From toilets, kitchens, desks, to the face itself, smartphones can be anywhere your hand can reach them.
That's why smartphones are so easy to stick to bacteria. According to a 2011 study published by the London School of Tropical Medicine & Epidemiology (UK), one in every six smartphones gets fecal contamination. While a 2009 study confirmed that phones are a reservoir for dangerous germs and germs, they can touch the faces, ears, lips and hands of different people with different health conditions.
Another study by the University of Arizona shows that smartphones are placed on a desk 40 hours a week, and that is where the bacteria contain hundreds of times more bacteria per square inch than an office toilet.
Studies have also found dangerous germs on phones like MRSA - a bacterium resistant to antibiotics including E.coli.
"We are touching more surfaces than any other generation, from ATMs to automatic checkout counters. The bacteria from them will lie on their hands and fingers, then they will be brought to smartphones and then to the nose," your eyes or mouth, "said Dr. Charles Gerba, a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona. These bacteria can spread disease to you, your family and contacts.
"Mobile phones are mobile germs. You have germs on your hands, put them on your phone. Then wash your hands but not the phones, and the bacteria are still on it," Gerba said.
The average American looks at his phone for 12 minutes at a time, which is a chance for bacteria to pass from his hands to his smartphone. Young people or people working in the food service industry, having a lot of contact with children tend to have more bacteria on their hands.
As Covid-19 continues to spread, keeping hands and smartphones clean is an important task to help protect you against viruses.
Apple advises people not to use liquid or disinfectant to clean the phone. The iPhone manufacturer provides a detailed list of steps to take to keep iPhone clean. You can see here for reference how to clean suitable for each iPhone.
Meanwhile, Motorola recommends using a microfiber wipe (like an eyeglass wipe) with a little water to clean the phone. With the Pixel series, Google confirmed it could use soap if necessary.
Here are some things you should have to clean your phone:
Microfiber cloth
Chemical alcohols (isopropyl alcohol)
Country
Gauze bandages
Gloves
With water resistant devices, you can make your own cleaning solution by mixing chemical alcohol with distilled water. Then spray the solution around the device, wipe with a cotton swab. Wear gloves when cleaning, wash your hands after finishing.
As for phones that are not waterproof, you need to be a bit more careful. You can use a soft cloth, dampen some solution or water and gently wipe around the device.
