Cleaning your phone regularly helps prevent disease

Everyone knows that hand washing is essential and one of the effective ways to prevent disease. However, many people overlook an item that is also very “dirty” similar to hands. That’s the phone. Don’t let your phone become a source of infection. Clean them as often as you would wash your hands.

Hands touch many things and can be a source of bacterial infection. However, the phone is also the thing that comes into contact with your hands the most. According to Gallup statistics, more than half of smartphone users check their phones once or twice an hour, or even more.

A 2019 survey by research firm Dscout found that the average frequency of a person touching their mobile phone is 2,617 times per day. And guess what, in those “touches”, how many bacteria did you bring on your hands, on your face, even straight into your body?

Studies have found many different types of bacteria and viruses on phones. These are commonly found on human skin, in your respiratory tract, or in your “waste.”

The bacteria on the phone can be the result of many contacts. It could be bacteria on the desk, on the doorknob, in the toilet. Bacteria can even be transferred from other people’s hands when you hold hands and from your hands to your phone. When you use your phone to make or receive calls, you are also unknowingly transmitting or receiving bacteria from your mobile phone.

Your phone can infect many types of bacteria from a multitude of different sources

Although not all bacteria cause disease, that does not mean they are harmless. Many studies show evidence of the existence of many types of bacteria such as E. coli, MRSA, Streptococcus… on mobile phones. Many diseases occur when you are exposed to thousands and millions of bacteria. Or there is the case that certain pathogens like norovirus can give you a headache or nausea with just a few particles. The best way to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading is to regularly clean your phone.

How to clean the phone

First, you’ll want to consult your phone or case manufacturer’s website for any specific instructions they may have to avoid damaging your device or case.

While the specific instructions may vary depending on your device, you can do the following for your mobile phone:

• Use a soft, lint-free cloth
• Avoid wiping too much
• Unplug all power sources, equipment and cables
• Keep liquids away from your device
• Do not let moisture get into any openings
• Avoid sprays, bleach and abrasives
• Avoid spraying cleaners directly on your device
• Use 70% isopropyl alcohol wipes or Clorox disinfectant wipes to wipe down any hard, non-porous surfaces.

However, you should avoid using them on leather or fabric to avoid damage.

Ideally, you should consult the manufacturer’s instructions for proper phone cleaning

You can make an antiseptic solution by combining water (60%) and isopropyl alcohol solution – C3H8O (40%). Then, gently clean the screen and body with a cotton swab or cotton swab moistened with the mixture. Then wipe with a soft dry cloth. For the charging port, microphone, speaker… use a cotton swab to clean it gently.

You should avoid using chlorine bleach. This may damage your phone. You can also keep your phone in a sealed case which will make it easier for you to wipe it down with a disinfecting wipe.

In addition to the phone, don’t forget the case! Phone cases are also a place for a lot of bacteria and dirt. But most of us do not care about cleaning the case. Clean them with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol solution.

Phone cases also need to be cleaned regularly

How often should you clean your phone?

According to experts, the way your device gets a high level of virus infection is if someone sneezes or coughs nearby. Microscopic droplets containing viruses can be deposited on the phone. So if you’re around anyone who’s coughing or sneezing, you should clean your phone. Also, you should clean your phone “often”, not necessarily every time you touch it.

In terms of frequency, this will vary according to your habits. If you wash your hands diligently, you’ll have to clean your screen less often, maybe once or twice a day. If you place your phone on a potentially contaminated surface or don’t wash your hands often…, you should increase the frequency of cleaning your phone more often.

Reference source

When and How to Clean Your Phone During the COVID-19 Outbreak https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-to-clean-your-phone-during-outbreak Access date: September 30, 2020