Since their invention more than a decade ago, smartphones have had their advantages. A person has a telephone, computer, camera, and record player all in one portable format.
With their small size, they can fit into the pocket of your jeans without a second thought. But, because they’re so portable and how many times we touch our phones in a given day – a whopping 2,617 times, according to 2016 research by Dscout, which used its web-based research platform with a smartphone app to capture in-the-moment behaviours - they become covered in germs and other bacteria.
“Studies have found Escherichia coli, Streptococcus and antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) present on mobile devices,” said Jennifer Phillips, a clinical epidemiologist with Eastern Health in Newfoundland.
“The quantity of the organisms varies, and although they may not be in high enough quantities to make people sick, these are not organisms individuals want to carry around on their mobile devices.”
One of the ways to combat these organisms living on the surface of your smartphone is basic handwashing, said Phillips.
“One of the best ways to provide protection against these organisms is to frequently perform hand hygiene, including before and after handling someone else’s mobile device. Individuals are advised to avoid taking phones into the bathroom or other areas that could be dirty or contaminated,” she said.
Although Phillips does recommend cleaning your mobile device regularly, the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions should always be followed.
“If using alcohol-based wipes or sprays, they should contain at least 70 per cent alcohol,” she says.
Household soap and water can also be used – just dampen a microfibre cloth and gently rub the surfaces of your phone. Then, dry it with a clean microfibre cloth.
And, she adds, don’t forget to make sure the case is wiped down, too.
“Cases should be wipeable and all surfaces of the case should be cleaned regularly,” she said.
“Since mobile devices are used frequently, in many different environments, and often shared, it is important that they are treated as a high touch item, similar to a doorknob, and are cleaned and disinfected regularly.”
As for your mobile device being dirtier than a toilet seat, she recommends not necessarily believing everything you hear.
“The commonly heard notion that a phone is dirtier than a toilet seat, although not supported by published studies, originates from the idea that toilet seats are typically cleaned and disinfected regularly. However, mobile devices are not cleaned and disinfected regularly but are often used in the same environment,” said Phillips.
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