Gross fact of the day: Cell phones are 10X dirtier than a toilet seat.
After reading that, you probably want to know how to disinfect your phone. Surprisingly, most people are unaware of how dirty their phones are. Both desk phones and cell phones can have many thousands of bacteria on their surfaces, and are an easy way to spread germs in any environment.
Knowing how to disinfect your phone can help protect you from infections and illnesses including rhinovirus (the common cold), MRSA, Staph, and many other germs.
Continue reading for tips on how to disinfect your phone…
HOW PHONES GET DIRTY
Think about it – you take your phone everywhere. The bathroom, the kitchen, work, the gym, and plenty of other places in between. Since it’s one of those things you can’t live without, phones are constantly getting contaminated.
Here are a few ways germs get on phones in the first place:
- Placing your phone down on a contaminated surface like a table or counter.
- Touching your phone with unwashed or cleaned hands.
- Letting other people with dirty hands use your phone.
- Using your phone in places where germs are prone to live such as restrooms, hospitals, and grocery stores.
- From someone coughing or sneezing in the vicinity of you.
- Sharing desks and/or devices, including phones, at work.
Because your phone is constantly being exposed to pathogens day in and day out, disinfecting it routinely should be high on your to-do list.
GERMS THAT LIVE ON PHONES
Wondering what types of bacteria and viruses can be on your phone? Here’s a partial list of some illnesses that can be spread by keypads and touchscreens.
INFLUENZA
Influenza (the Flu) isn’t something you want to catch while you’re playing Candy Crush or scrolling your social media feed. The flu is spread through airborne transmission — coughing, sneezing, etc. — and can land on phones and other hard surfaces. Others who touch these surfaces can then be infected. Failure to kill influenza on your phone can leave you vulnerable to getting sick with the virus.
MRSA
MRSA is a common germ found in fitness centers, and it can find its way onto your phone. If the MRSA bacteria lands on your phone, it most likely found its way on there from someone with the infection coming into direct contact with your device. So if you lend or share your phone with other people, be sure to disinfect it.
E. COLI
If you think E. Coli is only a foodborne pathogen you’ll find in your kitchen, think again. Preparing or prepping food and not washing your hands is how you can get E. Coli on your phone.
If you use your phone to reference recipes and cooking tutorials, make sure you understand how to disinfect it (instructions below) to prevent yourself from contracting a foodborne illness.
NOROVIRUS
Prepare yourself for this disgusting tidbit: norovirus is generally transmitted through feces. So what does this have to do with your phone? If you use the restroom and don’t wash your hands, or if you lend your phone to someone who doesn’t practice proper handwashing, the norovirus could end up on your phone.
Note: Hand washing is important, but it’s even more necessary on cruise ships since its one place where norovirus outbreaks can easily happen.
THE DANGER OF DIRTY PHONES
By not disinfecting your phone, you may be:
- Spreading germs that can cause a range of infections
- In close contact with germs that can make you sick
- At risk of infecting others who come into contact with your phone
HOW TO DISINFECT YOUR PHONE IN 4 EASY STEPS
With so much potential for contamination, knowing how to disinfect your phone is a must. It’s easier than you may think.
Follow these four simple steps:
1. CLEAN IT
Use a general cleaning wipe or damp cloth to remove dust and dirt from the device. Clean the screen, the back of the phone, and earpiece. Make sure water doesn’t seep into the device. The cloth should be only slightly wet. Don’t forget to clean your case, too.
2. ALLOW IT TO DRY
Let your phone dry. You can let it air dry or use a dry paper towel.
3. KILL GERMS WITH AN EPA REGISTERED DISINFECTANT WIPE
Use an EPA registered disinfectant wipe to disinfect your phone and case. Wipe the whole phone, being sure not to get any moisture into small parts.
4. LET THE DISINFECTANT DO ITS JOB
Allow the disinfectant solution to remain on the phone surface, then wipe off if recommended. Leave it wet for the “dwell time” necessary to effectively kill germs.
PHONE DISINFECTING DON’TS
- Don’t use a disinfectant that has alcohol, bleach, ammonia, or phenols, which could damage the device.
- Be careful to not moisture get inside your phone.
- Check instructions for cleaning the glass face of your smartphone.
- Don’t forget to do a spot test when trying out a new cleaning solution.
- Don’t forget to clean your phone and case often, daily if possible.
CLEAN YOUR PHONE
Most of us don’t ever think about cleaning our phones. But we touch them all day, every day.
Understanding how to disinfect your phone, and then doing it consistently, is one of your first lines of defense against the spread of germs. You can keep yourself and the people around you safer by following the above steps to kill germs lurking on the most frequently touched item in your environment.
And, don’t forget to wash or sanitize your hands regularly!