Keeping your phone clean: The essential guide to preventing bacterial buildup

Smartphones.It’s the one object that most of us will never leave the house with and for good reason. We can do everything on that tiny device—listen to music, call loved ones, take photos, and so much more. However, this digital box can impact our health in several ways. Beyond the radiation they emit, phones are also known to be real nests of bacteria.

Do you really know how dirty your phone is?

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In fact, did you know that our phones are one of the most dirty objects that we use on a daily basis. It’s even dirtier than sponges, pillows, toilet bowls which carry up to 10 times less bacteria.

The reason why you have to clean your phone

Most people go days, weeks, and even months without thinking about cleaning their smartphone. Given the fact that it is constantly in contact with parts of our body that can promote the transmission of bacteria, this is a question that should be asked more frequently. According to Philip Tierno, professor of microbiology and pathology at the NYU School of Medicine, we should all be taking this preventative measure seriously.

He said, in an interview with Time Magazine, that smartphones are a ‘vehicle capable of efficiently transferring infectious organisms’ inside our bodies. His first piece of advice: to avoid germs coming into contact with your food make sure that you never use your phone while eating.

You should clean your phone twice a day says science

Professor Tierno says he cleans his phone twice a day. He said:

I clean mine twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

If you are one of those people who cannot part with the device, you should probably some disinfectant wipes on hand so you can clean your phone at least twice a day, as Tiero recommends.

How can you clean your smartphone without damaging it?

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When we think of cleaning, we often think of dunking something into some soap water and scrubbing it till it’s pristine. For obvious reasons, this method will make your phone squeaky clean but you may not be able to use it afterwards.

Phone manufacturers, like Apple and many others, recommend turning off your phone before cleaning it with any liquid. If you are using a disinfectant spray, then avoid spraying directly on the device. First, spray a cloth and then start cleaning. Tierno adds:

I've been doing this for a long time and I've never damaged my phone.

If you want more specific advice, Dr Lena Ciric, a microbiologist at University College London has made a short video for the BBC which explains how to clean your smartphone most effectively:

This article has been translated from Gentside FR.

Sources:

TIME Magazine:How Often Should I Clean My Phone?