Is your cell phone screen clean? Most of the time, people don’t think twice about using their cell phone and where they take it. People use it in doctor’s offices, on public transport, at the dinner table and even on the toilet. Germs thrive on smartphones but that can’t be a surprise knowing how much time people spend just holding them.
Your phone is more than likely one of the dirtiest objects in your home. Considering the main use for a phone – to make calls, holding it against your face – it’s not a nice thought!
Clean for a reason!
Faecal Matter – This is common with the amount of people who bring their phone in the restroom. Even if you don’t use it and it is on the side, when you flush the toilet, tiny droplets are released. They in turn, land on your phone.
Streptococcus – Responsible for strep throat, pneumonia, sepsis and meningitis. This bacteria has to be treated aggressively and immediately if it causes these illnesses. In a worst-case scenario, it can be fatal.
- coli – E. coli is not extremely harmful but they can occur on your phone in different chains. They can be more aggressive and harmful than others. Harmful strains can cause urinary tract infections, meningitis and gastrointestinal illnesses. These can all lead to life threatening consequences.
Staphylococcus – This bacteria causes a range of minor conditions such as ear infections and folliculitis. It also causes some serious illnesses. These include gastroenteritis (stomach flu) and sinusitis which can be easily cleared up with antibiotics. MRSA infections can be caused by staphylococcus – this is hard to treat with antibiotics and can eventually become life threatening.
Cold/Flu – Cold and flu are pretty common viruses that most people have multiple times in their lifetime. They usually go away on their own, but if some flu viruses such as coronavirus attack somebody who is weakened and not able to fight the virus, it can potentially be fatal.
How to prevent bacteria on your cell phone
There are lots of easy ways to avoid an excess of bacteria and viruses on your phone. Keeping your phone out of the restroom is one of the main ways to keep lots of bacteria off of your phone. Be sure to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap before handling your device.
Using antibacterial hand gel before and after using your phone is good practice in stopping the spread of any bacteria that you may have picked up on your journeys onto your phone. Antibacterial hand gel sachets are a great way to sanitize on the go.
Using a microfiber cloth to remove any dirt and bacteria build-up every now and then is also a good way to prevent spreading. This will remove most of the germs quickly and easily.
If you are looking for a deeper clean, liquid containing over 80% alcohol can be used to remove the bacteria efficiently. However, you need to be careful when doing this to ensure your phone does not get damaged on the inside. Research into whether your phone can be cleaned with a liquid before attempting it yourself.
If you don’t like the idea of using liquids, UV phone sanitisers are available, and they use light rays to remove the bacteria without harming your pone.
Remember that washing your hands is one of the most important ways in protecting yourself from any bacteria or viruses and prevent them from attaching to your phone
