hands before meals, we are transferring bacteria to our food and other objects.; these things provide a medium for the growth of microorganisms.
• Using it in public transport: In public transport, we have to touch many surfaces like seats, rails and handle bars where thousands of other people have also touched them. People who travel via public transport have more chances of getting germs on their phones.
• Using it after playing with pets: All of us love our pets; they are a vital part of our lives and we often touch them many times a day; we have germs from animals and birds on our phones.
• When other people use it: Cell phones are personal possessions, but sometimes we may pass it to others to make a call or to take a selfie. Germs on their hands get transferred to our phones as most people have bacteria on their hands.
• Placing it on different surfaces: Most of the surfaces like a desk, table, kitchen, and washroom shelves contain dust particles and germs on them and when our phones get in contact with them become dirtier.

Cleaning your cellphone

To get rids of germs in order to ensure better health, cleaning our phones is crucial. The following methods can be adopted.

• Soap and water: people find it easy and economical to clean phones with soapy water, it cleans temporarily, but the normal functioning of the phone can be damaged during the process if not careful.
• Use of screen guards: It can protect the phone from breakage, water seeping, and other damage. But it gathers dust and germs on it rather than on the original screen.
• Use of phone covers: The same is the case with phone covers; they can protect the phone from external damage, not from germs. Flip covers have little benefit as they do not allow germs to contaminate screens.
• Using a cleaning kit: This kit contains a number of tools to clean various parts of the phone; it removes germs, but it is difficult to use it frequently.
• UV light cleaner: These cleaners are expensive and are not readily available, although they disinfect phones to a large extent.
• Use of sanitizer: Sanitizer is an alcoholic solution used to disinfect surfaces; sanitizer can be used to clean the phone and to get rid of germs.
• Use of alcohol swabs: Alcohol wipes or swabs can be used to remove bacteria from phones. It can be used frequently.

Steps to sanitize cellphones

1. Turn off your phone and disconnect it from power.
2. Remove your phone’s case if it has one.
3. Combine equal parts rubbing alcohol and warm water in a bowl.
4. Wet a microfiber cloth with the solution and wring it out thoroughly.
5. Rub the phone’s surfaces thoroughly with the cloth to remove germs.
6. Dry any remaining moisture on the phone with a clean towel.
7. Clean rubber or leather phone cases with the soapy water.

To keep healthy and avoid diseases, do clean your cellphones.  Here are some products that can also help:

PHONESOAP 3: UV Sanitizer

UV Cell Phone Sanitizer

Originally posted 2020-03-23 19:49:14. Republished by Blog Post Promoter